The quarterback position isn’t the only spot on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster with an intense training camp battle on the horizon. But of all the jobs up for grabs, the backup quarterback role may be the most polarizing among Steelers reporters and fans alike.
Will Howard and Mason Rudolph are set to battle for what will likely only be one roster spot.
Their performances in training camp and the preseason will decide the winner. But heading into the final weekend before camp starts, Steelers beat writer Ray Fittipaldo feels one of those two players is in the driver’s seat.
“If I had to place odds on it, I think Will Howard is in pole position, so to speak,” Fittipaldo said Friday on 93.7 The Fan. “I think he had a good spring, but I don’t think he’s earned the job just yet. The preseason game’s gonna be huge for him.”
It makes sense that Howard has some sort of advantage. Already knowing what Rudolph is at this point in his career, the Steelers had Howard and Drew Allar taking most of the reps during OTAs. With Rodgers not likely to play much, if at all during the preseason slate, there should be plenty of opportunity for the youngsters.
But in a way, this competition isn’t really between Howard and Rudolph. It’s more about Howard earning the coaching staff’s trust. If he exceeds expectations, it’s going to be hard for Mike McCarthy to risk losing him in favor of a veteran backup.
On the flip side, if Howard proves he can’t be trusted in a backup role, the Steelers would turn to Rudolph instead. And if he performs poorly, it might not be as hard to stash him on the practice squad.
The Steelers hope that’s not a decision they’ll have to face. If Howard does perform well, they could try and flip Rudolph for assets.
“Traditionally, you’re not gonna get much for a guy like Mason,” Fittipaldo said. “I would think sixth, seventh-round [pick] at best.”
Fittipaldo is right that the price for a quarterback like Rudolph isn’t going to be much. If someone offers a late-round pick for him, that’s probably the best the Steelers can get.
But that is a possibility. There are a couple of teams without stable backup situations. Potential preseason injuries would only exacerbate that issue across the league.
Rudolph has handled things well this offseason. But if Will Howard plays up to the hype that he’s received, the Steelers may run out of room for Rudolph on the roster. Fittipaldo thinks Howard has a leg up heading into camp.