Insider hints at why Steelers didn't trade Mason Rudolph

Mason Rudolph has been tied to more trade rumors than most on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster, but he somehow found his way onto the initial 53-man roster — and one NFL insider has hinted at one big reason why.

On a recent episode of The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed that when it came to Rudolph, a potential trade candidate, the Steelers didn’t receive any legitimate offers.

“The Steelers, I think all along, we knew they liked Howard and Allar, Aaron [Rodgers] is the starter,” Schefter said. “The question was around Rudolph. They didn’t get anything, in offer-wise, that was worth doing. And they like Mason Rudolph as a player, so they’re not just gonna give up on him right now. It just doesn’t make sense. You hold on to him.”

Rudolph, who was drafted by the Steelers with the 76th overall pick in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, has quietly emerged as one of the league’s top backup quarterback options.

Heading into the 2026 season, Rudolph was considered a potential trade target, with so many NFL teams in need of a potential QB2 upgrade. But as Schefter alluded to, the Steelers apparently didn’t receive an offer, or at least one that was “worth doing.”

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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Insider hints at why Steelers didn’t trade Mason Rudolph