Regardless of all of the confusion relating to the Aaron Rodgers saga this offseason, we now have an honest thought as to who the beginning quarterback in Pittsburgh goes to be. If Rodgers indicators, then that’s your reply. If he doesn’t, Mason Rudolph is the subsequent man up.
Some see the distinction between these two gamers as a giant one. Former Steeler Bryant McFadden doesn’t maintain that very same opinion. Talking on CBS Sports activities HQ on Monday, McFadden stated the hole between the 2 isn’t something drastic.
“I believe with Aaron Rodgers, I realistically see 9 to 10 wins,” McFadden stated. “10 being best-case state of affairs. If Mason Rudolph is the man shifting ahead, I see, best-case state of affairs, 9, doubtlessly eight, seven wins. In order that’s not a drastic hole of separation while you have a look at numbers. However clearly, should you win 9, 10 ballgames, you could have a possibility to get into the playoffs.”
McFadden could also be within the minority on this opinion. The Steelers do like Rudolph, as they determined to convey him again regardless of a failed tenure in Tennessee. And that point with the Titans final yr was tough. Rudolph threw an equal variety of touchdowns to interceptions, with 9 apiece. It’s not fully his fault, because the roster round him was poor typically. Nonetheless, not many count on Pittsburgh to find a way to make a severe playoff run with out Rodgers within the fold.
That doesn’t imply McFadden is flawed, although. Rudolph has had success in Pittsburgh earlier than. Again in 2023, he took over because the starter with three video games left within the common season and managed to win all three video games. That helped propel the Steelers into the playoffs, though they have been shortly eradicated by the Buffalo Payments.
With that stated, Mason Rudolph has by no means established himself as a full-time starter. Anticipating him to steer the Steelers to even 9 wins, which McFadden lists because the best-case state of affairs, is rather a lot. He’s obtained to play Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow twice a yr, and likewise finishes the season on arguably the hardest schedule within the league. If Rudolph even manages to sneak the Steelers into the playoffs, it’s laborious to think about them making a lot noise there.
But, the Steelers don’t actually have one other alternative. And to be truthful, it’s laborious guilty McFadden for not being overly excessive on a 41-year-old quarterback in Rodgers. Within the 2026 draft, Pittsburgh will hope to seek out its quarterback of the longer term. For now, they’ll need to maintain bouncing round between middle-of-the-pack choices.
