It's quite clear that the Pittsburgh Steelers want to develop quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar while getting Aaron Rodgers ready for his last season. The Steelers have expressed they would like to keep all four quarterbacks, including Mason Rudolph , but the chances of that happening seem slim.
Rudolph could end up being the odd man out. If that's the case, the Arizona Cardinals could be a perfect landing spot for the veteran QB.
According to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN , the Cardinals and quarterback Jacoby Brissett are nowhere near close in contract talks.
"After months of negotiating, quarterback Jacoby Brissett and the Cardinals are still not close to reaching an agreement on a reworked deal for this season," Weinfuss wrote. "A source told ESPN that the two sides are "significantly" far apart.
"Brissett has not attended any of the Cardinals voluntary OTAs or the voluntary offseason program as he waits for a new contract for 2026, the second year of a two-year deal he signed in March 2025," Weinfuss noted. "His deal currently pays him $4.88 million, with the potential to grow to $5.39 million, of which just $1.5 million is guaranteed. By comparison, Gardner Minshew II, whom Arizona signed as a free agent in March, had $5.14 million guaranteed by the team for 2026.
"A source told ESPN earlier this offseason that Brissett has been informed by the Cardinals that he is their starting quarterback. That was a shift from March, right after [ Kyler ] Murray was released, when Brissett had not been told he was the starter-in-waiting, according to the source."
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 16. 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Along with Brissett, the Cardinals' quarterbacks room features veteran backup Gardner Minshew II and rookie Carson Beck . If Rudolph wants a chance to start, going to the desert via a trade seems to be his best option.
Rudolph, 30, has proven to be a valuable asset to a team throughout his NFL career. Last season, he filled in for Rodgers while he was sidelined with an injury. He threw for just 310 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in relief of Rodgers.
That wasn't the first time Rudolph stepped in, either. He also did in 2019, when Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2.
A third-round pick by the Steelers in the 2018 NFL Draft, Rudolph has thrown for 4,925 yards, 30 touchdowns and 22 interceptions in his professional career.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : This NFC Team Could Be Perfect Fit for Mason Rudolph
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