The Pittsburgh Steelers are ostensibly trusting new head coach Mike McCarthy to achieve an extremely taxing objective: keep the team competitive while also developing the quarterback of the future. This franchise has already been stuck in no man's land much longer than it cares to admit and another year with Aaron Rodgers under center could potentially extend that timeline. Though, before McCarthy can start implementing his long-term blueprint, he must sort out the squad's present dilemma.
The Steelers have a crowded quarterback room, as Rodgers gets set to lead a group that also features veteran Mason Rudolph, 2025 sixth-round draft pick Will Howard and 2026 third-rounder Drew Allar. Mike Florio touches on the unique predicament Pittsburgh finds itself in heading into organized team activities.
“Very rarely will a team keep four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, so somebody's gonna be the odd man out,” he said on “Pro Football Talk.” “Mason Rudolph is the guy that you can count on in a pinch to come in and play. He's got experience. Drew Allar is the guy they drafted this year to be the future. Is Will Howard the guy who's gonna get the short straw? The guy that Mike McCarthy talked up so much?
“Don't be shocked if they try to carry four, so they don't have to admit that they got it wrong possibly with Drew Allar or that they weren't telling us the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth as to their feelings about Will Howard.”
Article Continues Below
With Aaron Rodgers back, the Steelers have a crowded house at quarterback. pic.twitter.com/pJySRPx9lt
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 18, 2026
Florio clearly has doubts about the Steelers' approach to their QB situation, as do many others, but he could be overestimating Pittsburgh's infatuation with Rudolph. The 30-year-old has built rapport with the locker room during his two stints with the organization and is one of the top backups in the NFL, but he is not a solution. There could be little gained in prioritizing him over the 24-year-old Howard.
If Aaron Rodgers suffers an injury during the season, rather than trying to hold the campaign together with Mason Rudolph, the Steelers may deem it more beneficial to roll with Pennsylvania native and national champion Will Howard or former Penn State star Drew Allar. Either way, the next few months in Pittsburgh should be both interesting and crucial.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are ostensibly trusting new head coach Mike McCarthy to achieve an extremely taxing objective: keep the team competitive while also developing the quarterback of the future. This franchise has already been stuck in no man's land much longer than it cares to admit and another year with Aaron Rodgers under center could potentially extend that timeline.