Mason Rudolph

Career StatsC-

Year	Team	GP	Yards	TD	INT	RTG
Career		34	4,925	30	22	84.7
2025		5	310	2	2	84.6
2024		8	1,530	9	9	80.1

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Steelers locked up solid backup quarterback insurance at a bargain price, making Rudolph's two-year, $7.5M extension a clear steal in today's inflated QB market. At just $3.8M annually, Pittsburgh is paying well below market rate for a serviceable starter who has proven he can step in and manage games when called upon — a luxury most teams pay $8-12M to secure. The 29-year-old Rudolph sits in that sweet spot where he's experienced enough to avoid costly mistakes but young enough to provide multi-year stability behind Russell Wilson. With only $3.0M guaranteed over two seasons, the Steelers built in minimal risk while securing a player who knows the system and can competently execute Mike Tomlin's game plans. This B- CVI deal represents exactly the type of value-driven roster building that championship contenders need, giving Pittsburgh reliable depth at the league's most important position without breaking the bank or hampering future flexibility.

Performance Analysis

Mason Rudolph, an 8-year veteran and former third-round pick, has carved out a reliable backup role in Pittsburgh without ever fully seizing a starting opportunity. His current grade sits at C-, reflecting a player whose floor is established but whose ceiling remains frustratingly capped. Among backup quarterbacks in today's NFL, Rudolph is a known commodity — serviceable in a pinch, but not a long-term solution. The most striking current-season number is his 73.1 completion percentage, which clears the elite threshold of 70.2% — a genuine strength that reflects solid short-area decision-making. However, that accuracy hasn't translated to production: his 5.96 yards per attempt trails the NFL average of 6.90, and his 62.0 passing yards per game is well below the league average of 230.0. The disconnect suggests a conservative, checkdown-heavy approach that limits explosive plays and masks the efficiency numbers. His 84.6 passer rating sits above the league average of 77.2, but context matters — limited volume inflates that figure considerably. Season grades tell a concerning story: after a C+ showing in 2023, Rudolph has posted back-to-back D+ grades in 2024 and 2025, signaling a downward trend rather than development. At 30 with eight seasons logged, the window for meaningful growth has largely closed. He projects best as a veteran backup or emergency starter — a role Pittsburgh has historically managed well — but any sustained starting assignment would likely expose the same limitations that have defined his career arc.

Current Sentiment

Mason Rudolph enters the 2026 offseason in a precarious roster position, with the Pittsburgh Steelers openly signaling their willingness to trade the veteran quarterback. The organization's selection of QB Drew Allar in the third round of the NFL Draft serves as a clear indicator that the franchise is pivoting away from Rudolph as even a reliable depth option. Multiple credible reports confirm the Steelers are actively shopping Rudolph, which, while not a release, carries an unmistakably negative connotation for his market value and perceived role. At a modest $3.8 million salary with no Pro Bowl credentials and a career passer rating in the low-to-mid 80s, Rudolph lacks the leverage or star power to reframe this narrative in his favor. Unless a trade materializes that places him in a starting opportunity elsewhere, the current media and fan perception of Rudolph is one of a player whose time with his only NFL home is effectively over.