How Pittsburgh‘s quarterback depth splits time on the field this season will play a big role in who gets to take over for Aaron Rodgers next year. Fans got a glimpse of the scenario in the preseason game vs the Packers, with backups Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Drew Allar all getting a chance to play. Ben Roethlisberger, the last proper franchise quarterback for the Steelers, added an interesting take to the picture.

“I would strongly consider, with my hats on, in my opinion, I would take some reps away from Mason to see what Will Howard can do,” he said on his podcast. “Because you want to see him with the better players.

“I would give him a few one reps — give Aaron the day off. Hey, guess what, get [Howard] in there, give him a chance to see what he can do. That’s how I feel about Will Howard’s day, how he performed, and what I’d like to see moving forward.

The Steelers drafted Drew Allar this year while Mason Rudolph and Will Howard were still there. That made the latter’s path to the QB1 job in 2027 difficult, since it is now a three-man fight. It should essentially come down to two, with many considering Rudolph to be out of the equation by next season. And looking at how the preseason reps panned out, it looks like that might be the case.

Get The Huddle Newsletter. The day's biggest NFL stories — rivalries, matchups, expert analysis, power rankings, and insider draft news.

Rudolph led two drives and went 10-of-13 for 93 passing yards. He had zero scores and was even sacked twice. Fansided’s Cody Williams gave him a C+ grade.

Howard had a different kind of night but still gave the Steelers something positive to work with. After a rough opening series, he settled down and helped lead an eight-play, 80-yard scoring drive before halftime. He finished 7-of-9 for 86 yards and one touchdown, showing enough poise to keep the competition interesting.

Allar completed 10 of 13 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns along with a rushing score. His biggest play came when he connected with fellow rookie Kaden Wetjen on a long completion that set up another scoring opportunity, before later finding Wetjen for a touchdown.

It looks like Allar has the leg up in the race to replace Rodgers. Howard needs to find and utilize everything he can to stay with the Steelers. He already sat out his rookie year with an injury, and is left competing with another rookie for more time this year. But when it comes to development, Howard has a bigger potential than Rudolph.

Head coach Mike McCarthy doesn’t seem to mind that he’s got a crowded quarterback room. For 2027, though, the real decision is between Rudolph — a veteran with just one full season as a starter — and the more promising, if less experienced, Howard or Allar.

However, trade discussions surrounding Rudolph are still ongoing. He has been linked to quite a few teams this offseason. Some say Pittsburgh should really consider a trade, in exchange for draft picks. But according to Still Curtain’s Andrew Falce, Rudolph and the Steelers might both face a tough reality.

“I’ve seen speculation that, if traded, Rudolph could go for as high as a fifth-round pick. That seems far-fetched,” he wrote. “While Rudolph is a fine backup, he is no longer viewed as anything other than just a backup. At his age, the only value he brings to the team is as a reserve who can step in for a few games if needed.”

Will the Steelers hang on to Mason Rudolph next year? Only time will tell.