May 23, 2026, 1:35 p.m. ET
Aaron Rodgers‘ return to the Pittsburgh Steelers created a four-man quarterback problem that could decide the fate of Will Howard or Mason Rudolph this offseason.
While the jury is still out as to which quarterback has the lead in the QB2 race, many believe the Steelers will look to cut or trade either Rudolph or Howard before the final 53-man roster.
In an ideal scenario, the Steelers are able to make a four-man quarterback room work in 2026 — but that’s highly unlikely, and these three NFL teams would make excellent trade landing spots for Rudolph or Howard.
Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett is holding out in search of a new deal, and a resolution may be far away. Howard would give the Cardinals a potential future starting option to compete with rookie quarterback Carson Beck, while Rudolph would give Arizona exactly what it had in Brissett: veteran stability.
Indianapolis Colts
It’s no secret: Colts current QB2 Anthony Richardson wants out of Indianapolis, but Rudolph would make an excellent replacement for the backup role. Additionally, the Colts didn’t exactly make a long-term investment in Daniel Jones with the two-year extension, meaning that Howard could spark interest from Indianapolis if he’s viewed as a potential successor.
New York Jets
If the Jets truly are all in on Geno Smith in 2026, Rudolph is an ideal trade target as both a viable fail-safe if the veteran fails to deliver and a top-backup option in case of injury. Howard, on the other hand, would compete alongside Cade Klubnik as the potential long-term answer at quarterback.
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