Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph has been named a trade target for the Chicago Bears.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are now 1-1 on the season after a blowout loss in Week 2 against the New England Patriots.
Within the game, backup quarterback Mason Rudolph came into the contest to get some reps. Rudolph only threw one pass in the game, but he was able to get some game action.
The veteran signal-caller has been subject to trade rumors since the offseason, but to this point, the Steelers have held off on moving him. But given the quarterback situations around the NFL, the Steelers may want to at least consider moving Rudolph.
Rudolph has been in the NFL since the Steelers drafted him in 2019, but he has never been given a chance to be a starter. With multiple injuries taking place at the quarterback spot around the league, Pittsburgh could net some strong assets for Rudolph if they were to move him.
NFL analyst Moe Moton of Bleacher Report named Rudolph as a possible trade candidate for the Chicago Bears. Chicago just lost starting quarterback Caleb Williams for a few weeks, and Rudolph could come in to help this team navigate the situation.
"Chicago can bring in Mason Rudolph, who's been a backup and fill-in starter for eight seasons. Late in the 2023 campaign, the Pittsburgh Steelers went 3-0 with him under center and made the playoffs. At 31, with 19 career starts, Rudolph is a proven short-term starter who can steady the Bears offense with solid play," Moton wrote.
With Williams likely to be out for the next few weeks, the Bears will need someone to man the ship. Rudolph could be that person for Chicago, and given all the trade rumors from earlier around him, this could be the perfect fit.
The veteran is good enough to help keep the Bears afloat until WIlliams can return, and he would be a strong backup once he does. Rudolph could try to show what he can do in an offensive system that the Bears have, giving him a chance to shine in the NFL.
In his career, Rudolph has thrown for 4,925 yards with 30 touchdowns and 22 interceptions, playing in 25 games. The veteran has looked decent when playing, and a team like the Bears could maximize his skillet as the backup for the rest of the year.
Overall, this could be a strong move for the Steelers to consider, especially considering where a team like the Bears may be at this point. But for now, Pittsburgh will keep Rudolph as the backup to Aaron Rodgers, hoping that he never takes the field barring a garbage time minutes.
