Former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert floated an idea Saturday that has drawn attention across Steelers and Dolphins circles: trade veteran Mason Rudolph to Miami as a backup option.
In a post on X, Benkert outlined his preferred Pittsburgh depth chart and a potential exit strategy for Rudolph.
“If I’m the Steelers: QB1 Aaron Rodgers, QB2 Will Howard, QB3 Drew Allar. Let Mason Rudolph go or try to trade him to someone like the Dolphins as a back up,” Benkert wrote.
The suggestion arrives amid a crowded quarterback room in Pittsburgh and questions about depth in Miami. Aaron Rodgers is set to start what he has called his final NFL season after returning on a one-year deal. Behind him sit Rudolph, second-year player Will Howard and rookie third-round pick Drew Allar.
All three backups performed solidly in the Steelers’ preseason opener, a 28-9 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Rudolph completed 10 of 11 passes for 93 yards. Howard and Allar also moved the offense effectively, with Allar throwing for 154 yards and accounting for three total touchdowns.
Coach Mike McCarthy has praised the group and left open the possibility of keeping four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster, an uncommon but not unprecedented move. Carrying that many signal-callers would prioritize experience behind the 42-year-old Rodgers while developing the younger players.
Rudolph, 31, brings the most regular-season experience of the three. In his career, he has completed 475 of 738 passes for 4,925 yards, 30 touchdowns and 22 interceptions with an 84.7 passer rating. He has started 19 games, including a strong stretch in 2023 that helped Pittsburgh reach the playoffs.
After a season with the Tennessee Titans in 2024, he returned to the Steelers in 2025 on a two-year deal and appeared in five games last year.
Benkert’s proposal specifically names the Dolphins as a potential landing spot for Rudolph’s veteran presence. Miami signed Malik Willis this offseason to a three-year, $67.5 million contract to serve as the starter under new coach Jeff Hafley. Willis showed efficiency in limited action during the preseason opener.
The primary backup role currently belongs to Quinn Ewers, a 2025 seventh-round pick who started the final games of last season. Ewers struggled against the Washington Commanders, completing 1 of 8 passes for 27 yards with an interception. Third-stringer Cam Miller also threw two interceptions in the same game.
Hafley said after the loss that the team is not actively seeking another No. 2 quarterback at this point, while noting some process positives in Ewers’ performance despite the results. Still, the uneven showing has fueled outside discussion about adding experienced depth.
A trade of Rudolph could address that need for Miami while giving Pittsburgh flexibility. The Steelers would free a roster spot and potentially acquire a draft pick, allowing more development reps for Howard and Allar behind Rodgers. Rudolph would gain a clearer path to meaningful snaps in a new system rather than competing in a four-man room.
Benkert, an undrafted free agent who spent time with the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers, has built a following as a content creator and founder of a football equipment company since leaving the league. His perspective carries weight among fans tracking the position battles.
Roster cuts remain weeks away, and both teams have additional preseason games to evaluate their options. For now, Benkert’s post has highlighted a potential mutual fit: Pittsburgh seeking to streamline its depth chart and Miami possibly bolstering insurance behind its new starter.
Whether general managers Omar Khan and Jon-Eric Sullivan pursue such a move remains to be seen.
Rudolph’s steady play and experience make him a viable candidate for teams needing a reliable backup, while the young talent in Pittsburgh continues to push the conversation forward.
