One of the more logical trade destinations for Mason Rudolph just closed. Arizona reached a new deal with Jacoby Brissett ahead of the 2026 season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and the move effectively removes the Cardinals from the list of teams that might have pursued the Steelers quarterback.
The fit had made sense while it lasted. Brissett’s earlier discontent, and his eventual arrival at Cardinals camp, had already cooled the idea, and a team hoping to stay competitive without a settled starter could have viewed Rudolph as a reasonable option. With Brissett locked in alongside Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck, Arizona’s quarterback room no longer has a vacancy to fill.
That leaves Rudolph in a tight spot in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are carrying four quarterbacks, and two of the jobs are spoken for, with Aaron Rodgers atop the depth chart and rookie third-round pick Drew Allar holding a guaranteed place. Will Howard brings developmental upside that complicates Rudolph’s path to sticking around.
Rudolph is not without a market entirely, since capable backup quarterbacks hold real value across the league. For now, though, the clearest takeaway is that one of the openings people had penciled him into no longer exists.
