It's no secret around the league that the Pittsburgh Steelers are four deep at the quarterback position. Though they may not have a franchise signal-caller (or even an above-average starter, for that matter), they have depth on their side.
That's something many of their NFL rivals don't have.
On Tuesday, Mason Rudolph trade buzz surfaced, as there were rumors that the New York Jets mentioned the Steelers veteran as a possible trade option. The Jets are rumored to be seeking a veteran upgrade behind Geno Smith, as fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik may not be ready to see the field for regular-season action.
But there might be a better fit out there than New York. In a recent article from BuffaLowDown, Jamie Malloy urges the Buffalo Bills to explore a backup QB solution before the start of the season. Malloy labels the Steelers as the top potential trade partner, listing Will Howard as an option.
"Both Rudolph and Howard showed up and performed well against Green Bay in their first preseason game. But bearing in mind that Rudolph is entering his ninth season in the league, could Howard be the odd man out, as he was drafted during Mike Tomlin's farewell tour last year?
The Bills could capitalize on Howard, as he is a young quarterback whose physical stature is similar to Allen's at 6-foot-4, 236 pounds, with a strong arm and decent athleticism for his size. Plus, he is only in his sophomore season, playing on a 5th-round rookie contract."
The Pittsburgh Steelers could explore a Will Howard trade with the Buffalo Bills
The current backup to Josh Allen for the Bills is Kyle Allen (no relation). Like Rudolph, Allen has been around the NFL since 2018. Unfortunately, the results have been disappointing.
Though Allen has a positive touchdown-to-interception ratio (26 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in his career), he's just 7-12 as a starter while averaging a disappointing 6.1 adjusted yards per attempt. This is accompanied by a pedestrian 82.1 career passer rating. Allen is 1-5 in his last six starts and hasn't proven to be a capable backup in a pinch since 2019.
Allen has just two starts since the 2021 season, and the 30-year-old QB has only attempted three in-game passes since 2023.
Howard would offer much more intrigue and upside for the Bills. Plus, at 6'4'' and 236 pounds, he possesses a similar body type to Josh Allen at the position, with at least some mobility to his game.
But why would the Steelers want to surrender Howard in a trade?
It's simple: with four quarterbacks on the roster, trading one would be a better solution than entering the season with four QBs on the team, only to try to stash one on the practice squad or IR later. Trading Howard would solve the Steelers' QB dilemma in one fell swoop, while putting a bit of draft capital back in their pocket.
And based on how Howard played in his preseason debut, they might be able to get an even greater return on their investment than the original sixth-round pick spent to acquire him in the 2025 NFL Draft.
This may also give the Steelers the lineup that head coach Mike McCarthy ultimately wants: Aaron Rodgers as the starter, Mason Rudolph as the experienced backup, and the raw Drew Allar as the QB3 with starter potential down the line.
After all, the Steelers are clearly looking to win now, and Rudolph is likely the player they would trust to lead the charge if Rodgers misses any amount of time.
Kyle Allen is one of the more underwhelming backup quarterbacks in the NFL, and Malloy isn't wrong to say the Bills need to upgrade. The Jets aren't the only team in need of QB depth. Trading Will Howard to Buffalo is a move that could work out for both parties while helping the Steelers solve their quarterback dilemma.
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