During the Patriots-Seahawks NFL opener, football fans were quickly reminded how fast a team's season could go down the tubes. Early in the game, Super Bowl-winning quarterback Sam Darnold limped off the field with what was quickly discovered to be a hip injury. Now Darnold is set to miss time, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have the perfect bargaining chip.
On Thursday morning, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Seahawks are awaiting MRI results, but that head coach Mike Macdonald said doctors ruled out a fracture. This is encouraging news, all things considered, but Darnold could still miss significant time and even land on short-term IR.
If the Seahawks want quarterback insurance, Mason Rudolph might be the ideal trade bet.
Seattle mustered just 13 points in their season opener against the Patriots, and had it not been for a spectacular catch-and-run from star receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba, the Seahawks may have finished with just six points in a game that could have resulted in a loss. Rudolph would give Seattle excellent QB depth (and even a potential starting option) as Darnold recovers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could use Mason Rudolph as Seahawks trade bait following Sam Darnold's injury
There's a reason the Steelers went against the trend and kept four quarterbacks... and we're already starting to understand why. You can never have too much depth at the game's most important position. For this very reason—and after watching Darnold go down—general manager Omar Khan could shy away from trading any of his QB depth.
However, the Steelers kept four quarterbacks for another reason: they like the young guys on their roster. Because of this, Khan could entice the Seahawks into a Rudolph trade.
Rudolph is a big-bodied pocket-passing quarterback who shares some similarities with Darnold. He would be an excellent fit in Brian Fleury's offense, and as a savvy veteran, it wouldn't take him long to catch on to a new scheme. Rudolph's presence would give a Super Bowl contender added insurance and a stopgap starter option if Drew Lock—who was forced to step in for Darnold—struggles.
To ensure their 2026 season isn't wasted, Seattle could offer the Steelers a respectable draft pick (maybe a fourth-rounder) in exchange for Rudolph. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Unfortunately, I can't see Khan following through with a deal. Trading Rudolph would leave two quarterbacks with zero NFL experience behind Aaron Rodgers. While Rodgers intends to stay upright and play 17 games this season, there's no doubt the Steelers would feel better about Rudolph entering the game in a pinch than Will Howard or Drew Allar.
Still, it's worth noting that the Steelers likely have multiple options on the table. Trading Rudolph could be one of them if they're open to it, and Rudolph was at the center of trade buzz in August.
Jalen Milroe is the Seahawks' emergency third quarterback, but he has just three career pass attempts for four passing yards. Rudolph would upgrade the depth on the roster and give the defending Super Bowl champs the security they need, while leaving the Steelers with three quarterbacks they really like and putting another mid-round draft pick in their pocket for next April.
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