Mike Florio: Steelers must take Mason Rudolph seriously as 'Plan A'

Mike Florio says it's time that Steelers Nation takes Mason Rudolph seriously as a guy who can potentially lead Pittsburgh's offense in the 2025 season.

I think we need to take Rudolph seriously as a potential plan A. I think that Rudolph closes the door on Russell Wilson.

The NFL analyst for Pro Football Talk pointed to Rudolph's success in the latter half of the 2023 season. After throwing his second interception of the game, the Steelers benched Mitch Trubisky midway through Pittsburgh's Week 15 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Rudolph went on to win the season's final three games and had the offense competing with the Buffalo Bills for much of the Wild Card matchup.

Should Aaron Rodgers -- the Steelers' top target at quarterback this offseason -- sign elsewhere (he's reportedly being courted by the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings), Florio believes Rudolph heads into the season as the starter, and the team will bring in a free agent to compete for the QB1 role.

It's gonna be Rodgers [QB1] and Rudolph [QB2], or it's gonna be Rudolph and name your guy -- Joe Flacco, Jameis Winston. They're gonna bring in someone else to compete with Rudolph.

No matter how you slice it, the Steelers are a hot mess. And it's nobody's fault but their own. They tried to squeeze Justin Fields and now he's with the New York Jets. Florio says that Wilson was never a player Pittsburgh wanted back. Rodgers will be nothing but a distraction -- if he can even stay healthy for all 17 games.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers Mason Rudolph plan A