It’s more potentially informed speculation than hardcore reporting, but a radio host in Pittsburgh has suggested the Lions are on the verge of acquiring Mason Rudolph.
It’s no secret the Detroit Lions should be eyeing possible options to upgrade their backup quarterback situation, howeve they may surface. As roster cuts come over the next couple weeks, there should be someone that’s a least a little bit interesting.
According to Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, a former NFL general manager has told him the Lions could acquire Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph before this week is over.
This is not the first time Rudolph has surfaced as a potential trade target for the Lions. He is the odd-man out in Pittsburgh right now, with Mitch Trubisky the present (for as long as he lasts) and Kenny Pickett the future under center for the Steelers. Frankly, it wouldn’t make a ton of sense for them to keep him as the No. 3 quarterback, when he’s likely a tradeable asset.
Lions rumors: Mason Rudolph makes sense in the right light
Rudolph has appeared in 17 games and made 10 starts for the Steelers over four seasons. Eight of those starts came when Ben Roethlisberger missed most of the 2019 season. The most recent one was against the Lions last season, when Roethlisberger was out due to COVID.
In a 16-16 Week 10 tie to the Lions, Rudolph completed 30 of 50 passes for 242 yards with a touchdown and an interception, along with 36 rushing yards.
In describing what current backups Tim Boyle and David Blough did in the preseason opener against the Falcons, Lions head coach Dan Campbell went double-negative by saying he was “not displeased with those guys, at all.”
The Steelers are more likely to just keep Rudolph than release him, not that it would necessarily come to that. Teams who are hunting for any sort of backup quarterback upgrade are surely calling to gauge what it would take to get him in a trade, and the Lions may very well be among them.
For the Lions this year, a backup quarterback simply has to give off an aura that a win can be had if Jared Goff misses any games. Boyle did not do that in three starts last season.
Even taking into account the solid structure around him in 2019, Rudolph kept things on the rails for the Steelers (5-3 as the starter) and put up numbers that were not disastrous in 10 total games (13 touchdowns, nine interceptions, 62.2 percent completion rate, 82.0 passer rating).
If it takes a Day 3 draft pick for the Lions to get Rudolph, or someone of his general ilk, it should be done without much hesitance. The Lions also happen to play the Steelers in their preseason finale.