Ex-NFL GM Tabs Broncos as Landing Spot for Mason Rudolph

Steelers QB Mason Rudolph will hit free agency this offseason. After the strong surge at the end of the season, he could be in line for a nice payday, especially compared to the desolate free agency period he experienced in 2023. Rudolph even admitted the period took a toll on him.

He was the No. 3 all season, barely getting reps in training camp. So, this is a major step up, but he has done well in his limited opportunities to even get to this point. Getting over those hurdles has allowed him to play well.

“I think we all as players have confidence in ourselves, but we also second guess or we all have doubts,” Rudolph said. “I think all human beings do at times, and you know, when you don’t get a whole lot of interest through a free agency period, and then you’re sitting at the three spot every single day of training camp through the season. It’s definitely a mental battle, but I think the way to win that battleis just to work every day and try to get the most out of the–be faithful with the reps you’ve been given.”

But where could he land? According to former NFL general manager Doug Whaley, the Denver Broncos could be a natural fit for Mason Rudolph with Sean Payton and the team looking to move on from Russell Wilson this offseason.

“Think about this, Sean Payton doesn’t need a mobile quarterback,” Whaley said on 93.7 the Fan. “That type of offense, timing, precise accuracy type thing, every once in and while, a calculated deep shot, it kind of fits what he does. This guy [Rudolph] will be a legitimate stop gap, the way he’s playing right now.”

Rudolph does what you need any good point guard quarterback to do, and that is to distribute the ball around to the right spot. When a guy does that, many other things naturally click into place. His journey to even get to this point is one of the crazier stories of the NFL season. But now, he gets the chance to win a playoff game, and the first one for the Steelers since 2016 if he can pull it off. And he could see the benefit of his labor in the offseason.