Steelers New Deal with Mason Rudolph Cheaper than Initially Reported
The details have been revealed for the new contract between the Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Mason Rudolph. It was initially reported that the Steelers had signed Rudolph to a two-year, $8 million contract with $4 million guaranteed, but it will actually be less than that.
The Steelers deal with Rudolph is scheduled to pay him $7.5 million over the 2025 and 2026 seasons, and only $3 million of that is guaranteed.
Rudolph will earn a $3 million signing bonus in 2025, along with a $1.5 million salary. In 2026, he has a non-guaranteed salary of $3 million, according to contract details published by Over the Cap on Wednesday.
With those details, Rudolph’s salary cap hit for the 2025 season will be $3 million, with a projected cap hit of $4.5 million in 2026.
If the Steelers cut or trade Rudolph after the 2025 season, they would owe him nothing further, and such a move would incur a $1.5 million dead cap hit for 2026, or split between 2026 and 2027 if after June 1.
The $3.75 million average annual value will still make Rudolph one of the higher-paid backup quarterbacks in the NFL, assuming the Steelers eventually sign or otherwise acquire a starter.
One of the Colts pair of quarterbacks Daniel Jones ($14 million) or Anthony Richardson ($8.5 million) will likely end up as the highest-paid backup, followed by Marcus Mariota of the Washington Commanders ($8 million), Jacoby Brissett of the Arizona Cardinals ($6.25 million), Tyrod Taylor of the New York Jets, Jarrett Stidham of the Denver Broncos and Zach Wilson of the Miami Dolphins ($6 million), Davis Mills of the Houston Texans ($4.1 million), Andy Dalton of the Carolina Panthers and Josh Dobbs of the New England Patriots ($4 million).