Will Howard and Mason Rudolph are two of the three quarterbacks under contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers heading into the 2025 NFL season. The third name in the QB room as of now is Skylar Thompson, whose future in the organization may depend on Aaron Rodgers’ decision.
Selected at No. 185 in the sixth-round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Howard is reportedly entering a four-year deal worth $4.45 million with the Steelers. This estimation is based on the rookie pay scale set on the NFL‘s collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
According to Over The Cap, Howard will have a base salary of $840,000 with the Steelers for the 2025 NFL season. Unsurprisingly, his compensation will be lower than that of Rudolph.
Mason Rudolph’s base salary for 2025 nearly doubles Will Howard
Spotrac reports that Mason Rudolph has a base salary of $1,500,000 for 2025, which means he will almost double Howard’s earnings. It makes sense, since we’re talking about a far more experienced quarterback.
Not only is Rudolph entering his eighth year in the NFL, but he also knows what is like to play for the Steelers. The 2018 third-round pick made 13 starts in 21 appearances in the Steel City, completing 63.5 percent of his passes for 3,085 yards with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
After spending the 2024 NFL season with the Tennessee Titans, Rudolph returned to Pittsburgh this offseason on a two-year deal. According to Spotrac, his contract is worth $7,500,000, with $3,000,000 guaranteed. On top of that, he also got a $3 million signing bonus. His base salary is expected to increase to $3m in 2026, which will further increase the gap with Howard.
Howard and Rudolph to compete in Steelers QB room
The Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback will probably have to work his way to a bigger contract, but he’s just getting started. Regardless of A-Rod’s final answer, both Howard and Rudolph are expected to have a place in Pittsburgh. Without Rodgers, they could be involved in a competition for the starting quarterback job. But if Rodgers does join the team, they may have to battle it out for the backup spot.
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Either way, both will be names to watch during training camp. While Rudolph has the upper hand when it comes to having pro experience―not only in the NFL, but also with the Steelers, Howard is a young prospect the Steelers can mold.