Who Should I Start? Mason Rudolph or Shedeur Sanders

Wednesday, May 28, 11:59 AM

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph opened OTAs with the first-team offense on Tuesday, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. This news isn't much of a surprise, but it does confirm head coach Mike Tomlin's vision as full-team practices get underway this summer. Presumably, the starting quarterback job is Rudolph's to lose, barring an external quarterback addition such as Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins. Rudolph's internal competition comes from Skylar Thompson and rookie Will Howard. Thompson has completed just 58.7 percent of his career passes with one touchdown, three interceptions, and two fumbles. He primarily served as a backup over three seasons in Miami. Meanwhile, Howard is a rookie who impressed at Ohio State, but he has suboptimal draft capital as a sixth-round pick. On the other hand, Rudolph has shown flashes of potential during his time with the Steelers (2018-2023) and Titans (2024). In Tennessee last year, he completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,530 yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

Friday, May 30, 11:11 PM

As things stand during organized team activities, The Athletic's Zac Jackson writes that Cleveland Browns rookie fifth-round quarterback Shedeur Sanders is last in line in the team's QB competition between Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. Jackson thinks there's almost no scenario where Gabriel or Sanders win the starting job initially. Sanders got the fewest reps in an OTA practice on Wednesday, but he could make noise quickly as long as he's willing to learn and be coached. The 23-year-old's touch and accuracy has been on display early on. Going into his rookie season in the NFL, Sanders' goal is basically to stay in the team's plans and be deemed worthy of further development. It might be a long shot that we see either of Gabriel or Sanders on the field in 2025, and his ceiling as a dynasty asset might be as a backup QB in the NFL.