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Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback Mason Rudolph during the 2025 preseason.

Mason Rudolph is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL, but at age 30, it’s unlikely the former third-round pick will ever become the Pittsburgh Steelers’ long-term QB solution, hence this trade idea.

On August 18, just after the second preseason game, Heavy On NFL writer Max Dible proposed that the Steelers trade a 2026 fifth-round draft pick for Chicago Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent, who bears some similarities to Rudolph, but is also much younger at 25 years old.

Like Rudolph in Pittsburgh, Bagent has amassed a cult following in Chicago, and there is a contingent of Bears fans who would rather see him start over former No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, just like there’s a contingent of Steelers fans who would prefer Rudolph over Aaron Rodgers.

The difference is that Williams is a 23-year-old franchise QB who’s not going anywhere, and Rodgers is likely retiring after the 2025 season.

Having said that, this trade pitch would not only pass over and most likely slight Rudolph, but it would also have ramifications for 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard. Let’s break it all down.

Why the Steelers Should Consider Calling About a Trade for Chicago Bears QB Tyson Bagent

As stated above, the Steelers would send the Chicago Bears a 2026 fifth-round pick to acquire Bagent in Dible’s proposal. That type of trade price would be relatively insignificant from a Pittsburgh perspective, being that the Steelers have so many comp picks next year.

“Bagent’s value is in the eye of the beholder,” Dible, who also doubles as a Heavy On Bears reporter, noted. “Bagent was more than competent in five appearances for Chicago as an undrafted rookie in 2023, going 2-2 as the starter and showing a grasp of the game, a lack of fear of the stage/moment, and an ability to make plays with his arm and his legs.”

“Pittsburgh has zero answers beyond this season, and Will Howard is a complete unknown as a Day-3 rookie draft pick,” the NFL writer argued. “Mason Rudolph is a solid enough backup, I suppose, but Pittsburgh should take a low-risk swing on a dude like Bagent, who might be able to give them more than they know they can get from Rudolph after Aaron Rodgers retires next offseason (which he said he plans to do).”

Dible concluded that “Bagent gives the Steelers another option alongside Howard going forward, and potentially the best QB2 option on the team in 2025 should a trade happen. Chicago, meanwhile, is set with Williams as the No. 1 for at least the next two seasons and brought in Case Keenum to compete with Bagent for the backup job this summer. If Keenum wins, or loses by just a little and Chicago can get fifth-round value for a guy they didn’t have to draft, why the heck not?”

Pros & Cons of Steelers QB Mason Rudolph vs. Bears’ Tyson Bagent

At the end of the day, this is a case of the fan favorite you know versus the fan favorite you don’t. On the surface, most Steelers fans would probably scoff at the idea of acquiring a new backup quarterback, given the high opinion of Rudolph around Pittsburgh.

The fan base’s opinion of Rudolph wasn’t always high, however, it’s grown over the years.

In two preseason games this summer, Rudolph has been more than solid, completing 12 of 15 passing attempts for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns (114.6 passer rating). His only blemishes were an interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 1 sack.

Rudolph also seems to have a great grasp of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s system, and he knows the city of Pittsburgh well, as he’s been here for most of his NFL career.

Those are all pros for keeping Rudolph around in 2025 and beyond. But the major cons are his age and ceiling. At age 30, we’ve most likely seen the best of Rudolph, and that’s a plus-backup and serviceable fill-in starter in case of an injury.

Bagent has shown the potential for more, and at the very least, is much younger than Rudolph.

Bagent has earned rave reviews from new head coach Ben Johnson for his ability to quickly learn his offense and playbook. This summer, he’s been less efficient than Rudolph, but he’s also played more snaps and offers more dual-threat possibilities with his legs.

Bagent is currently 26-for-41 with 299 passing yards and 2 touchdowns (1 interception, 3 sacks) over the 2025 preseason, with 18 rushing yards and a 91.4 passer rating.

You also have to take into account that a trade for Bagent would likely mean cutting Howard, who suffered a finger injury in camp. The Steelers could probably get away with stashing the rookie QB on the injured reserve for the first four weeks of the season, keeping Rodgers, Rudolph and Bagent on the roster, but eventually they’d have to waive Howard and hope they can sneak him onto the practice squad.

Michael Obermuller covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, where he began writing in 2021. His areas of focus include the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers, with expert knowledge on each based on years of coverage. Michael is an NYC area native and Quinnipiac graduate. More about Michael Obermuller