If the Raiders can’t get their backup QB off the waiver wire, there is one team that would be more than willing to trade for cheap
The Las Vegas Raiders could trade with the Pittsburgh Steeler for mason Rudolph.
Aidan O’Connell, the Las Vegas Raiders backup quarterback behind Geno Smith, is set to be out for six to eight weeks with a fractured wrist, which he sustained against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. Now, the Raiders have an issue: who is their backup QB in 2025?
Cam Miller, a developmental rookie, can’t be, yet. He still has a way to go before he is ready for that responsibility. They could go out and get someone off the waiver wire, like Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who was released by the Philadelphia Eagles, or Kenny Pickett, who the Cleveland Browns could release.
But what if they see a player that they can’t pass up on the waiver wire, and it comes back around to them, and there are no more backup quarterbacks available that they like? Would they trade for someone? Honestly, I’m not sure if they wouldn’t or not, but if that specific scenario happens, there’s a team that would be willing to trade away a starter who fits Pete Carroll’s criteria for cheap, too.
Raiders should trade for Pittsburgh Steelers backup QB Mason Rudolph
When Pete Carroll was asked about the kind of backup QB he wants, he was direct in saying that the passer must have experience. So, that’s another reason why Miller likely won’t be overtaking O’Connell, yet.
But Mason Rudolph of the Pittsburgh Steelers makes a ton of sense.
The Steelers have a quarterback problem that a lot of teams wish they had. They have three backups that they like, but Pittsburgh is far from likely to carry four signal callers outside of placing Will Howard on injured reserve. So teams could come calling for either Skylar Thompson or Mason Rudolph.
The Raiders are one of those teams, seeing as backup O’Connell is expected to miss a significant amount of time. Insert Rudolph. According to Justin, the Raiders’ preferred choice, I think the Steelers would be better off trading Rudolph than Skylar Thompson anyway. Thompson has the higher ceiling for what the Steelers want to do, and he’s been much better this preseason. But from the Raiders’ standpoint, trading for a proven veteran at the position makes more sense. Rudolph was the catalyst behind the Steelers’ 2023 run to the playoffs and was the best QB on the Tennessee Titans last year. It could be a win-win for both sides if the compensation works out. – Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Steelers writer
Rudolph has started 18 games in his career, which is technically like playing an entire season. He has an above .500 record in those games, which is also something Carroll would be interested in because he likes winners. Backup QBs don’t win because their teams usually aren’t that good if the backup QB is in.
Rudolph has been in the league for five years, too, having played in a handful of NFL systems. So, he could come in and learn Chip Kelly’s system fairly quickly. And the most this would cost is a sixth-round pick, and it could even be a seventh-rounder. This is absolutely something the Raiders could do if it got to that.
