Aaron Rodgers may have just gifted the Jets their next quarterback option

At best, Aaron Rodgers’ long-awaited return to the Pittsburgh Steelers might have warranted a shrug in the New York Jets’ front office.

Whatever Rodgers and the Steelers do this fall doesn’t exactly have a direct impact on the Jets. The two teams wouldn’t meet unless both somehow wind up in the playoffs.

There is a greater chance that a talking pig masters the art of flight.

However, the Steelers now find themselves in a small conundrum. Rodgers and rookie Drew Allar now share a quarterback room with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard.

That’s technically four quarterbacks for three roster spots. Of course, Rodgers isn’t going anywhere, and parting ways with Allar after taking him in the third round would be absurd.  

As for Howard and Rudolph? That’s a debate the Jets should be watching with very close eyes.

Should the Jets trade for the Steelers’ Will Howard?

At this stage in his career, Rudolph is an average backup. He doesn’t exactly inspire much hope when pressed into action.  

Then again, we likely said the exact same thing about Geno Smith when the Seahawks turned to him in 2022.

Rudolph has played seven of his eight seasons with the Steelers, and they clearly keep him around for a reason.

That only leaves Howard, a 2025 sixth-round pick who has already earned Mike McCarthy’s praise this offseason.  

With that said, McCarthy wasn’t around when the Steelers drafted Howard last year. He was in the building, though, when the Steelers took Allar last month.

Allar’s arrival already wasn’t a good sign for Howard’s future in Pittsburgh, even before Rodgers decided to rejoin McCarthy.

Regardless, Howard doesn’t make sense for the Jets right now.

Barring an injury, Howard likely would find himself in the exact same situation. The Jets already have an established starter and a 2026 Day 3 pick in Cade Klubnik.

Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe remain on the roster and are expected to battle for the backup quarterback job.

Where would Howard fit into things? The Jets wouldn’t trade for him to try stashing him on the practice squad.

If the Steelers were to cut Howard, that obviously changes things. But why release a quarterback with three years of team control, with how desperate teams are for depth?

Howard makes more sense for a team like the Giants or Falcons, who have young quarterbacks with injury histories. Those teams also possess the bandwidth to let Howard be a third-string developmental option.

Howard will almost certainly open the 2026 NFL season in someone’s quarterback room. There is just no reason for said chance to come with the Jets.

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