Eric EdholmAug 12, 2026
Edholm expects Aaron Rodgers to open the season as Pittsburgh's starter, Mason Rudolph as the clear backup favorite, and rookie Drew Allar as an almost certain roster lock, with Will Howard fighting for the QB3 job.
Published in writing
What Eric Edholm said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromRodgers starts. Rudolph feels like the clear backup favorite. That leaves Allar, an almost sure bet to make the team, and Howard fighting for QB3 honors.
- The piece
- Could Steelers keep 4 QBs on opening roster? Pros, cons for every likely scenario
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 12
- GradedSep 25
- 1Drew Allar to make the roster“That leaves Allar, an almost sure bet to make the team, and Howard fighting for QB3 honors.”
- 2Mason Rudolph to be 2nd on the depth chart“Rudolph feels like the clear backup favorite.”
- 3Aaron Rodgers to be 1st on the depth chart“Rodgers is the starter. ... Rodgers starts.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drew Allar to make the roster1 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 0 | +200 | |
| Mason Rudolph to be 2nd on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Aaron Rodgers to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 1 hit · 2 waiting | 100 | 0 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive3 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Mason Rudolph · 2026 season10 calls from 5 pundits between 2 and 3. Eric Edholm said 2. the room's median is 2. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
1Roster Spot CallsDrew AllarPittsburgh Steelers
Drew Allar to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×2difficulty=+200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- PIT
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Drew Allar
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
2Depth Chart CallsMason RudolphPittsburgh Steelers
Mason Rudolph to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsAaron RodgersPittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Bryan DeArdo · Trade and Signing Calls · Joey Porter Jr. · Miss 0
The piece predicts Joey Porter Jr. most likely stays with the Steelers through 2026, while listing possible trade destinations if they were moved.Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Aaron Rodgers · Miss 0
Eisen ranked their top five most impressive Pro Bowl campaigns of the season, topped by Sam Darnold, and predicted that Sunday would be Aaron Rodgers' last game with the Jets.Bryan DeArdo · Score Predictions · Pittsburgh Steelers · Close 60
DeArdo picks the Steelers to beat the Browns at home in Week 8, citing Pittsburgh's quarterback edge and a running game that should exploit Cleveland's weak run defense.Greg Jennings · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Jennings backed the Vikings to upset the Lions in Detroit, put chips on the Steelers over the Browns, and took the Chiefs to win in Denver.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Pittsburgh Steelers · Close 74
Simms gave straight-up winners with predicted final scores for every Week 8 game, including upset calls on the Ravens in Buffalo, the Broncos over the Chiefs, the Jets over the Raiders and the Seahawks over the Bears, and they expected Josh Downs to play for the Colts despite their trade request.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.