# Bryan DeArdo: A CBS Sports piece lays out Pittsburgh's quarterback pecking order: Aaron Rodgers starts, Mason Rudolph is the No. 2, rookie Drew Allar sits at No. 3 and Will Howard is fourth, with the Steelers expected to keep all four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster rather than trading Howard.

**Claimed:** Aug 28, 2026
**Pundit:** Bryan DeArdo — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/bryan-deardo
**Outlet:** CBS Sports — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/steelers-quarterbacks-predictions-bench-trade-keep/

7 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls and 3 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

3 of 7 have settled so far, averaging 66.7 out of 100, against 66.7 for a naive guess at the same calls.

Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 2.

> As previously established, the Steelers plan on contending this (and every) season, which is why Rudolph will more likely than not be Pittsburgh's No. 2 quarterback.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Drew Allar to make the roster**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Drew Allar, Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Mason Rudolph to make the roster**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess
- **Will Howard to make the roster**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Will Howard, Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess
- **Will Howard to be 4th on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Will Howard, Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Aaron Rodgers to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Drew Allar to be 3rd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Drew Allar, Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Mason Rudolph to be 2nd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Drew Allar — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/drew-allar
- Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/steelers
- Mason Rudolph — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/mason-rudolph
- Will Howard — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/will-howard
- Aaron Rodgers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/aaron-rodgers

## What others said about the same people

- Jack Markowski on Will Howard: Markowski writes that Howard now appears locked into the 53-man roster, that Pittsburgh is unlikely to move Rudolph, and that Rudolph has the inside track to be the backup behind Aaron Rodgers. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1085a04c-1453-40e5-ad1f-1d1573417b37 (scored 100)
- Kevin Patra on Mason Rudolph: Patra argues the Steelers are increasingly likely to keep four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster, with Mason Rudolph and third-round pick Drew Allar both safe, leaving Will Howard's spot as the only real question. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5d2a53ae-b642-4021-9718-b3ab8e83c9b0 (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Robert Tonyan: An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100)
- Noah Strackbein on Michael Pittman: Strackbein predicts the Steelers will keep six wide receivers on the 53-man roster: DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek and Kaden Wetjen. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1552915f-2239-4d0e-afaa-a991d5963946 (scored 100)
- Jack Markowski on Will Howard: Markowski expects quarterback Will Howard to make the Steelers' 53-man roster as one of four quarterbacks provided he is healthy after his head injury. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/99ea5b2e-0891-490d-8ba9-dee6c1fb8076 (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Robert Tonyan: An unsigned PFF fantasy preseason recap makes a series of depth-chart and roster-spot calls: Roman Wilson wins the Steelers' third receiver job over Germie Bernard, Robert Tonyan makes Pittsburgh's roster as the third tight end, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III stick in New England, Mike Washington Jr. is the Raiders' primary backup back, Jalen Nailor stays a Raiders starter, Kaelon Black leads the 49ers' backup running back competition, and Charlie Kolar is the Chargers' top tight end with top-12 fantasy upside. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e9e8a675-165c-4246-a19c-eec9f5dfccf4 (scored 100)

## More depth chart calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Pat Fitzmaurice on Jonah Coleman: In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2cbd48f6-15ea-4aa5-84bc-bcc50d94d09a (scored 0)
- Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100)
- Matt Severance on Deshaun Watson: The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/944568ce-7205-409f-8354-a392016fd8bf (scored 100)
- Rafael Zamorano on Deshaun Watson: Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d7d7e0a2-61e0-4525-970b-b01a2356f11b (scored 100)
- Rich Hribar on Tua Tagovailoa: Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/124ac755-a942-4382-8bad-177da7f8170d (scored 0)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology

We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us:
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