When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers' saga with Aaron Rodgers, there likely isn't a more interested party in the outcome than Mason Rudolph.
Rudolph returned to the Steelers this offseason on a two-year, $7.5 million deal after one year with the Tennessee Titans, and he's currently in line to start if Rodgers doesn't land in Pittsburgh.
As the Rodgers-Steelers drama drags on into the start of organized team activities (OTAs) on Tuesday, Rudolph said he isn't concerned with the "constant noise" surrounding the situation and is instead focused on what he can control.
"It's nothing new to me," he said, per 93.7 The Fan. "There's been constant noise, that is the nature of the NFL, so I've been used to that for a long time now. Do nothing but be the best I can be and help our team get better this spring."
When asked about the prospect of starting in 2025, Rudolph had a similar answer.
"The same way I always have," he said, per Chris Adamski of TribLive.com. "Just control what I can control, throw the ball well, lead the guys, play well when I get the chance."
While all signs point to Rodgers signing in Pittsburgh, nothing is ever set in stone with the future Hall of Fame quarterback, who could very well retire.
Earlier this offseason, head coach Mike Tomlin expressed confidence in Rudolph if he was called upon to start.
"That's why we brought him back," Tomlin said in March, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "I'm comfortable with that. We've been there before. He's a very capable guy."
Rudolph made eight starts during his rookie season in 2019, but had just four over his next four seasons with the team. However, three of those starts came at the end of 2023, when Rudolph helped the Steelers get to the playoffs before they were bounced in the wild-card round.
The biggest potential threat to Rudolph's starting job if Rodgers doesn't sign might be Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who ESPN's Jeremy Fowler thinks could be "Plan B" instead of Rudolph.
But we find it hard to believe the Steelers will want to trade draft capital and take on the $37.5 million guaranteed that Cousins is owed through 2026, which means Atlanta will have to pick up some of that to make a trade work.
So far, reports suggest Atlanta isn't willing to do that.