Report: Mason Rudolph, Tennessee Titans agree to terms on one-year deal
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a big splash to start the negotiation period of free agency, agreeing to terms with Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson. With Wilson set to join the franchise once free agents can officially sign contracts, it was inevitable that there would be some fallout with the other QBs who were in the Steelers locker room last season. On Wednesday, Mike Garafolo confirmed that former starting quarterback Mason Rudolph would not be returning to Pittsburgh and will be joining one of their AFC foes.
“The Titans have agreed to terms with former Steelers QB Mason Rudolph on a one-year deal worth up to $3.62 million, source says. After six seasons with the #Steelers that ended on a high note with solid play down the stretch, Rudolph gets a fresh start in Tennessee,” said Garafolo via X.
Last season, Rudolph played in four games and started in three for the Steelers. All three starts were at the end of the year when Kenny Pickett was on the mend. In those three games, Rudolph led Pittsburgh to a 3-0 record, securing a spot in last year’s playoff field. In those three games, he completed 74.3 percent of his passes (55-74) while throwing for 719 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions.
Rudolph leaves Pittsburgh with an 8-4-1 record as a starter in 13 starts over the last four seasons.
More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency
The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who are set to become unrestricted free agents.
In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline comes the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.
More on restricted, exclusive rights free agents
Players with only three years of accredited NFL experience become restricted free agents. Their original team will have the option to apply first-round, second-round, original-round, and right-of-fight-of-first-refusal tenders on players at escalating price tags. The higher the round, the more expensive the tender amount; however, if a separate team does offer a contract and the original team does not match, that round’s pick will be conveyed from the new team to the original team. Right of first refusal only gives a team the option to match or not. If they don’t match, they get nothing in return. An original-round tender would send a draft pick from whatever round the player was drafted back to the original team if they chose not to match. The original team will have five days to match once a player signs an offer sheet from a new team.