Rudolph was treated very poorly by Mike Tomlin during his first go round in Pittsburgh, to the point that after six years of mostly sitting on the bench there was no market for Rudolph, esp. after being thrust into a starting role for several games on a horrible Tennessee offense last year.
But this signing is one of (possibly temporary) mutual convenience as the Steelers' QB situation is getting desperate. If Aaron Rodgers turns down their offer and Russell Wilson goes elsewhere, Rudolph could have a decent shot at starting, and he might beat out Wilson even if Russell stays in Pittsburgh. Rudolph was quite good down the stretch in '23 after Kenny Pickett was injured, being the reason they made the playoffs that season. It also increases the chances that the organization will now try to draft Jaxson Dart in the first round or second at the latest, though if they wait until the second round Dart may be gone.