The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking for a way to end their eight-year postseason winless streak as the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas Chiefs prepare for the Super Bowl. Fortunately, the Yinz folks seem to have some ideas.
It’s time to open the old mailbag as the conversation about the offseason heats up. We’re talking about the offensive line’s ongoing development, what George Pickens may bring back in a trade, and more today.
Note: For clarity and conciseness, the questions have been slightly revised.
What chance do I have for my adolescent son, who doesn’t really recall the days when the Steelers were a legitimate team, that they would regain their long-lost level of skill before he’s an old man, challenge the Chiefs, Bills, and Ravens for AFC Championships, and stop sitting on their laurels? — Mayfair F.
I’m reminded of my connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates by this question. Even though I’m thirty-five, I’ve never been old enough to watch the Pirates play in a seven-game playoff series. Unfortunately, James Harrison’s pick six seems as archaic as the Immaculate Reception to a whole generation of Steelers supporters who are being brought up in the same manner.
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The best Super Bowl play ever? James Harrison’s oral narrative of his selection 6. Fifteen years later
The draft holds up hope for change. In a way, general manager Omar Khan has taken the long route in his first two selections. Though they weren’t particularly noteworthy signings, offensive linemen like Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, and Zach Frazier are expected to gradually turn the offensive line into the team’s strongest asset.
In my opinion, the Steelers would be in a similar situation to teams from the early 2000s, before Ben Roethlisberger, if they were to assemble another strong draft class that included a dynamic running back in the middle rounds. These teams would have an average quarterback, a solid defense, and a dependable running game. They would then need to select a quarterback in the 2026 draft if they wanted to advance and truly contend with the AFC’s top three teams.
Our offensive line is still regarded as one of the worst in the league even after numerous draft selections were invested on it. Is it coaching, poor draft selections, or something else? — Profpmg218
This is my perspective on it: Given that Jones only made 22 starts at Georgia, the Steelers understood he was raw when they selected him in the draft. However, they were putting their faith in offensive line coach Pat Meyer to take a kid with exceptional physical gifts and help him realize his full potential by selecting Jones 14th. It has not yet occurred. It didn’t help that Jones wasn’t sure if he would play on the left or right side throughout the 2024 preseason.
With far less, many other offensive line coaches have accomplished much more. See how Mike Munchak turned collegiate tight end Alejandro Villanueva—who had never played offensive tackle—into a Pro Bowl player. Jordan Mailata, a rugby player who had never participated in an organized football game, was turned into one of the league’s most dependable tackles by Philadelphia offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. Notable is also the fact that Kevin Dotson, who was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, has performed at a level that is almost Pro Bowl-caliber.
After considering everything, I would have moved on from Meyer, but the Steelers had other ideas.
To Meyer’s credit, James Daniels missed the most of his season due to a ruptured Achilles, Fautanu played in just one game before suffering a season-ending knee injury, and Seumalo suffered a preseason pec ailment that may have impacted his play. When Fautanu returns the next season, the line must advance significantly, or Meyer’s time in Pittsburgh may come to an end.
Why do the Steelers still employ coaches like Meyer and Teryl Austin who are obviously ineffective? Is it simply general cheapness by ownership, or is it a case of the sunk cost fallacy? Dave V.
Although I’m not positive, I think owner Art Rooney II views the matter thus way: For the past three seasons, Austin has served as the defensive coordinator. The Steelers have finished with a top-10 scoring defense each of those three seasons. Instead of paying Austin to stop coaching, Rooney most likely thought the DC had done well enough to keep him on board because he still had a year left on his contract.
I refer to it as The Curse of Creed—the 2021 draft was the cause of the Steelers’ decline into mediocrity. The Steelers’ offensive line was damaged by their decision to choose Kendrick Green and Dan Moore Jr. instead of Creed Humphrey with their second-round choice. What do you believe to be our largest draft error over the past ten years? — Gaile V.
You should start referring to it as the Curse of Colbert, in my opinion. The Steelers remain mired in the middle because of previous general manager Kevin Colbert’s difficult last years, despite the fact that he brought a Super Bowl to Pittsburgh. Artie Burns (2016), Terrell Edmunds (2018), Najee Harris (2021), Kenny Pickett (2022), and Jarvis Jones (2013) are just a handful of the first-round flops.
But 2019 was the worst, in my view. The Steelers squandered choices in Rounds 2 (No. 52) and 3 (No. 83 in the 2020 draft) in the trade-up for Devin Bush, an undersized inside linebacker, in addition to missing out on him. Overall, that class of 2019 may rank among the most underwhelming in recent memory. Bush was followed in the third round by Justin Layne and Diontae Johnson, in the fourth by Benny Snell Jr., in the fifth by Zach Gentry, in the sixth by Sutton Smith, Isaiah Buggs, and Ulysees Gilbert, and in the seventh by Derwin Gray.
What makes watching and caring about the Steelers the following season worth my time? Rob T.
For that reason, you adore my coverage at The Athletic?
In your opinion, what kind of return would George Pickens receive from a trade? And do you believe he would be moved by the Steelers? — Will R.
Predicting what a receiver would bring in a trade is frequently challenging. Reputation, age, contract status, and upside all matter. Because the Bears thought Chase Claypool could become a star, the Steelers received a premium second-round selection in return. However, due to Diggs’ age, cap hit, and unpredictable character, the Bills also forfeited a 2024 sixth-round selection and a 2025 fifth-round pick when they traded four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs for a second-round pick.
Calvin Ridley was traded by the Falcons for a 2023 fifth-round pick and a 2024 conditional pick that turned into a third-round pick when he was serving a full-season ban for gambling. The Ravens received a first-round pick in exchange for Marquise Brown and a third. At the far higher end, the Chiefs acquired Tyreek Hill in 2022 in exchange for future fourth- and sixth-round selections as well as first-, second-, and fourth-round picks. In exchange for first- and second-round picks, the Raiders purchased Davante Adams from the Packers during the same offseason.
I don’t think anyone would sacrifice such a huge haul as the Adams or Hill transactions. For Pickens, I believe a selection in the second round would be reasonable. Would Pittsburgh do it? Mike Tomlin’s desire to retain Pickens and Rooney’s willingness to split ways made sense to me. We’ll have to wait and see what Khan chooses.
Roman Wilson was selected in the third round. — Corey R. Why is there so little discussion on him covering the well-established WR2 gap?
Last season, the Steelers were depending on Wilson to be a contender for the WR2 position, and see how that worked out. Wilson would theoretically be a good addition to Pickens. The Michigan product wowed the Steelers throughout the pre-draft process with his ability to get in and out of cuts fast, and he did the most of his damage between the numbers. The problem is that as a rookie, he was unavailable and unreliable.
During training camp, he first injured his ankle. He then sustained a hamstring injury, which persisted until he was placed on injured reserve. That was all following a lackluster OTA period. It’s reasonable to have doubts until Wilson demonstrates that he can maintain his health and gain the confidence of the staff. Wilson and Calvin Austin III should be the Steelers’ third and fourth wide receivers, respectively, in my opinion.
If Cooper Kupp’s deal could be renegotiated, would the Steelers be interested in him? — Greg T.
Despite his age (he turns 32 in June) and injury history, Kupp would be a schematic match for the Steelers since he is a dependable target over the middle of the field and a willing blocker. I believe the Steelers will investigate this thoroughly.
Do you think the Steelers will defy expectations and choose a receiver in the first round? — Bret C.
As you mentioned, the Steelers have a history of selecting wide receivers in the middle of the draft, most notably Antonio Brown, a sixth-round selection. How much might change as a result of Andy Weidl’s influence as assistant general manager? Philadelphia used first-round selections on Jalen Reagor (2020), DeVonta Smith (2021), and A.J. Brown (2022, via trade) while he was with the Eagles. The Steelers using a first- or second-round pick at this position is absolutely something I could see happening.
What would have to happen the next year for Tomlin to resign or lose his job? Have a poor track record? Going from 5 to 12? A 45-point loss in a playoff game? Suddenly having a fourth of the gamers taken hostage? — Kyle H.
The Steelers responded to their seven-year playoff win streak by handing coach Mike Tomlin a raise that put him among the highest-paid coaches in the league after they were thrashed by the Bills in the wild-card round in January 2024. The Rooney family would never pay Tomlin tens of millions to not coach if they don’t mind spending a few hundred thousand dollars dismissing a position coach.
Regardless of how poorly this season turns out, I genuinely can’t imagine a situation in which Tomlin isn’t the coach in 2026. I know this isn’t the response you’re searching for. Tomlin could be amenable to waiving his no-trade clause. However, that also doesn’t seem realistic.
Although there has been much discussion about revisions, nothing has materialized as of yet. Was that simply chatter, or is that just timing? Dan A.
All of it seems to be just chatter. Aaron Curry, the coach of the inside linebackers, accepted a new position with the Jets. Additionally, there are a few other position coaches whose contracts are up for renewal. However, I believe that they are all merely aesthetic adjustments that are more concerned with appearance than with bringing about significant change. The Steelers will need to make a large trade to add a player to the roster if they are going to make any kind of roster change at this time.
Would the Steelers think about enlisting an outside expert, like Mike McCarthy, to assess the team’s persistent postseason failures? — Steve S.
Getting a different viewpoint might be beneficial. However, they won’t.
Which mid-round running back do you think the Steelers might select, assuming Najee Harris has played his final game in black and gold? — Stephen D.
For a Steelers team that intends to dominate time of possession and the line of scrimmage, the running back selection may be just as crucial as the quarterback position, which has been taking center stage in the media. In my opinion, Omarion Hampton will likely be selected early in Round 2 and Ashton Jeanty will be selected before the Steelers are on the clock in the first round.
I believe that starting in the third round, the Steelers might begin to look at a running back. TreVeyon Henderson of Ohio State or Kaleb Johnson of Iowa are two potential candidates. However, there are many factors to take into account in a skilled and deep running back class. When draft day approaches, I’ll have a lot more to say on the running back class.
What other positions do you think Omar Khan will seek for in free agency, except quarterback (which I hope they don’t) and wide receiver? — Spencer H.
Given the nature of that position and the Steelers’ difficulties developing young talent in the secondary, I am in favor of paying a cornerback rather than attempting to develop one, even though it would require increasing defense spending (or at the very least reallocating funds from one position to another). The Jets’ D.J. Reed, the 49ers’ Charvarius Ward, the Bills’ Rasul Douglas, the Lions’ Carlton Davis, and the Chargers’ Asante Samuel Jr. are among the best candidates in a strong class at this position.
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