Tag Archives: Justin Fields

Steelers 2026 Draft Needs at Tight End: Time to Tighten Up Depth

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Tight end was supposed to be a position of strength in the Steelers 2025 offense.

Instead it was a source of frustration, for the most part. Two of the four tight ends from the Steelers 2025 roster are gone – Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington remain while Connor Heyward left in free agency and Jonnu Smith got his walking papers.

So Omar Khan and Mike McCarthy will have to add someone, but how urgent of a need is tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers going into the 2026 NFL Draft?

This is the latest article in our Steelers 2026 Draft series.

Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward during the Steelers 2025 win over the Miami Dolphins at Acrisure Stadium.

Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward celebrate a touchdown. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images via A to Z Sports.

The Steelers Tight End Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Starters

We will not remember Kevin Colbert’s final drafts fondly. But he clearly made the right pick when he drafted Pat Freiermuth in the 2nd round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Pat Freiermuth won the starting job as a rookie and has appeared in all but five games since then. Far more importantly, Pat Freiermuth has been the most consistent player on the Pittsburgh Steelers offense during that entire span.

When Ben Roethlisberger, Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers have absolutely needed to complete a pass, they’ve looked Pat Freiermuth’s way. Hence, the frustration in 2025 when Arthur Smith gave playing time to Jonnu Smith at Freiermuth’s expense.

One player who the Steelers did look to involve whenever possible was Darnell Washington. You can see for yourself:

The Steelers drafted Darnell Washington in the 4th round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and the prospect of a 6’7” 264 pound (that’s his weight listed in Pro Football Reference. Yeah, right) tight end captivated the imagination of Steelers Nation.

Washington’s overall numbers as a pass catcher are not terribly impressive, but his role has grown on the offense every year, and he continues to improve. More importantly, as the clip above reveals, Washington has potential as a weapon in the passing game that goes well beyond what’s stats measure.

Oh, and Washington enough of an asset as a blocker that veteran Steelers scribe Jim Wexell thinks he may one day follow in Larry Brown’s footsteps and transition to tackle.

Larry Brown, Super Bowl IX

Larry Brown catches a touchdown in Super Bowl XI. Photo Credit, Twitter, Vintage Steelers

Pat Freiermuth already has 5 years of experience under his belt and is just 28 years and remains under contract through the 2028 season.

Darnell Washington is 24, and although he’s only got one year remaining on his rookie contract, the Steelers have already indicated that re-upping him is one of this summer’s priorities.

The Steelers Tight End Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Backup

If the Steelers have two solid starters at tight end, the cupboard behind them is pretty bare. The only other tight end they have is JJ Galbreath. JJ Galbreath played at South Dakota was part of the Steelers 2025 undrafted rookie free agent class.

At the time, Steel City Insider’s Roy Coutryman described him this way:

He possesses an enticing build (6-3, 231) with solid length (32 arms) that needs more bulk to withstand the rigors of the next level. However, his athletic testing speaks for itself with a 4.67 40, 38 inch vertical, and agility times (4.20 short shuttle and 6.82 3-cone) that put him on par with some of the best in the league.

Galbreath is an ideal candidate to squirrel away on the practice squad for a year while he adds the necessary strength and bulk to contribute in the run game. His athleticism and prowess as a pass-catcher alone make him enough of a talent that deserves monitoring during training camp.

The Steelers did cut him at the end of the summer and put him on the practice squad, but his stint there was short, as they released him on mid-September, but did sign him to a futures contract in January.

Steelers 2026 Draft Needs at Tight End

And the Steelers resigned Connor Heyward their draft need at tight end would be Fair and possibly trending towards Low.

But they let Heyward walk, and the only other tight end they have on their roster was a guy who they didn’t deem worthy of a practice squad spot beyond week 2.

The Pittsburgh Steelers draft needs scale

They’re set at starter with Freiermuth and Washington as their starters. And, assuming they can sign Washington and both enjoy good health the Steelers shouldn’t have toe worry about finding starter-capable or future starting tight end for at least a season or two.

By they must add depth behind Freiermuth and Washington, so the Steelers need at tight end going into the 2026 NFL Draft must be considered as Moderate.

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The Pros and Cons of the Steelers Re-signing Aaron Rodgers in 2026

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Aaron Rodgers has yet to decide if he wants to play in 2026, but if are Mike McCarthy, Omar Khan and Art Rooney II right to welcome him back?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have no long-term answer at quarterback and haven’t since Ben Roethlisberger threw out his arm in 2019.

  • That’s not for lack of trying.

They’ve attempted quarterback-reclamation projects, signing not one but three former first-round picks. Two flamed out and Dwayne Haskins, God rest his soul, passed way. They’ve tried investing a first-round pick and, if nothing else, proved Pittsburgh can embrace the “fail fast principle” when warranted.

They’ve also tried what Jim Wexell termed as the Bobby Layne approach, signing an aging franchise QB. Twice. Results have been a bit better, but neither veteran has improved the Steelers post-season prospects.

With that backstory in mind, we look at the Pros and Cons of resigning Aaron Rodgers.

Aaron Rodgers, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Steelers vs Dolphins, Steelers vs Dolphins MNF

Aaron Rodgers flicks it as Minkah Fitzpatrick can only watch. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Capsule Profile of Aaron Rodgers’ Career with the Steelers

IF Pittsburgh Magazine did a “Person of the Year” award for the city of Pittsburgh then Aaron Rodgers would have won hands down. He dominated Steelers storylines for months – even before he made his covert stop at the South Side in April.

When he signed in June, the narrative on the off season shifted from “the franchise is in intentional tank” mode to “We’re All In!”

Neither proved to be true, but Rodgers did mesh well with the team, and proceeded to start 16 of 17 games for the Steelers in the regular season. His record was 10-6, he threw498 passes for 327 completions on 498 attempts, for 3322 yards with 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

He was 0-1 in the playoffs, where he barely completed 50% of his passes and had 2 defensive scores.

The Case for the Steelers Resigning Aaron Rodgers in 2026

The case for the Steelers resigning Aaron Rodgers in 2026 proceeds from the speicifc to the general.

Since Ben Roethlisberger retired, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Justin Fields, Kyle Allen (you forgot about him, didn’t you?), Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers have all thrown passes for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Everyone but Allen has started multiple games for the franchise.

Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, Steelers 2022 quarterback competition

Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph. Photo Credit: Brandon Sloter / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images and The Athletic.)

Aaron Rodgers gave the Steelers their best quarterbacking they’ve enjoyed since Roethlisberger retired. And its not even close.

Yes, you can quibble as Joe Starkey did that Russell Wilson had a better passer rating by a hair. Yeah, and Walter Abercrombie had a better career rushing average then Jerome Bettis….

Seriously, the reason why the Steelers closed the season strong in 2025 while sputtering in 2024 was because Aaron Rodgers elevated his play and the team in ways that Wilson tried and failed to do.

Beyond that, there is also the inconvenient truth that, the Steelers long term answer at quarterback probably isn’t out there to be found in the 2026 off season. Even if he is out there in the draft or already on the roster in the form of Will Howard, Rodgers would serve as a mentor.

Then, there’s the question of cost. Assuming Rodgers is open to playing at the salary level he played at in 2025, the Steelers will never get that level of play at quarterback for that salary cap from another NFL veteran.

  • Finally, there’s the question of Aaron Rodgers and his relationship with Mike McCarthy.

The last time the Steelers had a new head coach, Twitter did not even exist and Facebook’s biggest competitor was probably “MySpace.” Mike Tomlin’s thumbprint is deeply engrained on the fabric of the franchise.

Mike McCarthy is going to do things differently. And even if those changes will be for the better, they’re bound to create tension. Having Aaron Rodgers in the locker room can ensure that that tension is directed constructively.

The Case Against the Steelers Resigning Aaron Rodgers in 2026

Going from general to specific, the case against the Steelers resigning Aaron Rodgers in 2026 starts with the fact that the team continues to kick the quarterback can down the road.

The Steelers have had at least three chances for a “clean” reset since Ben Roethlisberger’s injury in 2019, and each time they’ve focused on the here and now. How many more band aids can the franchise apply?

Aaron Rodgers safety, Khalil Mack, Aaron Rodgers, Steelers vs Chargers, Steelers vs Chargers SNF,

Khalil Mack sacks Aaron Rogers for a safety. Photo Credit: IMAGN Images, via Tribune-Review

And while Aaron Rodgers may have been a “good” quarterback and played “well” at times in 2025 there’s a harsh reality hiding behind some of those numbers: Rodgers struggled against defenses with elite pass rushes. Worse than struggling, he looked skittish, kinda like a 42 year old man who was rapidly tiring of getting hit by 250 to 300 pound 20 somethings.

Sure, the offensive line can mature and build on the improvements it showed during the course of 2025. But overall that’s not a tendency that will improve.

The Curtain’s Call on the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers in 2026

The ball is in Aaron Rodgers’ court. Art Rooney, Omar Khan and Mike McCarthy all say that Aaron Rodgers wants back.

  • When he was in New York, Rodgers said he’d be open to playing for McCarthy again.

By all accounts Rodgers liked the team and the city. Assuming Rodgers is willing to play for the same type of salary he played at in 2026 there’s every reason why the Steelers should and will welcome him back.

Regardless, Rodgers has to make a choice and he must do it before free agency. Neal Coolong has suggested that Rodgers may wait to see if Minnesota is interested – that’s his prerogative, but the Steelers cannot wait.

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Mike Tomlin Steelers Legacy: 19 Years of Winning in Pittsburgh

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Mike Tomlin left the Pittsburgh Steelers the same way he arrived – unheralded and unanticipated.

When Bill Cowher called it a day after the Steelers 2006 season, everyone knew either Russ Grimm or Ken Whisenhunt would get the job. Art Rooney II admitted that he didn’t expect to hire yet Mike Tomlin when he walked in the door, but Tomlin knocked his and Dan Rooney’s socks off.

By the same token, Art Rooney wasn’t expecting Mike Tomlin to step away following the loss to the Texans. But step away he has. Here we review Mike Tomlin’s full legacy as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, balancing his accomplishments and shortcomings, all framed within their historical context.

Mike Tomlin, Mike Tomlin Franco Harris Jersey, Steelers vs Raiders

Mike Tomlin wearing a Franco Harris jersey. Photo Credit: Fred Vuich, AP via St. Albert Gazette

2007 – 2010: Cementing the Franchise Legacy

Few NFL coaches get handed the keys to a Super Bowl team.

If you think that winning is “simple” for them then please Google Phil Bengtson, Ray Handley and Richie Petitbon. A coach who takes the reins of a Super Bowl-caliber team must do much more than “not mess up.”

As Willie Colon explains, “It’s hard to grab the keys to the Porsche and not crash it.”

In his first season, Mike Tomlin took an underperforming team that had gone 8-8 in 2006 and led them to a 10-6 record and an AFC North Championship.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, Ben Roethlisberger connected with Heath Miller to bring the Steelers within 5 points. Mike Tomlin went for two. Roethlisberger hit Hines Ward bringing narrowing the difference to three.

Except Sean Mahan got flagged for holding. Tomlin didn’t bat an eye and went for two again. But this time, Roethlisberger couldn’t connect.

  • The Steelers did score again. But so did the Jaguars who won the game 31 to 29.

The move was controversial at the time, but with social media in its infancy the fan rage muted by 2026 standards.

But by doubling down in going for 2, Mike Tomlin established his legacy as a head coach who would put games in the hands of his players and trust them to deliver with the game on the line.

With the Arizona Cardinals threatening to take the lead as the first half closed, James Harrison, granted the freedom to freelance by Tomlin and Dick LeBeau, audibled out of his pass rush assignment and dropped into coverage. 100 yards later Harrison authored the longest run in Super Bowl history, putting the Steelers up 17 to 7.

james harrison, super bowl xliii, interception, record, pick six

James Harrison’s dramatic interception in Super Bowl XLIII

By the time more points were needed to put Pittsburgh back in the lead, the culture of trust and confidence in one another Tomlin had built proved to be the difference maker, as observed at the time:

the Steelers poise and camaraderie were consistent for four quarters. The men in Black and Gold never lost their belief in themselves nor their faith in one another. When faced with adversity, they persevered, they remained determined. And they did it together. That’s been the case all season.

And that’s what made them Super Bowl champions.

The Steelers 2009 season will and should be remembered for the Super Bowl hangover Tomlin tried and failed to avoid.

  • But 2009 revealed something important about Tomlin: His ability to rally a down team.

Memories have faded, but Tomlin’s Steelers never looked worse than they did during 2009’s 5-game losing streak. Yet, Tomlin rallied them for 3 straight wins.

In 2010, the Steelers suffered one of their worst off seasons ever as the word “Midgeville” entered the vernacular. Willie Colon was lost for the season in June. With Ben Roethlisberger suspended for 4 games, Tomlin brought Byron Leftwich back to Pittsburgh. Leftwich broke his leg in preseason.

By week, 2 Mike Tomlin was playing Charlie Batch, effectively his 4th string quarterback, and traveling to Tennessee, starting UDFA Steve McLeodon over Casey Hampton and authoring arguably the greatest defensive performance in franchise history.

  • By the time 2010 ended, the Steelers were in their 3 Super Bowl in 6 years.

Super Bowl XLV ended with a loss , but that didn’t change the fact that as new decade began, it was no longer a question of 4 Super Bowls for Chuck Noll and 1 for Bill Cowher, it was 6 Super Bowls for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as Kevin Colbert observed.

2011 – 2017: The Under Appreciated Rebuild

Mike Tomlin isn’t the only coach to take over a Super Bowl team and win another Lombardi. But continuing to win for more a couple-of-three seasons is much more challenging.

  • Just ask Barry Switzer or Mike Martz.

Yet, despite the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement leaving the Steelers in Salary Cap purgatory, Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert managed .500 seasons in 2012 and again in 2013 – after a 2-4 start no less. The 2012 season stands out for one simple reason – it contains the only Mike Tomlin-coached game where the Steelers were eliminated from playoff contention.

  • By 2014 the Steelers returned to the playoffs, as they did in 2015 and 2016.

As observed elsewhere on this site, the Steelers Killer Bees were too true to their name. Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown only played 3 of a possible 7 playoff games together.

Steelers Killer Bees, Steelers Killer Bs, Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell

The Steelers Killer Bees were too true to their name. Photo Credit: pegitboard.com

(Rhetorical question “How might Chuck Noll have fared had Bradshaw, Franco, Swann and Stallworth been similarly unavailable for his playoff runs?”)

Injuries aside, by the time the Steelers reached the 2016 AFC Championship game, the only three players who remained from the 2008 Super Bowl squad were James Harrison, Ben Roethlisberger and long snapper Greg Warren.

Yes, Tom Brady seared the Steelers that night in New England, but the fact that Mike Tomlin got his team there with three rookies defensive starters, without Cam Heyward in the lineup and with Robert Golden logging 36% of the defensive snaps speaks volumes about his coaching acumen.

Steelers vs Patriots, Steelers vs Patriots 2016 AFC Championship, Javon Hargrave, Tom Brady

Javon Hargrave sacks Tom Brady early in the ’16 AFC Championship. Photo Credit: Charles Krupa, AP via Mercury News.

As badly as another AFC Championship loss to the Patriots stung, the Steelers seemed to be back.

Alas, tragedy would close the Super Bowl window that Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert had re-opened 12 games later, when Ryan Shazier fell to the turf paralyzed from the waist down at Paul Brown Stadium.

From there on out, Mike Tomlin would be forced to do more with less.

Interlude: Tomlin’s Warts — Assistant Coaches and Talent Evaluation

And there’s a reason why Tomlin had to do more with less. As Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher did before him, Mike Tomlin had his flaws.

The infamous post-penalty 2-point conversion foreshadowed one of them. Sean Mahan was called for holding, and he’d been hand-picked by Mike Tomlin from Tampa Bay. Mahan traded away at a fire-sale price next September.

  • That raised the question on why Tomlin chose to bring Mahan to Pittsburgh in the first place.

Yes, Mike Tomlin managed to pluck Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt at the bottom of the first round. He and his scouts found gems like Antonio Brown and Kelvin Beachum in the 6th and 7th rounds.

But as the Steelers struggled to Re-Load for Ben Roethlisberger, they swung and missed badly as any sober evaluation of their 2018, 2019, and 2020 draft classes reveals. 2021 wasn’t much better, but Salary Cap Armageddon, combined with injuries and surprise retirements, forced them  to reach to fill needs.

D.K. Metcalf, Terrell Edmunds, Steelers vs Seahawks

D.K. Metcalf burns Terrell Edmunds for a touchdown. Photo Credit: Yahoo.com

This isn’t the sole responsibility of Mike Tomlin, but his voice was at the ver least, the first among equals in the draft war room.

  • In contrast, Mike Tomlin did have a free hand in picking assistant coaches.

Let’s be objective and acknowledge Mike Munchak, Danny Smith, Karl Dunbar, Richard Mann, Al Everest and, arguably, Todd Haley as good hires.

But those were balanced out by the Bob Ligasheskys, Amos Joness, Carnell Lakes and Joey Porter Sr’s (anyone notice how Bud Dupree blossomed when Keith Butler returned to the linebackers room?) Tomlin changed offensive line coaches not named Munchak the way everyone else changes underwear.

His signature attempt to cultivate an innovative coaching talent was Matt Canada. Canada holds the infamous distinction of being the only Steelers coordinator to be fired mid-season in the modern era.

Selecting assistant coaches wasn’t Tomin’s strength, and this weakness weighed him down.

2018 – 2025 – Doing More with Less

The post-Shazier/playoff drought phase of Tomlin tenure will remain a lightning rod for generations. So be it.

  • Here the focus is on what Mike Tomlin achieved as instead of what he failed to achieve.

Three examples highlight Tomlin’s skill as both a leader and as a football tactician: Quarterbacks, the 2021 season and the 2025 season.

Quarterbacks

The Steelers franchise deserves all the criticism it gets for bungling the post-Roethlisberger transition. I can’t prove it, but I suspect Mike Tomlin wanted to draft Lamar Jackson but got beaten to the punch.

Be that as it may, following Roethlisberger’s injury in 2019, Mason Rudolph, Devlin Hodges, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers all started for the Steelers.

Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, Steelers 2022 quarterback competition

Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph. Photo Credit: Brandon Sloter / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images and The Athletic.)

Do Coach-quarterback records say more about the coach or the QB? Who knows? Either way they yield valuable insights such as:

  • Don Shula reached a Super Bowl with David Woodley – Score one for Shula.
  • Bill Belichick’s record without Tom Brady is piss poor – draw your own conclusions.
  • Joe Gibbs won three Super Bowls with three different QBs – Yeah Joe is underrated.
  • Noll & Malone beat Walsh & Montana. Twice – Score one for The Emperor.

Rudolph, Hodges, Tribusiky, Pickett, Fields along with an aging Wilson and an even older Rodgers offer a wide spectrum in terms of talent and pedigree.

  • The only one with a losing record in Pittsburgh was Trubisky.

The rest have losing records in their post-Steelers lives, and Hodges, who was .500 as a Steelers starter, couldn’t even secure a spot on another team’s practice squad.

Enough said.

The 2021 Season

We remember Ben Roethlisberger going out with a bang in 2021 after seven 4th quarter comebacks. He gets  he lion’s share of the credit for the 9-7-1 finish.

But what we forget ’21 Steelers had an offensive line held together with spit, duct tape and bubble gum and a defensive line that had Cameron Heyward playing alongside career backups and practice squanders.

Few credit Mike Tomlin for keeping that team together. But they should.

The 2025 Season

Mike Tomlin’s Yin and Yang was on full display 2025.

During the off season, Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan took several calculated personnel risks.

One was that the trio of Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay and Joey Porter Jr. backed by safety Juan Tornhill could deliver the shutdown secondary necessary to combat Joe Burrow’s video game-like passing attack. On offense, they gambled that Roman Wilson would grow into a legit WR No 2.

  • Burrow didn’t get a chance to test them, but Joe Flacco did and exposed them.
  • Roman Wilson flashed (well, flickered) early on but finished the year inactive.

By season’s end, Mike Tomlin had brought in 3 new defensive backs and moved the pieces around so that only secondary starter was playing in his opening day position. He did something similar at wide receiver adding not one but two cast offs.

Jalen Ramsey, Tua Tagovailoa, Steelers vs Dolphins, Steelers vs Dolphins MNF

Jalen Ramsey sacks Tua Tagovailoa. Photo Credit: Alysia Rubin, Steelers.com

The changes resulted in a team that lost 5 of 7 games to close November at 6-6, to one went 4-1 down the stretch and won the AFC Championship.

Sweet Steelers Symmetry

Early in his tenure, a reader asked Ed Bouchette in a Post-Gazette chat to compare Tomlin to his predecessors. Bouchette opined that Tomlin struck him as a cross between Noll and Cowher.

So there’s something poetic about Mike Tomlin finishing with 193 regular season wins, just as Chuck Noll did. And its fitting that Tomin’s Super Bowl record of 1-1 match’s Bill Cowher’s.

Bill Cowher, Mike Tomlin, Chuck Noll, Steelers Six Lombardi Trophies, Mike Tomlin Bill Cowher photo

Bill Cowher interviews Mike Tomlin. Photo Credit: Steelers.com

Noll and Cowher boast better post-season percentages, yet Tomlin’s regular season squads never swooned to the depths his predecessors touched.

Thank you Mike Tomlin for 1 Super Bowl, 2 AFC Championships, 8 AFC North Titles, 14 playoff experiences and 193 wins.

Thank you for giving us 19 years of a “winning era.”

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Steelers 2025 Thanksgiving Honors: Pat Freiermuth

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Say it now Steelers Nation and say it in unison, “Muuth!!”

Yes, you hear the battle cry on the road almost as often and  almost as automatic on the road as you do at Acruisure. When you hear it, you know that things are going well. And things are going well because the new number 88 for the Pittsburgh Steelers has just authored the play.

And that’s why we’re happy to give 2025 Steelers Thanksgiving Honors to Pat Freiermuth

Pat Freiermuth, Jordan Battle, Steelers vs Bengals, Steelers vs Bengals TNF

Pat Freiermuth stiff arms Jordan Battle en route to the end zone. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

The Steelers Twists and Turns @ Tight End

Tight end is one of those tricky positions for the Steelers.

Under Chuck Noll it went from a position of strength featuring players like Larry Brown, Randy Grossman and Bennie Cunningham, to almost total obscurity (you don’t see many Preston Gothard throwback jerseys, do you?) without rhyme or reason.

Larry Brown, Super Bowl IX

Larry Brown catches a touchdown in Super Bowl XI. Photo Credit, Twitter, Vintage Steelers

But there’s no mystery behind the fact that the Steelers second Super Bowl era was quietly anchored by tight end Heath Miller, hands down the franchise’s best at the position.

Following Miller’s retirement, the franchise rode the tight end carousel trying out home grown options like Jesse James, free agents like Ladarius Green and Eric Ebron and trades for guys like Vance McDonald.

Some of those worked better than others, but Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert took the team off the carousel when they took Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Steelers 2025 Thanksgiving Honors: Pat Freiermuth

Pat Freiermuth arrived in Pittsburgh and not only became an immediate starter, but Ben Roethlisberger’s go-to guy in a season the Steelers signal caller exited the NFL by authoring 7 more 4th quarter comebacks.

IT is easy to see why.

As a rookie, Pat Freiermuth caught 60 passes 7 touchdowns and boasted a 75% catch rate, which for comparison purposes, is 3 points better than Heath Miller’s career average. During that first year it was fair to wonder whether Freiermuth would mirror Miller’s stature at the position.

To be honest, his development hasn’t quite followed that path.

  • But, to be fair to Freiermuth, that’s an extremely high bar to clear.

So what has Pat Freiermuth done since his sensational rookie year? He’s caught 123 passes and counting, 15 touchdowns while compiling a 73.7% catch rate. Those numbers are impressive, but what’s more impressive is the way he does it.

Pat Freiermuth, Steelers vs. Browns,

Focused Pat Freiermuth scores the go ahead touchdown. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

When times get tough, the wise move for the quarterback is to look to Pat Freiermuth.

As a rookie, Ben Roethlisberger looked to Freiermuth in the 4th quarter on the road against the Browns to put the Steelers ahead for good, giving Big Ben one final win in Cleveland. Last year, Russell Wilson targeted Freiermuth against Washington to give the Steelers a lead in a 1 point game. Aaron Rodgers did the same thing against Indianapolis just a few weeks ago.

Six of Pat Freiermuth’s 15 touchdowns have been lead changers there’s a reason why clutch players are clutch players. And even when he doesn’t give Pittsburgh a lead during a win, Pat Freiermuth makes it look pretty:


And that clips offers an additional reason of why Pat Freiermuth is winning Steelers Thanksgiving Honors in 2025. With that catch from last week’s loss in Chicago, Freiermuth has now caught touchdowns from Ben Roethlisberger, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.

  • That’s 7 separate quarterbacks, if you haven’t been counting.

Catching touchdowns from 7 different quarterbacks over 5 seasons is an interesting and somewhat impressive stat. But underlines something far more important about Pat Freiermuth: As the Steelers offense has struggled for the last 5 years, Freiermuth has been a source of stability and has easily been the unit’s most consistent player.

And that fact, more than any statistics we can cite, is the reason why Pat Freiermuth wins Steelers 2025 Thanksgiving Honors

A Word about Steelers Thanksgiving Honors

In 2009, as the Steelers were ramping up for what would be the infamous 5 game losing streak the punctuated their Super Bowl hangover, I was looking for a sign of hope, something to be thankful for.

Rashard Mendenhall jumped out to me.

Not only had he authored several impressive games after taking over the starting role for Willie Parker, but in the loss to Kansas City after Andy Studebaker had intercepted a Ben Roethlisberger pass Mendenhall not only picked himself up off the turf, he crossed width of the field, and ran down at the 8 yard line to save a touchdown.

  • Thus, the tradition of Steelers Thanksgiving Honors was born.

Every Thanksgiving since then, Steel Curtain Rising has taken out time to shine the spotlight on someone who makes us thankful that they’re with the Steelers:

2009 – Rashard Mendenhall
2010 – Marukice Pouncey, Emmanuel Sanders, Al Everest
2011 – Antonio Brown
2012 – Keenan Lewis
2013 – Cam Heyward
2014 – Le’Veon Bell
2015 – “The Understudies” – Alejandro Villanueva, DeAngelo Williams, Will Allen, Cody Wallace
2016 – Ryan Shazier
2017 – Ben Roethlisberger
2018 – JuJu Smith-Schuster
2019 – Kevin Colbert
2020 – T.J. Watt
2021 – Cam Heyward (second time)
2022 – Larry Ogunjobi
2023 – Chris Boswell
2024 — Russell Wilson

As you can see, many Steelers Thanksgiving Honorees are franchise pillars. Time has certainly shown others to be short timers.

But that’s the point: They all underlie the wisdom of giving thanks for something in the moment that you have it.

Happy Thanksgiving Steelers Nation

Thanksgiving is my favorite US holiday, as it is something embraced by everyone. And today marks my 24th Thanksgiving celebrated outside of the United States.

Hopefully, everyone reading this, be you here in Argentina, up in Mexico or somewhere in the good ole USA has reasons drawn from family and friends – and not football — to give thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving Steelers Nation.

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Steelers 2025 Training Camp Kicks Off: What This Offseason Really Taught Us

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Steelers training camp has finally arrived!

Soon social media will be awash with images of newcomers such as D.K. Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Rodgers making their first arrival at St. Vincents. We’ll also see plenty of familiar faces like T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward and Pat Freiermuth returning to Latrobe.

Cam Heyward, Cameron Heyward, St. Vincents, Latrobe, Steekers training camp, dorms

Cam Heyward at St. Vincents in July 2022. Photo Credit: AP, Keith Sarkocic.

They’ll all be welcome sights because the Steelers 2024 season ended in ignominious fashion with the Ridiculing by the Ravens. Finally, the men and Black and Gold can start doing something about it.

But as practices start tomorrow and you hear immediate pronouncements about Who is already winning the position battle at X and how Such and Such have suddenly found themselves on the roster bubble, if there’s anything lesson that this off season taught us it is this:

  • Let reality unfold at its own pace.

Seriously. Just look back and see how the prevailing narrative on the team has snaked through this off season.

Mike Tomlin began by promising change. Then, when only Grady Brown and Mike Sullivan were dismissed, everyone immediately accused Pittsburgh of standing pat. Then Omar Khan traded for D.K. Metcalf, and everyone leapt to the assumption that the Steelers would make a play for Sam Darnold.

When they did not, and when the Steelers started letting Justin Fields and other free agents walk and focused on signing free agents who wouldn’t count against the compensatory pick formula a new thread emerged: The Steelers tanking for draft position.

The “Steelers are tanking” yarn spun faster, when Mason Rudolph returned, Russell Wilson followed Fields to New York, the Steelers traded George Pickens and everyone who ever followed professional football tied themselves up in knots wondering when/if Aaron Rodger would ever sign.

“Everyone” didn’t include Art Rooney II, Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan who acted as if, get this, they were following a plan as opposed to following social media.

  • That anxiety dissipated a bit when Aaron Rodgers finally signed.

Then Omar Khan shocked everyone by trading Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. The “tank” yarn not only came undone, it reversed itself. “The Steelers Are ‘All In'” we were assured.

So to summarize, the Steelers have gone from doing nothing, to trying to tank to being “All In” on a Super Bowl this year – all in the space of a single off season. At least that’s what aggregated social media feeds would lead you to conclude, when in reality the team has done what it always does: Try to position itself to win now without sacrificing the ability to compete in the future.

The success or failure of 2025 Steelers will indeed be foretold in stories such as Broderick Jones‘s development, Kaleb Johnson‘s ability to push Jaylen Warren at running back and whether Juan Tornhill can both stay healthy and be an adequate replacement Minkah Fitzpatrick.

But remember: Reality unfolds at its own pace. Those stories will take weeks to develop, not days or let alone hours. So keep that in mind and enjoy the ride.

 

 

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Was the Steelers 2025 Offseason Really That Unprecedented?

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The Steelers 2025 off season will soon end as the team converges at St. Vincents for training camp.

  • My, what a long strange trip it’s been.

Yes, the trip has been strange enough at times that the conventional wisdom heading into Latrobe is “These are not your father’s Pittsburgh Steelers” or “The Steelers Way as we know it is over.”

  • But should we accept the conventional wisdom at face value?

To be sure, there has been no shortage of personnel turnover since the Ravens ridiculed the Steelers in the playoffs. That’s certain.

But strip away the hyperbole and the social media-induced hype and you’ll see much of change we’ve seen is firmly grounded in franchise precedent.

Art Rooney II, Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan, Steelers training camp, St. Vincents

The Steelers Brain Trust @ St. Vincents. Photo Credit:Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports, via Yahoo! Sports

Stripping Down the D.K. Metcalf Trade

Strip the Situation to the Studs – Pittsburgh invests a premium pick in a skill player. He plays well. He makes an expensive veteran expendable. Alas, he has issues. So the Steelers send a 2nd round to the NFC and bring in a pedigreed player while shipping the former premium pick out.

Sounds familiar, right?

Good. Because it should. Except we’re not talking about how D.K. Metcalf and George Pickens came and went to Pittsburgh, but about the Bam Morris to Jerome Bettis switch out in the spring of 1996.

Jerome Bettis, Alan Faneca, Dewayne Robertson, Steelers vs Jets, Steelers history vs Jets

Jerome Bettis hurdles guard Alan Faneca evading Dewayne Robertson in the Steelers 2004 AFC Divisional playoff win. Photo Credit: Matt Freed, Post-Gazette

Yes, there are differences. Morris had legal problems; Pickens has maturity issues. The Steelers cut Morris. They traded George Pickens. They also didn’t fork over a ton of money to Bettis until after the 1996 season, whereas they handed Metcalf a check as he walked through the door.

Fair enough. But the template Omar Khan followed looks a lot like the one Tom Donahoe left behind.

Distilling the “Sleep Walking Through the 2025 Draft” Ditty

Distilling this Ditty Down to Its Core Details – Despite a desperate need at quarterback, Pittsburgh passed on multiple signal callers, waiting until day three to address the position, and opting instead to double-dip on defensive line.

OK. The heckles from the peanut gallery condemning the Steelers blueprint for their 2025 Draft class have largely come from the national media. But it serves to debunk the myth that this off-season was somehow “unSteelers-like.”

In January the Baltimore Ravens knee-capped a once-proud defense with 299 yards on the ground.

And Omar Khan responded in his third draft just as Kevin Colbert did in his second draft after the 2000 Steelers had similarly been embarrassed on Sunday Night Football by Fred Taylor: By beefing the defensive line.

Colbert passed on Drew Brees and drafted Casey Hampton (and Kendrell Bell) instead. Khan took Derrick Harmon.

Yes, a long-term solution at quarterback remains a glaring need for the Steelers. But in refusing to reach, Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan stuck with franchise precedent.

After passing on Dan Marino in 1983, the Steelers really didn’t have a shot at another franchise quarterback until Brees in 2001*  But more importantly, they always resisted the urge to reach for one (see the non-draft of Chad Pennington in 2000.)

*Unless you count passing on Steve Young in the 1985 Supplemental Draft or maybe Brett Favre in the 1991 Draft.)

Oh, And About the Steelers Quarterback Situation… 

Breaking the Story Down to Its Bare Bones: The Steelers had a young signal caller who was reaching unrestricted free agency for the first time. They wanted him back. They made him an offer. The New York Jets offered more. The Steelers declined to begin a bidding war.  Instead, they opted to go with a quarterback room that consisted of a veteran journeyman, a 6th round pick and a Wild Card nearing one of the endpoints of his career timeline.

That about describes what happened, doesn’t it?

Neil O'Donnell, Barry Foster

Yes it does. It is exactly how the Steelers quarterback situation unfolded in 1996 after Super Bowl XXX. They made Neil O’Donnell an offer. The Jets offered him more. The Steelers let him walk and instead turned to Mike Tomczak, Jim Miller (a 6th round pick) and Kordell Stewart.

  • Of course the analogy’s imperfect.

Tomzack, Miller and Stewart were part of the 1995 Steelers. Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Aaron Rodgers were not Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024. While the Tomzack-Rudolph comparison holds water pretty well, Miller had 2 years and appearances in 3 NFL games, whereas Howard’s a rookie.

  • But the Kordell-Rodgers parallel holds up better than you think.

Kordell knew how to make headlines. So does Rodgers. Kordell had just played his first year. Rodgers has basically said this is his last. Kordell was a wild card that could go either way for the Steelers in 1996, just as Rodgers is now.

“Oh, but none of the QBs in 1996 caused the angst that Rodgers caused,” the chorus protests!

Angst for who?

Did Pittsburgh panic when Justin Fields priority boarded for New York? Did start a bidding war? Did they throw a contract at Russell Wilson after he visited the Browns and the Giants? Did they sacrifice future drafts to get Jaxson Dart? Did they reach for Shedeur Sanders?

No, they didn’t.

The Steelers had a plan at quarterback. And when that plan didn’t unfold as expected, they remained patient, refused to panic and, arguably, got the best quarterback available this off-season. And they’ll pay him 21.8 million less than the Browns are paying Deshaun Watson this year.

Its almost hard not to picture Mike Tomlin laughing to himself as he watched the social media outbursts that erupted as each day pass without Aaron Rodgers signing.

Putting the Steelers 2025 Off Season in Perspective

The Steelers 2025 off-season certainly had its share of surprises. And it is certain that neither Omar Khan nor anyone else on the South Side had a WWTDD? (as in What Would Tom Donahoe Do?) moment this spring.

But if you look at the principles that guided the Steelers braintrust through it all, you’ll see that they’re the same ones that the franchise has followed since Dan Rooney assumed control in the mid-60s: Try to field the best team possible for the coming season without sacrificing their ability to compete in future seasons.

  • Now, will their strategy succeed?

Its almost time to hit the blocking sleds and St. Vincents and start finding out!

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Steelers Sign Aaron Rodgers – Bobby Layne 3.0 Arrives in Pittsburgh

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Well… It has happened. Aaron Rodgers has signed a one-year, team-friendly contract to be the Steelers quarterback for the 2025 season. Rodgers per reports will attend Steelers minicamp after missing OTAs.

Aaron Rodgers, Casey Hampton, Steelers vs Packers, Steelers Packer Super Bowl,

Aaron Rodgers celebrates a touchdown in the Super Bowl against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Photo Credit: Al Bello, Getty Images via Bleacher Report

For the record, like most of Steelers Nation, I did not want to see Aaron Rodgers in a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform.

But now that it has happened, it is time to be practical. So let’s define several truths about the Steelers situation:

  1. A long-term quarterback solution was unavailable this spring.
  2. Aaron Rodgers has lost a lot since his time as a Super Bowl and league MVP.
  3. Yet, he still has something left in the tank.
  4. Rodgers offered Pittsburgh its best shot for an upgrade at quarterback.

Number 4 might provoke eye rolls.

To be sure, Chris Ward of Steelers NOW took a detailed look at Rodgers’ games in 2024 and found cause for concern.

Alex Highsmith, Aaron Rodgers

Alex Highsmith pressures Aaron Rodgers. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Rodgers struggles against the blitz largely because age has robbed him of the mobility needed to improvise. Some of his decision making under pressure suggests that perhaps he isn’t able to process at the speed he once could. Finally, Ward found that Rodgers’ famed accuracy is slipping.

However, Ward also maintains that Rodgers’ arm remains strong, terming it as his “superpower.” His timing, ability run RPOs remains sharp, allowing him to function as “a general at the line of scrimmage that is confident in his ability to get his unit in the best play possible.”

Risk of Riding with Rodgers is Real

Even if Rodgers is the best available option the Steelers had to achieve a year-to-year improvement at quarterback, signing him carries both objective and subjective risks.

After 18 years in Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin’s fascination with giving fabled athletes a final dance well- documented.

Joey Galloway signed but never saw the field. Ditto William Jackson. Plaxico Burress finished his career in a Steelers uniform by scoring touchdown at Heinz Field. That was great for him but his second stint in Pittsburgh did little to help the team. Michael Vick had one great quarter of football left in him that set up a Monday Night Football win that was a difference-maker when playoff time came.

Rodgers will be 42 by season’s end and is well past the point where age and injury can quickly conspire to end a career.

  • The subjective risks Rodgers brings are perhaps more pertinent.

Mike Tomlin praised first round pick Derrick Harmon for having “Steelers DNA.” Look up and down the members of the Steelers 2025 Draft Class, and you’ll see the words “strong character guy,” “great for the locker room,” and/or “natural leader.” Ditto their 2024 class.

Check out Jim Wexell’s interview with Darius Slay and you’ll see a veteran who oozes a “been there, done that” ethos who embraces his role as mentor for players like Joey Porter Jr., Cory Trice and Beanie Bishop.

In contrast, Aaron Rodgers carries a well-earned reputation for forcing an “I” into the word “team.”

He tried to get the coach and GM fired at the end of his time Green Bay. He succeeded in doing that with the Jets. He unhesitatingly points fingers at teammates when things get tough.

Per Over the Cap, Aaron Rodgers has earned $381,692,206 in his career. But that didn’t stop him from whining about having to buy his own plane ticket for his final meeting with the Jets. (Hint for Rodgers – next time splurge on an economy plus upgrade, and enjoy the extra leg room.)

  • Mike Tomlin is no stranger to managing diva locker room personalities.

Perhaps he was at his best in doing that when Ben Roethlisberger was hooking up with Antonio Brown for the Christmas Night Immaculate Extension that set up Pittsburgh’s most recent playoff wins.

antonio brown, steelers christmas win over ravens, steelers vs. ravens

Four Ravens can’t stop Antonio Brown from score the game winning touchdown in Steelers Christmas win over Ravens. Photo Credit: Steelers.com

But Aaron Rodgers could easily put those skills to the test.

Welcome to Pittsburgh Bobby Layne 3.0

Shortly after the smoke cleared following the playoff ridiculing against the Ravens, Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell mused that the Steelers had tried Neil O’Donnell (Mason Rudolph), Mark Malone (Kenny Pickett) and Bobby Layne (Russell Wilson) to no avail.

Once the Rodgers signing became official, The Athletic’s Mike DeFabio took the Steelers brain trust to task for promising not to do the same thing over again and expect different results.

  • DeFabio has the facts on his side.

A year ago, the Steelers brought in an aging Super Bowl champion quarterback at a bargain basement price and suffered yet another embarrassing playoff loss. Now they just signed another, older Super Bowl quarterback.

Ziggy Hood, Aaron Rodgers, LaMarr Woodley, Casey Hampton, Super Bowl XLV

Ziggy Hood sacks Aaron Rodgers in Super Bowl XLV. Photo Credit: Tribune-Review

So be it. Unless Seattle proves that “the sixth time is the charm” with Sam Darnold or Justin Fields can mature into Jalen Hurts-lite in New York, finding a bridge quarterback was the best Steelers could have done this spring.

  • So think of Aaron Rodgers as Bobby Layne 3.0.

No, Layne did not bring an NFL Championship to the Steel City, but he give Pittsburgh the best professional football the city had ever seen.

While is far from a certain thing, Aaron Rodgers could bring Pittsburgh the best football its seen since Ben Roethlisberger threw out his arm in the second week of the 2019 season.

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Steelers Trade George Pickens to the Cowboys – Buyer and Seller Beware

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are trading wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys in a move screams “Both Buyer and Seller Beware.” The Steelers send George Pickens and a 2027 6th round pick to Dallas, and in exchange the Cowboys send their 2026 3rd rounder and 2027th 5th rounder to Pittsburgh.

Since even before the 2024 season ended, speculation abounded as to whether the Steelers would move on from George Pickens.

Coming out of the NFL combine Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell reported Pickens had soured his trade value in the league, and that a trade would be “next to impossible.”

Yet, prior to the draft, George Pickens reportedly deleted references to the Steelers from his social media accounts, and Omar Khan did field calls about a potential trade but could not get more than a 4th round pick.

With the draft over, Jerry Jones has increased his offer for the ultra-talented, mercurial wide receiver and brought him to Texas.

George Pickens, Nick Cross, Steelers vs Colts

George Pickens fumbles at the 5 yard line. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Steelers Exchange High Short-Term Risk for Long Term Value

George Pickens began tantalizing Steelers fans from the moment he stepped foot on Chuck Noll Field at St. Vincents College.

George Pickens, Steelers 2022 training camp, Cam Sutton

George Pickens making a catch on the first day @ St. Vincents. Photo Credit: Post-Gazette.com

In terms of pure pass-catching capability, Pickens is in the conversation with Lynn Swann and Antonio Brown.

  • Alas, Pickens mimicked Brown’s attitude issues. And then some.

For as unglued as Antonio Brown became in his final year in Pittsburgh, Brown’s self-centered disposition rarely, if ever, reared its head on the field.

  • The same cannot be said for George Pickens.

His immaturity was on display on the sidelines in the Steelers 2022 win over the Atlanta Falcons, prompting Cam Heyward to initiate a “heart-to-heart” on the sidelines. (Heyward, to his credit, said the young wide out simply needed a “Pick me up.”)

The antics continued through his second season, with Pickens declining to block for Jaylen Warren near the goal line, citing injury concerns. This is only the tip of the iceberg.

George Pickens, Noah Igbinoghene, Steelers vs Dolphins

George Pickens with another Lynn Swann like catch. Photo Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Pickens proved, time-and-time again, he could make belief defying catches.

Yet it was almost like he was bent on establishing a 1-1 relationship between those feats and team-destructive incidents, whether it was cutting off routes, showing up late, taking plays off, using his face paint to complain about lack of targets, getting into shoving matches with defensive backs in Hail Mary situations, or needing to be restrained from fighting with fans by Pat Freiermuth.

As he did with Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, Omar Khan began the off season singing Pickett’s praises and talking about his plans to keep in in Pittsburgh.

  • Now Pickens is headed to Dallas.

In football realpolitik the Steelers got a steal. They weren’t going to resign him, they may not have gotten a good compensatory pick for him, and unhappiness over lack of a new contract could have been a season-long disruption.

If the Steelers get four compensatory picks for the 2026 NFL Draft, they’ll have 12 picks at their disposal.

But by playing the long game, Omar Khan has once again exposed the team to short-term risk.

Another Year of Longing for Lockett and Hill?

Last season the Steelers dealt problem child wide receiver Diontae Johnson. It was a wise move. Donte Jackson delivered solid play at cornerback while Johnson got himself cut three times.  However, Omar Khan never filled the gaping hole that Johnson’s departure left on the roster.

Dwight Stone, Dwight Stone Steelers career

Dwight Stone’s Steelers career ran from 1987 to 1994. Photo Credit: Amazon

Early in the season, this scribe opined that the lack of a number two wide out opposite Pickens was enough to make Gen X Steelers fans long for the days of Charles Lockett, Derek Hill and Dwight Stone.

The Steelers of course added D.K. Metcalf in the off season, and Calvin Austin improved noticeably last year, but outside of that they’ve got a wide receiver room filled with roster bubble players or unproven youth, such as Roman Wilson, with Robert Woods taking Van Jefferson’s place.

When the Steelers drafted Kaleb Johnson word was he excelled in running against stacked boxes at Iowa.

Good thing he’s already used to playing in Black and Gold, because he’s going to see plenty of other familiar sights in Pittsburgh. Seller be wear.

Now Jones and Schottenhimer to Try Their Hand

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stood behind George Pickens for as long as he could. He opted not to air his dirty laundry and instead focus trying to break through to Pickens.

  • At times it appeared to work.

After an awful game against the Colts in December 2023, no one would have criticized Tomlin if he just decided to bench Pickens for the rest of the year. Instead, Tomlin talked to him and Pickens exploded for two break out games on Christmas and New Years. He even showed up as a blocker in the season finale against the Ravens.

Yet, after two senseless personal foul penalties in the road win over the Bengals last year, Tomlin said it was time for Pickens to grow up.

  • Clearly, he feels he’s mentored Pickens as far as he can.

Now Brian Schottenheimer and Jerry Jones will launch a wide receiver reclamation project. Other head coaches have tried and failed with similar endavors with Steelerss cast offs such as Brown, Johnson, Martavis Bryant and Chase Claypool.

Buyer beware.

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Steelers 2025 Draft Class – Khan and Tomlin Play the Long Game

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It took 7 picks, 3 days 2 trades but the Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 Draft Class is now complete.

For the record, the Steelers made 5 defensive picks and two offensive picks, but reading between the lines, it is more likely the case that they made 3 defensive picks, 2 offensive picks, and two special teams picks.

Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 Draft Class

Via Steelers.com

As always, Steel Curtain Rising will ignore the rush to affix a grade to the Steelers 2025 Draft Class, although we’ve already learned something important:

  • Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin are playing the long game.

We’ll get into that in a moment, but first, let’s take a look at the newest members of the Pittsburgh Steelers

First Round: Derrick Harmon, Defensive Tackle, Oregon
Third Round: Kaleb Johnson, Running Back, Iowa
Fourth Round: Jack Sawyer, Outside Linebacker, Ohio State
Fifth Round: Yaha Black, Defensive Tackle, Iowa
Sixth Round: Will Howard, Quarterback, Ohio State
Seventh Round: Carson Bruener, Inside Linebacker, Washington
Seventh Round: Donte Kent, Cornerback/Punt Returner, Central Michigan

As Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin have been quick to point out, although he’s not a member of the Steelers 2025 Draft Class strictly speaking, D.K. Metcalf came to Pittsburgh by way of their 2nd round pick. And he certainly figures to make an immediate impact.

What the Steelers 2025 Draft Class Already Teaches Us

Same day draft grades are about as relevant as opening day batting averages. It will take years before we really how much value, or lack thereof this draft will deliver to the Steelers. (Case in point the Steelers 2016 and 1989 Draft classes both looked very good in January 2017 and 1989, but after that, not so much).

But there are a few lessons we can already take aways:

1. Khan and Tomlin Tune Out the Noise

Having been spurned by Justin Fields and having spurned Russell Wilson while waiting on Aaron Rodgers, quarterback was the Steelers biggest need heading into the draft.

But, reports to the contrary from both the national and local press, it is clear that the Steelers never considered addressing it in the first round.

Nor were they in a hurry to do so afterwards. Armed with a potential 4 compensatory picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, Khan could have dealt away a couple-of-three 4th, 3rd and 2nd round picks from next year to move up into the second round or earlier in the third round to get a quarterback. Not only did he not do that, but the Steelers waited until the 6th round to get their signal caller.

You don’t wait to draft a quarterback until the 6th round if you plan on playing him in the coming season. Both Mike Tomlin and Art Rooney II indicated they still expect Aaron Rodgers to sign, but the Steelers are perfectly content to address their long-term need at quarterback in 2026.

Meanwhile, they focused on adding value while preserving draft capital – the only trade the Khan artist made was to move back in the 5th get an extra 7th.

2. The Ridiculing from the Ravens Still Stings

While the Steelers are playing the long game, that doesn’t mean they’re being short-sighted. They drafted three players whose pedigree as run defenders is strong. Derrick Henry reduced the Steelers defense to road kill, and the Steelers brain trust has not reacted that sitting down.

This goes hand-in-hand with playing the long game.

With T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig, outside linebacker was anything but a Steelers draft need in 2025. Yet Kahn and Tomlin scooped up Jack Sawyer, an outside linebacker from Ohio State.

Sawyer’s specialty? Stopping the run. And if you’re questioning whether he can do that from so far down in the depth chart, keep in mind that Preston Smith played in 30% of the Steelers defensive snaps last season.

Its doubtful that the rookie will match that, but it does show that OLB No. 4 does have a role in this defense.

3. Art Rooney Sr.’s Wisdom Remains as Valid as Ever

After the 2008 NFL Draft, Gene Coillier wrote a piece grading the Steelers 2003 Draft class, harking back to Chuck Noll’s credo that it took 5 years to grade a draft. In it he quoted Art Rooney Sr., who’d told him, “Everyone’s a winner on draft day.”

  • The Steelers were wise to beef up their run defense in this draft.
  • Harmon, Sawyer and Black should strengthen the front seven
  • Collectively, making an immediate difference is plausible

But as Steelers rival Bum Philips would remind us, “It ain’t bragging if you can do it, but just saying it don’t make it so.” You can address all of the potential problems you want to in the draft, but the players must deliver on the field.

Think back to where the Steelers were ten years ago. Turnovers had been in short supply in the Steelers 2014 season and really, since Super Bowl XLV. So the Steelers 2015 Draft Class saw them add Senquez Golson, Doran Grant and Gerod Holliman. The trio brought a collective total of 39 collegiate interceptions to Pittsburgh, with 29 of those coming in their final year in college.

  • Those college numbers impress.
  • These professional numbers depress: 3, 1 and 17

That’s 3 NFL games, 1 defensive snap and 17 special teams snaps, which make up the trios’ combined NFL stat line. All of these came from Doran Grant, as Holliman got cut in camp, while Senquez Golson saw his NFL career destroyed by injuries before it ever started.

The story of the Steelers 2015 draft class isn’t intended as buzz kill, but rather as a reminder that the watch word coming out of the draft should be patience.

Hopes are high now – as they should be – but more often than not, it takes time to realize those. Troy Polamalu looked lost his rookie year, by 2004 he was flashing Hall of Fame potential. Going into his third season, more than a few fans were ready to hang the “B” word around Cam Heyward’s neck; well, we know how that turned out.

The point is, if by the time the leaves are changing color and Halloween decorations are going up and Derrick Harmon isn’t dominating or Kaleb Johnson isn’t looking his name should be Franco Bettis, don’t panic.

4. Everyone IS a winner on draft day, and that’s good.

Art Rooney Sr. was right – everyone IS a winner on draft day, and that’s a good thing. The NFL draft is about hope. Hope for franchises. Hope for the scouts and coaches. Hope for the fans.

  • And most importantly, hope for the players.

Last week Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin made a dream come true for 7 young men, giving them something they’ve aspired to since they first put their hands on a Nerf football and barked out a bogus snap count as kids.

The moment is theirs – for Derrick Harmon it certainly is bittersweet – but as a draft class I hope they enjoy it.

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Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 Draft Needs Matrix

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The 2025 NFL Draft is almost here, and all eyes in Steelers Nation are on the Bill Nunn Draft Room on the South Side.

While it will take a few more season to get an accurate measure of Omar Khan’s handiwork, one thing is clear: Expect the unexpected.

steelers press conference,

The Steelers were unusually aggressive during Omar Khan’s first off season as general manager, working very aggressively to bring free agents to Pittsburgh. Khan’s aggressiveness continued in the 2023 NFL Draft, as he made several trades during the event.

The 2024 off season saw the Steelers turnover their quarterback room in the blink of an eye, bringing Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to Pittsburgh, and shipping Kenny Pickett off to Philadelphia for the NFL equivalent of couch change cushions. Then Khan proceeded to draft offensive lineman with 3 of the Steelers first five picks.

The 2025 off season is about to reach its apex, and Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin continue to defy expectations.

Not only did they allow both Fields and then Wilson to walk, but their only move at quarterback has been to bring Mason Rudolph back to Pittsburgh. And while they made several personnel moves, their most aggressive ones such as trading for D.K. Metcalf, signing Darius Slay and Juan Thornhill have all been calculated to maximize the Steelers compensatory pick haul for the 2026 NFL Draft.

But the Steelers have 6 picks in this draft, so the question is who will they take and who should they take?

As regular readers know, I don’t fashion myself as a “draftnic,” so I won’t pretend to offer opinions on which of the can’t miss prospects will in fact not miss. But I do know where the Steelers needs lie.

Steelers Draft Needs in 2025

Going into the 2025 NFL Draft, the Steelers needs break down into four tiers. Defensive line and quarterback are clearly areas of Urgent need.Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Needs Scale

Unless Omar Khan has a cap-friendly plan to trade with Kansas City to bring Chris Jones to the Steelers, Pittsburgh must absolutely positively strengthen itself at defensive line in this draft. Should Aaron Rodgers sign tomorrow, then the Steelers situation at quarterback drastically changes. Otherwise, they must add someone.

Running back and offensive line highlight the next tier. The Steelers need someone to pair with Jaylen Warren (I don’t think Warren needs to be pushed), and despite investing heavily in it during the last two drafts, the Steelers would be wise to beef up their offensive line. Both areas are rated as High areas of need.

The next tier is highlighted by Cornerback. And perhaps, after listening to Marc Gorscak on Jim Wexell’s podcast corner should also be rated High as well, thanks to Cory Trice’s injury history. But as it stands now, cornerback is rated as a Moderate area of need as are Safety and Wide Receiver. On paper, the Steelers have personnel to compete there, but they need injury insurance of nothing else.

The lowest tier is occupied by linebackers, both Outside an Inside, and finally by Tight End. The latter two of which were rated as Low areas of need whereas Outside linebacker is Fair.

And that gives us our 2025 Steelers Draft Needs Matrix:

Steelers 2025 Draft, Steelers 2025 Draft Needs Matrix

While its painful to put quarterback at the top, it is need. Even if the Steelers lost Keeanu Benton and Cam Heyward to injury in a single game, they still have the personnel to field a defensive line (a very bad one, but the could still field one.)

At quarterback the Steelers only have Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson.

Does anyone feel comfortable going into Latrobe with Rudolph, Thompson and the 2025 equivalent of Devlin Hodges? Case rested.

Running back edges out offensive line because of both current and future needs. The Steelers need to strengthen themselves at cornerback and safety, but they need depth at the latter position.

The Steelers could improve at wide receiver, but they’ve got 3 solid players at the top of their depth chart and numbers to make up a 4th. At outside linebacker they really need depth, and a little luck that lightning won’t strike twice. At inside linebacker they’re solid, and the same can be said at tight end.

Plea to Khan and Tomlin: No Reaches, Please!

None of the above is to suggest that the Steelers should reach for need. When you reach for need Jarvis Jones and Artie Burns happen. And this is where things get tricky for Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin.

The Steelers need to come out of this draft with a quarterback but, outside of Cam Ward, the Steelers will need to navigate the temptation of “ drafting one of the many available third-round QBs in the first round,” to use Jim Wexell’s words.

“We live in our hopes not in our fears,” Mike Tomlin is wont to say after games. And, for the most part during his tenure he, Kevin Colbert and Omar Khan have lived by that credo when it comes to personnel decisions.

The 2025 NFL Draft figures to put that philosophy to the test.

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