Tag Archives: Najee Harris

Grading the Steelers 2021 Draft Five Years Later: Why Pittsburgh’s Playoff Drought Deepened

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The picks are in and we’re in the thick of OTAs. Now it’s time to grade the Steelers draft class.

The Steelers 2021 Draft Class.

Yes, 5 years is a long time to wait to grade a draft class, but if a 5-year wait was right for Chuck Noll, then it’s right for me.

The Steelers 2021 Draft Class was Kevin Colbert’s penultimate one and while this draft wasn’t as bad as some of ones that sandwiched it, that isn’t entirely a good thing. Let’s dive into why.

Pat Freiermuth, Najee Harris, Steelers vs Bears

Pat Freiermuth and Najee Harris represent the yin and yang of the Steelers 2021 Draft Class. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

Round 1 Najee Harris – Another Rookie Tease

Critics condemned Colbert and Mike Tomlin for “Wasting a first rounder on a running back” as soon they drafted Najee Harris.

After holding his draft party at a Bay Area homeless shelter, his rookie season suggested Harris could prove the critics wrong. And then some.

Harris played his rookie year behind an offensive line built with spit, duct tape and bubble gum, yet he still rushed for 1200 yards, scored 7 touchdowns and caught 74 passes for 467 yards.

  • Unfortunately, he failed to build on his rookie success.

Yes, he played well in fits and spurts. Yet at other times he subjected us to “Sludge Ball,” resulting in 3rd and longs which the offense couldn’t convert.

Najee Harris, Steelers vs Chargers

Najee Harris breaks one in the 4th quarter. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

That inconsistency makes it easy to forget his 4 consecutive 1000 yard seasons, his additional 1000 yards receiving, 34 touchdowns and 68 consecutive starts. Those numbers show that the Steelers did get some value out of Najee Harris even if his overall draft grade is Disappointment.

steelers, draft, grades, evaluations, bust, Kevin Colbert

True NFL Draft grades only come with years of hindsight

Round 2 Pat Freiermuth – Muuth!

If Najee Harris spent his rookie season teasing that he might live up to his first-round status, Steelers fans watched 2nd round pick Pat Freiermuth during his rookie year and asked if he might be the next Heath Miller.

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

Truthfully, Pat Freiermuth hasn’t and will likely never reach that level. Instead, at a time when the Steelers have fielded some outright JV offenses, Freiermuth has always been a consistent Varsity player. Grade: Over Performer

Round 3 Kendrick Green – It Isn’t Easy Being Green

Anyone who ever needs a reminder of why you never want to enter an NFL draft with an absolute need to pick a starter, look no further than Kendrick Green.

Thanks to Maurkice Pouncey’s surprise retirement while the Steelers were in Salary Cap Armageddon the Steelers were forced to draft a starting center in the 2021 NFL draft. So they drafted Kendrick Green.

Kendrick Green struggled until Mike Tomlin benched him for J.C. Hassenauer in week 16. Green made the roster in 2022, but never earned a game day helmet.

The Steelers gave him some work at fullback at St. Vincents in the summer of 2023. But he couldn’t do enough to prove he needed a roster spot, so they traded Green to the Houston Texans where he’s started four games. Grade: Bust

Round 4 Dan Moore – More Than Expected

The Steelers didn’t only need to draft a starting-capable center in the 2021 NFL Draft, they also needed a tackle. So they drafted Dan Moore Jr. in the 4th round. Dan Moore won the left tackle starting job in training camp, and then proceeded to start all but one game for the next four years.

  • Moore suffered growing pains, and could never make the shift to playing right tackle.

But he improved with each passing year, although not enough to deter the Steelers from drafting Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu. But drafting an offensive tackle in the 4th round who becomes an immediate starter and then proceeds to start 66 games is an outstanding success by any measure. Grade: Over Performer

Round 4: Buddy Johnson — The 4th Round Throw Away

As a non-draftnic all Steelers draft picks start with a clean slate. I do listen to experts, but take their wisdom with a grain of salt. Still, the eye rolls that accompanied Buddy Johnson’s pick perked up my ears.

  • And it didn’t take long to understand the eye rolls.

Buddy Johnson appeared in 4 games for the Steelers as a rookie, played 6 defensive snaps and 59 special teams snaps. The Steelers cut him the next summer. So fellow 4th rounder Dan Moore made 66 starts whereas Buddy Johnson played 65 total snaps. Grade: Bust

Round 5: Isaiahh Loudermilk – The Rookie Tease

With no 5th round pick, the Steelers traded their 2022 4th rounder to grab Isaiahh Loudermilk. The Steelers drafted Isaiahh Loudermilk counting on having both Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu.

  • Tuitt never played a down and Alualu was lost after just 6 quarters.

Thanks to those injuries, Loudermilk got playing time immediately. And in hindsight, it is easy to forget that Loudermilk actually had a fairly promising rookie year, batting down 3 passes, and recording a sack while playing 29% of the defensive snaps.

  • But like Najee Harris, Loudermilk failed to build on his rookie year.

He averaged about 19% of the defensive snaps over the next three years, and his career highlight was blocking a field goal in the 2024 Sunday Night Football loss to Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys. The Steelers brought him back for a 5th year, but he got injured after two games. Grade: Disappointment

Round 6: Quincy Roche – The Preseason Flasher

Quincy Roche started the summer off at St. Vincents strong enough for Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell to include him in a group of rookies who were “are rounding out another exceptional draft.”

By summer’s end, the Steelers coaches didn’t quite agree, as they cut Quincy Roche hoping to sneak him on the practice squad.

The New York Giants signed him, and Roche appeared in 14 games, made 3 starts, recording 2.5 sacks.

Alas, he spent his second year bouncing on and off New York’s practice squad and was cut loose in January. The Steelers brought him back to Pittsburgh, but his highlight was getting pancaked during Friday Night Lights by “fullback” Kendrick Green. He got cut 25 days later. Grade: Bust

Round 7a – Tre Norwood – Short-Term Swiss Army Knife

Officially the Steelers drafted Tre Norwood as a safety, but Mike Tomlin immediately labeled him a “Swiss Army Knife” indicating that he’d play both safety and corner. Tre Norwood saw action in all 17 games as a rookie, logging a full third of the defensive snaps.

Tre Norwood tops off Ben Roethlisberger's final game at Heinz Field by intercepting Baker Mayfield's pass after Minkah Fitzpatrick tipped it his way.

Tre Norwood intercepts a Baker Mayfield pass at the end of Ben Roethlisberger’s final game at Heinz Field. Photo Credit: Caitlyn Epee, Steelers.com

While no one was suggesting a name change to Donnie Polamalu or Troy Shell the early returns were good, with Norwood deflecting four passes and hauling in an interception to secure Ben Roethlisberger’s final win at Heinz Field.

Like other members of the Steelers 2021 Draft class, Norwood never sustained his rookie momentum, and was gone after 2022. Grade: Serviceable Pickup

Round 7b:  Pressley Harvin III — Mr. Inconsistency

The Steelers used their final pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on Pressley Harvin III, a punter out of Georgia Tech, hoping to find a long-term upgrade at the position. Pressley Harvin punted for 3 seasons, was good at times, but he lacked consistency and was gone after 2023. Grade: Disappointment.

Steelers 2021 Draft Class Helps Explain, Extend Playoff Drought

When the 2021 Steelers unexpectedly made the playoffs, Jim Wexell’s initial assessment of “another exceptional draft” looked smart. Everyone, except Kendrick Green and Buddy Johnson had shown concrete reasons for hope – as had Roche with the Giants.

  • Sadly, only Pat Freiermuth and Dan Moore built on their rookie success.

The others did enough to hang on as backups, or even starters, but none developed into anything exceptional. In many ways, his draft class was similar to the Steelers 2018 Draft Class, which set the seeds for stagnation.

For its part, the Steelers 2021 Draft Class deepened the roots of the franchise’s current playoff drought by adding players who, with the exception of Freiermuth, never developed into differnece-makers and who instead excelled at being ordinary. Overall grade: C.

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Will the Steelers Re-Sign MVP Kenneth Gainwell in Free Agency?

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In 2025 the Steelers “took a flyer” on free agent running back Kenneth Gainwell giving him a one-year, veteran minimum contract. Gainwell took that opportunity and ran with it well enough to win the Steelers 2025 MVP award.

So if a guy reaches free agency and has just won the MVP award, re-signing him is a no-brainer, Right?

That hasn’t always been so in Pittsburgh, so Steelers Kenneth Gainwell free agency decision promises to be an interesting one.

Kenneth Gainwell, Darnell Washington, Steelers vs Bears

Kenneth Gainwell runs for 55 yards. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

Capsule Profile of Kenneth Gainwell’s Career with the Steelers

In December 2024 the Steelers traveled to Philadelphia and got their teeth kicked in by the eventual Super Bowl Champion. While all eyes were on the Eagles starting running back Saquon Barkley, Mike Tomlin’s were on Kenneth Gainwell.

Gainwell only managed about 20 yards on the ground and another 40 through the air, but that was enough for him to do his damage to the Steeelers defense.

Enough for Mike Tomlin to bring him to Pittsburgh to play alongside Jaylen Warren. The Steelers gave Warren a 2-year contract extension last summer, signaling he might finally become the “feature back” after watching three years of “Sludge Ball” behind Najee Harris.

  • What followed next presents an interesting study in the contrast between perception and reality.

As the Steelers offense struggled to find its footing, fans complained, with increasing intensity, about Kenneth Gainwell gaining snaps at Warren’s expense.

  • Alas the numbers tell a different story.
  • Gainwell averaged 6.7 carries per game to Warren’s 13.

Had the Steelers won consistently, no one would have complained, validating Chuck Noll’s, assertion that questions like “Why don’t you throw to the tight end?” translate to “Why don’t you win?”

Kenneth Gainwell acted as a jack of all trades in Arthur Smith’s 2025 Steelers offense, playing as sort of a modern-day Rodney Carter, a name Generation X Steelers fans might recall.

Need to fake the Tush Push on 4th and 1? Feign like you’re giving it to Connor Heyward and toss it to Gainwell instead who’ll run it for 55 yards.

 

Players generally win MVP wards because they dominate so thoroughly, their performance is indispensable to the team’s success. Think back to Franco Harris’, Jerome Bettis’ or Le’Veon Bell’s MVP seasons for clear examples.

  • Kenneth Gainwell authored a different kind of MVP campaign.

He made slow, steady contributions to the offense that grew as the season progressed.

His efforts, 537 yards rushing and 486 yards receiving with 8 total touchdowns, aren’t best measured in quantity, but rather quality.

Gainwell was the most consistent player on a struggling offense. He delivered when coaches called his number, and those little contributions more often than not had a big part defining the difference between wins and losses.

The Case for the Steelers Re-Signing Kenneth Gainwell

There are a lot of reasons why the Steelers Killer Bees era disappointed, but one that many miss is that piss-poor backfield depth sabotaged Mike Tomlin’s teams in the playoffs for 3 straight years.

Kenneth Gainwell brought the Steelers something they’ve struggled to find: A true number 2 running back who complements the starter, steps in when needed, and makes a difference when he has the ball in his hands.

Spencer Anderson, Kenneth Gainwell, Pat Freiermuth, Steelers vs Vikings, Steelers vs Vikings Dublin, Ireland

Spencer Anderson celebrates with Kenneth Gainwell. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

His best play of the season illustrates this. He ran 55 yards on the fake tush push in Chicago, but didn’t score. Jaylen Warren did one play later, highlighting the 1-2 punch the tandem brings Pittsburgh.

Mike McCarthy’s offense will differ in important ways, but the value a true RB No. 2 provides remains indespensable.

Other NFL teams certainly took note of Gainwell’s MVP season and he won’t be an under the radar signing. But he’s also not the type of back that anyone thinks will or should “reset the market.”

He’s someone the Steelers can and should resign.

The Case Against the Steelers Re-Signing Kenneth Gainwell

Yes, Kenneth Gainwell was the best and most consistent player on the Steelers offense. And that says a lot more about how bad that offense was than it does about how good Gainwell is.

Gainwell is a “nice to have” and was a great pickup on a veteran minimum contract, but are you really going to give a legit 2nd contract, one with real guaranteed money, to a backup running back who didn’t even crack 900 all-purpose yards?

Please.

Aaron Rodgers was right when he said that the Steelers offense sort of resembled the Island of Misfit toys. Gainwell was one of those. Yes, he’s a legit role player in a productive, varsity NFL offense – but the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t fielded one of those since what? 2018?

Sure the Steelers have salary cap space to spare, but they doesn’t mean they should waste it on a guy like Gainwell when they’ve got Kaleb Johnson waiting in the wings.

Curtain’s Call on the Steelers and Kenneth Gainwell

Just because Kenneth Gainwell was the MVP last year doesn’t mean the Steelers will bend over backwards to bring him back.

  • There’s precedent in Pittsburgh for doing the exact opposite.

Quarterback Neil O’Donnell MVP honors during the Steelers 1995 season. When O’Donnell became a free agent after Super Bowl XXX, Pittsburgh made him an offer, but he declined to get into a bidding war with the New York Jets. Seven years later, Kordell Stewart won the team MVP award in 2001, yet found himself benched permanently in favor of Tommy Maddox in 2002.

At the NFL Scouting Combine Omar Khan confirmed that the Steelers have started negotiations with Gainwell, but if they haven’t signed him by this point, they won’t before free agency starts.

The Steelers will make him an offer they think is fair, allow him to gauge interest from the rest of the NFL, and won’t go beyond their original number. The Steelers value Gainwell’s services. We’ll soon find out if the rest of the NFL values them more.

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5 Quickies on Sloppy Steelers 19-16 Preseason Win Over Panthers

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The Pittsburgh Steelers closed their 2025 preseason by beating the Carolina Panthers 19-16. The scoreboard doesn’t lie and Pittsburgh finished with more points that the Panthers.

  • But the effort hardly felt like a “victory” for the Steelers.

The leaves the question, what can or should we take from the efforts. Let’s take a look.

Yahya Black, Bryce Perkins, Steelers vs Panthers Preseason

Yahya Black sacks Bryce Perkins. Photo Credit: AP via Tribune-Review

1. Tomlin Preseason 2.0 Under the Microscope

When preseason consisted of four games, Mike Tomlin’s MO was pretty standard:

  • Starters got a series (or two) in the first preseason game.
  • Starters got about a quarter in the second preseason game.
  • The third preseason game was the “dress rehearsal” with starters getting close to half
  • He reserved the fourth preseason game backups and roster bubble players

Since the preseason went to 3 games, Tomlin has more or less tried to squeeze that same formula into a 3 game cycle.

This year has  been different. Outside of Keeanu Benton, Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones, most starters sat out the Steelers preseason game against the Jaguars and the Buccaneers.

And it appeared that most of these starters might sit for the duration, but after Buccaneers game, Tomlin announced that most starters would play, with the exception of Aaron Rodgers, D.K. Metcalf, Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt (minus other players who were injured.)

  • The effort left a lot to be desired.

If there’s one word to describe the Steelers effort against the Panthers it is “Sloppy.”

Penalty flags flew early and often. Mason Rudolph threw and ugly interception. The running game, at least in the first half, still could not get going. In the first two games, defenders swarmed at ball carriers. The Panthers seemed to move the ball pretty well, even if they didn’t score.

The glass half full view here is that this is a chance for the starters to shake off a little rust. The glass half empty is that at this point in the summer, you’d hope and expect a crisper performance from your first-line players.

2. Are Worries about Warren’s Ball Security Warranted?

Jaylen Warren offers a perfect example. For 2 if not 3 years, both fans and the professional press have screamed for Warren to get carries instead of Najee Harris.

  • Warren touched the ball four times and fumbled once.

Warren is stand up guy. He’s so focused he doesn’t take his helmet off during games. The fact that he looked a little rusty isn’t cause for concern.

The fact that he fumbled is. Warren’s ball security issues are well known. It’s entirely possible that this is one of the reasons why he was unable to surpass Harris.

If he’s going to be a true RB No. 1 for the Steelers this year, he must take care of the ball.

3. Might It Be “Miller Time?”

Yancey Thigpen, Yancey Thigpen Terrible Towel, Steelers vs Browns

Yancey Thigpen twirls the Terrible Towel.

Last spring, when the Steelers were searching for the true WR No. 2 that never came, yours truly wondered whether Pittsburgh might have the next Yancey Thigpen hiding on their roster.

Yancey Thigpen of course went from being a special teams player who did some quality spot duty for the 1993 Steelers at wide receiver, to a true, legitimate Super Bowl caliber starting wide out for the 1994 Steelers.

Looking purely at his numbers, Scott Miller seemed like he might be that person in the spring of 2024. But, while he did do well in limited action, he was never anything but s spot-player last season.

He’s had an exceptionally strong camp, and led the team with 3 catches for 82 years. Clearly the kid has secured a roster spot. Now let’s see if he can translate that into something concrete when the games count.

4. Black is the New White?

The big news of the Panthers game was Derrick Harmon’s injury. Word is it is neither overly serious nor season-threatening. Still, you don’t want to see your first round pick go down, but every injury in the NFL creates an opportunity.

Steelers lineman and commentator Trai Essex paid homage to Max Starks, but Starks drew further back to Dwight White.

 

OK. Tributes to Dwight White are premature, but Black looked like a true ass kicker against the Panthers. If you have time, watching Chris Halicke’s video breakdown of Black’s performance.

While the DK on Pittsburgh Sports scribe is quick to point out that Black isn’t doing this against the Panther’s number 1s or even number 2s, his raw strength is on display as well as his technique. It’s a positive sign to see.

5. Is the Sky the Limit for Thompson?

If the Steelers have a preseason MVP, it is 4th string quarterback Skylar Thompson. When Omar Khan signed him in the spring the near universal reaction in Steelers Nation was, “Who?”

By all accounts, he’d been outplayed by Will Howard at St. Vincents, but Howard’s injury opened the door for Thompson to get reps. And he’s taken advantage.

In the 2015 preseason, Landry Jones got extensive worked, and parlayed a strong performance into a roster spot when many had expected him to be shown the door when the summer began. Jones went on to appear in 18 games and make 5 starts for the Steelers over the next three seasons.

  • Has Thompson done enough to force Will Howard to IR for the duration of the season?

Probably not. But assuming Thompson gets a visit from The Turk, he won’t stay unemployed for too long.

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Grading the Steelers 2020 Draft Class – Not Kevin Colbert’s Finest Hour

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The Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 Draft Class has now been freshly minted, introduced on the South Side with Jersey numbers to follow.

So now its time to grade the draft class…

…The Steelers 2020 Draft Class that is. You read that right. Chuck Noll insisted that you needed to wait 5 years to evaluate a Draft class. That seems like eons today, but if it was good enough for Chuck Noll it is good enough for me.

Alex Highsmith, Daniel Jones, Steelers vs Giants MNF

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

First Round – N/A, Traded Away

The ink on the physician’s diagnosis of Ben Roethlisberger’s elbow injury was hardly dry when Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin shocked the NFL by channeling their inner Buddy Parker and trading their first round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft for Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick made an immediate impact, raising the secondary to levels  not seen since the days of Troy Polamalu and before him, Rod Woodson. Minkah’s stats haven’t been as strong for the last two years, but this was good use of a first round pick.

Alas, it gets no grade because Fitzpatrick wasn’t part of the Steelers 2020 NFL Draft Class.

Second Round – Chase Claypool, The Rookie Flasher

Let this one be a lesson to you:  Draft evaluations made in following February are about as accurate as April batting averages.

Chase Claypool, Steelers vs Eagles, Steelers rookie touchdown record

Rookie Chase Claypool scores the first of four touchdowns vs the Eagles. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh infamously passed on Jalen Hurts and J.K. Dobbins to pick Chase Claypool and in February 2021 the move looked like a stroke of pure genius on the part of Kevin Colbert. Claypool exploded for a phenomenal rookie year, catching 62 passes for 873 yards. He scored a video game-like 4 touchdowns in his 4th game, as the Steelers defeated the Eagles while Hurts sat on the bench.

In his second year, his playing time jumped, but his production slipped. By year three, Omar Khan was shipping him off to Chicago for a second-round pick. He caught 14 pass for the Bears, who shipped him to Miami, where his NFL career ended after 9 games. Grade: Disappointment

Third Round – Alex Highsmith, The Book End

The Steelers defense depends on getting pressure from both outside linebackers. The Steelers drafted Alex Highsmith knowing they had Bud Dupree on a one-year rental. Highsmith took over the starting role in his second year, and by his third season he was racking up 14.5 sacks.

His production has dipped since then, in part due to injuries, but he’s clearly proven to be the viable bookend that the Steelers need opposite T.J. Watt. Grade: Over Performer

Fourth Round — Anthony McFarland Jr., The Truant Running Back

The Steelers drafted Anthony McFarland after only two years at the University of Maryland. And during his first two years, McFarland looked every bit like a player who probably should have stayed in school.

Anthony McFarland, Steelers vs Colts

Anthony McFarland lays claim to an active roster spot. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

By 2022 the presence of Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and Benny Snell forced him to the practice squad, but McFarland saw action in the Steelers win over the Colts. The Steelers resigned McFarland, and he looked to make a go of it as a returner and perhaps as a backup running back, until injuries derailed his season, and ultimately his career. Grade: Bust.

Fourth Round – Kevin Dotson, The One that Got Away

Unlike most fourth-round picks, there was a buzz around Kevin Dotson almost as soon as the Steelers drafted him out of Louisiana. He started 4 games as a rookie, 9 in his second year and 17 in his third year.

Kevin Dotson, Steelers vs Broncos

Kevin Dotson as a rookie. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

But one of Andy Weidl’s first moves upon arriving in Pittsburgh was to begin stocking the roster with Dotson’s replacement. The Steelers traded Dotson to the Rams, who moved him to the right side, and Dotson has gotten rave reviews since. Grade: Farm Team

Sixth Round — Antoine Brooks Jr., Another Nameless Terrapain

Antoine Brooks was one of several players from the University of Maryland that the Steelers drafted at the end of the Colbert era. Brooks’ tenure amounted to 10 special teams snaps and 29 snaps with the defense via practice squad elevation. He was cut the next summer and played on special teams for the Rams. Grade: Bust

Seventh Round – Carlos Davis, Bloodlines Aren’t Everything

The Steelers took Carlos Davis in the second round was notable mainly because he is Khalil Davis‘ brother. And Mike Tomlin loves bloodlines. But, as Devin Bush Jr. hadn’t yet begun to prove (the kid has a great rookie year), bloodlines aren’t everything.

Davis played 12 games for the Steelers. During in the 2021 season, when the Steelers defensive line was so bad that they signed Montravius Adams in a bit of practice squad poaching and started him the next week, yet Davis could only find the field for 50 snaps.

Overall Grade for the Steelers 2020 Draft Class

One Disappointment, 2 Busts, a Farm Teamer, and one Over Performer. That’s pretty grim. IF you count Minkah Fitzpatrick and the fact that Chase Claypool turned into Joey Porter Jr. the overall grade would be higher.

But every draft must be evaluated the players you picked. Alex Highsmith keep this group from being a total failure, but no matter how you slice it, the Steelers 2020 Draft was not Kevin Colbert’s finest hour. Grade: D

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Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 Draft Needs @ Running Back – High

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It used to be, that going into the  NFL Draft the question wasn’t, “Will a running back be taken in the first round?” but “How many?”

And if you think that’s Baby Boomer or Generation X nostalgia, consider that in the 2008 NFL Draft, 5 running backs went in the first round, followed by 3 over the next two years, which maintained the historical average.

Times have changed.

When the Steelers took Najee Harris in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, eyes rolled and critics charged that Kevin Colbert was behind the times. They might have been on to something. The Steelers let Harris go without a fight in free agency.

But the 2025 NFL Draft is said to be running back rich, and the running game is seeing a bit of a resurgence in the NFL. So might Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin draft another running back in the first round here in 2025?

Jaylen Warren, Robert Spillane, Steelers vs Raiders

Former Friends: Robert Spillane tries to tackle Jaylen Warren. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

Steelers Depth Cart at Running Back: The Starter

One of the reasons why the Steelers were so willing to let Najee Harris leave in free agency is because Jaylen Warren has been waiting in the wings. Warren first made the Steelers roster as part of the 2022 undrafted rookie free agent class, where he won the third-down back role in training camp.

During his first two years Warren played well enough that both fans and press to call for him to start over Harris, particularly in the early going of the 2022 and 2023 seasons when Harris suffered from slow starts.

In 3 years with the Steelers Jaylen Warren has proven himself to be a running back who hits holes decisively. And, while it doesn’t get talked about much, Warren has proven to be an effective pass catcher capable of transforming check down passes into far bigger gains.

The Steelers gave Warren a restricted free agent tender that kept him with the team, giving him what amounts to a “prove it year.”

And Warren does have something to prove. He’s never had more than 15 carries in a game, and he’s got an alarmingly high fumble rate.

Steelers Running Back Depth Chart: The Backups

Cordarrelle Patterson heads up the Steelers depth chart at running back behind Jaylen Warren. Yes, that’s right, Patterson remains on the Steelers roster, surprisingly, as he was expected to be a cap casualty. Patterson only had 32 carries in 2024, but he ran extremely well in limited duty in the win against the Raiders and the loss to the Colts.

The Steelers signed Kenneth Gainwell in free agency. Gainwell had 3 strong years with the Eagles as a third down back, although his production did slip in his 4th season. Still, he brings 66 games, 280 carries, 102 catches of experience to Pittsburgh.

Also on the roster were Jonathan Ward and Aaron Shampklin who were practice squanders for the Steelers in 2024 and saw spot duty. Rounding out the group is Evan Hull, who spent 2023 and 2024 on the Colts’ practice squad getting into one game, for one carry and one yard. But, according to Steel City Insider’s Roy Countryman, Hull has legitimate “upside” as “an explosive runner (4.47 40) with quick feet who does not shy away from contact.”

The Steelers 2023 Draft Needs @ Running Back

Arthur Smith is an offensive coordinator he believes in the ground game. When he was at Tennessee under Mike Vrabel, it was often said that he ran a “Bill Cowher-style offense.”

  • The Pittsburgh’s running back room is not ready to meet that standard.

Jaylen Warren has flashed he can be a legitimate NFL RB Number 1, but he hasn’t proven it. And as Mike Tomlin seems to be open to doing something other than rushing his running backs “until the wheels fall off” the Steelers need to add a starter-capable running back.

Neither Gainwell nor Patterson fit that bill, the Steelers needs at running back going into the 2025 NFL Draft must be considered High.

 

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Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 Free Agent Tracker

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Free Agency started on Monday March 10th at noon.

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered free agency with as much as much to lose as they do have to gain.

The Steelers have 17 players set to become free agents. Omar Khan has over 60 million dollars in salary cap money to spend, with the ability to increase that quickly and easily with restructures and extensions. Yet, the team has been cautious.

  • If anyone is panicking over the Steelers lack of a quarterback, they’re not on the South Side.

Beyond that, the Steelers have seen far more free agents depart for greener patures than they have extended the welcome mat to.

steelers press conference,

Is Omar Khan stockpiling compensatory picks? That may not be his intent, but thus far that’s the end-product of his approach to free agency as the legal tampering period comes to an end.

Steelers 2024 Pickups During Free Agency

Jaylen Warren, Running Back
Extended 2nd round Restricted Free Agent Tender
Ryan McCollum, Center
Extended an Exclusive Rights Free Agent tender
D.K. Metcalf
Traded their 2nd round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft for D.K. Metcalf who signed a 4 year extension
Kenneth Gainwell, running back
Signed the former Philadelphia Eagles running back to a 1 year deal.
Malik Harrison, Inside Linebacker
Signs a 2-year, 10 million dollar contract to leave the Baltimore Ravens.
Brandin Echols, Cornerback
Signs with Steelers from the New York Jets, terms undisclosed.
Darius Slay, Cornerback
Signs 1-year, 10 million dollar contract after getting cut from Philadelphia Eagles.
Mason Rudolph, Quarterback
Signs 2-year, 8 million dollar contract.
Scotty Miller, Wide Receiver
Signs 1-year deal, presumptively at the veteran minimum.
Ben Skowronek, Wide Receiver
Signs 2-year deal, 4.5 million dollar contract.
Daniel Ekuale, Defensive End
Signs with Steelers from the New England Patriots
Juan Thornhill, Safety
Signs 1-year deal from the Cleveland Browns
Isaiahh Loudermilk, Defensive line
Signs 1-year deal, presumptively at the veteran minimum.
Esezi Otomewo, defensive lineman
Signs 1-year contract, presumptively at the veteran minimum, from the Jacksonville Jaguars

Steelers 2024 Free Agent Losses


Justin Fields, Quarterback
Signed 2 year, 40 million dollar deal with the New York Jets
Donte Jackson, Cornerback
Signed 2 year, 13 million dollar contract with San Die er um Los Angeles Chargers
Dan Moore, Offensive Tackle
Signed 4 year, 82 million dollar contract with Tennessee Titans
Najee Harris, Running Back
Signs 1 year, 9.25 million dollar contract with Los Angeles Chargers
Elandon Roberts, Inside Linebacker
Signs 1 year, 3 million dollar contract with Las Vegas Raiders
James Daniels, Guard
Signs 3 year 24 million dollar contract with Miami Dolphins
Van Jefferson, Wide Receiver
Signs 1 year, 2.5 million dollar contract with Tennessee Titans
Mike Williams, Wide Receiver
Signs 1 year, 7 million dollar contract to return to the Los Angeles Chargers
Nate Herbig, Guard/Center
Signs 1 year deal with Washington Commanders

Steelers 2024 Remaining Unrestricted Free Agents

Russell Wilson, Quarterback
Cam Sutton, Cornerback
MyCole Pruitt, Tight End
Kyle Allen, Quarterback
Tyler Matakevich, Inside Linebacker/Special Teams
Damontae Kazee, Safety

Exclusive Rights Free Agents

Jeremiah Moon, Outside Linebacker

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Steelers, Najee Harris Would Be Wise to Part Ways in Free Agency

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In another age, taking a running back in the first round of the NFL Draft wasn’t simply “OK.” It was an expected if not essential move. Three of the top 10 picks in the 1989 NFL Draft were running backs. But times change. Today it is seen as an extravagance at best or as a wasted pick at worse.

In his penultimate draft, Kevin Colbert bucked conventional wisdom by drafting Najee Harris first in the 2021 NFL Draft. The decision drew comparisons to his name sake, Franco Harris whom the Steelers drafted first in 1972.

  • Four years later, we know that Najee wasn’t and won’t be the next Franco.

But does that mean the soon to be free agent doesn’t deserve to extend his stay in Pittsburgh? Let’s find out.

Najee Harris, Steelers vs Bengals

Najee Harris stiff arms his way to more yards. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Profile of Najee Harris’ Career with the Steelers

The idea that Najee Harris might live up to his namesake didn’t seem so far-fetched during his rookie year.

He spent the draft at a homeless shelter instead of a traditional watch party. He ran for over 1200 yards behind an offensive line built on duct tape, spit and bubble gum. He also caught 74 passes giving him a year of Le’Veon Bell–like production.

Najee Harris, Steelers vs Ravens, Ben Roethlisberger final regular season

Najee Harris starts overtime with 1 handed catch. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review.

In the 2021 season finale at Baltimore, Harris hurt his arm and learned to carry the ball on opposite side of his body. In doing so, he contributed to Ben Roethlisberger’s final 4th quarter comeback.

Harris’ workload decreased in 2022 and again in 2023 as he split time with Jaylen Warren. Nonetheless he broke the 1000 yard barrier in both seasons, although his role in the passing game dropped off.

Going into 2024 the Steelers declined to pick up his 5th year option, and although Harris’ notched another 1000 yard season, his rushing average dipped slightly, and his “Success Rate,” as reported by Pro Football Reference, dropped to its lowest level in his career.

The Case for the Steelers Resigning Najee Harris

No, Najee Harris isn’t the next Franco Harris. Nor has he sustained at the Le’Veon Bell-like performance he teased at as a rookie. But Harris has been three things for the Steelers:

Dependable – Gaining 1000 yards in four straight seasons is an accomplishment
Durable – Harris has started 17 games in four straight seasons
Reliable – Harris has 6 fumbles in 1277 touches

To put Najee Harris’ 0.46% fumble rate in perspective, Saquon Barkley’s is 0.42%, Christian McCaffrey’s is 0.69%, Derrick Henry’s is 0.79, James Conner’s is 0.9% and Jaylen Warren’s is 1.2%. (Still wondering why coaches hesitate to give Warren more carries?)

Harris didn’t have the kind of year that allows him to delude himself into thinking he can “reset the running back market.” And that works in the Steelers favor. He’s a good back, not a great back, and Omar Khan should be able to keep him in Pittsburgh on a team-friendly deal.

The Case Against the Steelers Resigning Najee Harris

The encore to that sensational rookie year never arrived.

Sure, Eddie Faulkner talked a good game about limiting his carries in the 2022 off season, but when did Mike Tomlin ever stop feeding a proverbial “Bell Cow?” Harris could have owned the running back position the way Willie Parker and Le’Veon Bell did before him.

  • He just didn’t have the cajones to go out and take it.

Harris is a “good back” not a “great back.” Fine. In the 1980s we said the same about several Steelers running backs in the ‘80s. So if Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin fashion themselves as Doc Brown and Marty McFly then bringing back Harris might be a good option, but not as this generation’s Frank Pollard or Earnest Jackson but rather as Walter Abercrombie.

  • The Abercrombie metaphor is useful.

The Steelers drafted Walter Abercrombie in the first round of the 1982 NFL Draft and stuck with him for 6 years largely because, in the pre-free agency era, they had little choice. And as Mike Tomlin says about free agency, “Its free for them and free for us.”

The Steelers should use free agency to free themselves of Najee Harris.

Curtain’s Call on the Steelers and Najee Harris

OK. Comparing Harris to Walter Abercrombie is a bit harsh. But, as his 2024 campaign showed, Harris hasn’t been able to find a groove as a rusher.

Yes, at times Najee Harris runs like a dominant NFL running back. Think back to the second half of the 2022 season. Think this year’s games against the Raiders, Jets and Giants.

  • But four years into the league, consistency continues to elude him.

His 2024 “Success Rate” of 43.7, as defined by Pro Football Reference, illustrates that. Jaylen Warren’s is 50.0%, Barkley’s was 52.2% and Henry clocked in at 58.8%. That translates into “Sludge Ball,” to borrow a term that Jim Wexell so eloquently coined, leading to a lot of 3rd and 8’s.

Theoretically, if Harris were willing to accept a very team-friendly deal, there’d be a business case for keeping him in Pittsburgh. But the 2025 NFL Draft is said to be loaded with running backs. The Steelers need to direct their salary cap dollars holes at defensive line, wide receiver and cornerback. And would Harris really accept a basement bargain deal anyway?

Both the wise and the likely move for is for the Steelers and Najee Harris use the spring of 2025 as a new beginning.

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The Steelers Will Tender Jaylen Warren. Should They Go Further?

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During the Mike Tomlin Era, RB No. 2 has been anything but a prestige position for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Isaac Redman had a respectable run from 2010 to 2012. DeAngelo Williams did a fantastic job in 2015 and early 2016 until injuries took their toll. But beyond those two, this era’s backup running backs provide perfect fodder for Final Jeopardy answers (think Najeh Davenport and Benny Snell.)

  • For the last three years, Jaylen Warren has re-written this script.

And unlike his predecessors, he’s not only excelled as RB No. 2, he’s played so well his performance has prompted many to suggest he should be the Steelers starting running back.With Najee Harris headed for free agency, and Jaylen Warren reaching restricted free agency, we’re about to find out if Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin share those feelings.

Jaylen Warren, Marion Humphrey, Steelers vs Ravens

Jaylen Warren drags Marion Humphrey. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Capsule Profile of Jaylen Warren’s Career with the Steelers

When Eddie Faulkner promised in June 2022 to reduce Najee Harris’ carry-count in the coming season, even the most innocent homer had to be skeptical. Mike Tomlin notoriously runs his starting starting running backs “until the wheels came off, as Willie Parker, Rashard Mendenhall, and Le’Veon Bell can attest.

But a few weeks later an undrafted rookie free agent started showing signs he was going to help his coach remain truthful. Jaylen Warren turned heads at St. Vincents and during the preseason doing well enough to earn a helmet as the Steelers 3rd down back.

Warren made strong enough impression as a rookie, that fans entered the 2023 season calling for him to start over Harris, even though Warren only had 74 carries to his name. Harris continued to start, but Warren saw his role grow, as he rushed 149 times for 784 yards and caught 61 passes, nearly doubling his 2022 totals.

In 2024 injuries limited Warren to 15 games, but that was enough for him to rush for 511 yards and catch 38 passes.

The Case for the Steelers Resigning Jaylen Warren

There really isn’t any question that the Steelers are going to give Warren a restricted free-agent tender the only question is whether they’ll make it high enough to ensure they get draft compensation should someone sign him.

The larger question is do they only want a one-year rental with Warren, or do they want to lock him down for 2 or 3 years more?

In Jaylen Warren the Steelers have a dynamic running back who has repeatedly proven that he hits holes decisively and moves the chains when it counts. Like number 33 Merril Hoge before him, Jaylen Warren gives his all every time he touches the ball — the man doesn’t even take his helmet off during games.

Jaylen Warren, Robert Spillane, Steelers vs Raiders

Former Friends: Robert Spillane tries to tackle Jaylen Warren. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

He’s also a pass-catching threat out of the backfield, and his pass blocking might not impress any Fantasy Football owner who starts him, but Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson would certainly attest to how much of an asset that makes him to the Steelers offense.

Warren has shined during his 3 year apprenticeship, now its time for him to take over as the master.

The Case Against the Steelers Resigning Jaylen Warren

Jaylen Warren has a great story. He’s kind of like Isaac Redman but without the “Red Zone” factor. And Redman’s experience should be instructive to the Steelers.

Redman came out of nowhere and proved he was a viable backup running back. But thanks to injuries, Redman wasn’t even a long term answer at backup.

  • Injuries plagued Warren early in 2024.
  • His rushing average dropped by a full yard.

That, plus the fact that Warren has a 1.2% fumble rate, are warning signs that the Steelers braintrust must heed. Bringing Warren back 2025 is the right move, but the Steelers must hedge their bets.

Curtain’s Call on the Steelers and Jaylen Warren

Sometimes there’s nothing more tempting than a third down back who seems to out-perform the starter. During the dark days of the Steelers 1999 season, pundits argued it was imperative for the Steelers to leave Jerome Bettis behind because of Richard Huntley’s third down play.

OK. That analogy only goes so far. Najee Harris is no Bettis, and Warren far better than Huntley. But the example underlines the fact that, while Jaylen Warren is a player you need on your team, he’s never been tested as a starter. If nothing else, his fumble rate signals the risk in making a long-term commitment to him.

Expect the Steelers to offers Jaylen Warren a restricted free agent tender high enough that the draft pick a signing team would have to give up is too high, but don’t expect them to go beyond that.

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Tone Deaf: Art Rooney II Sticks His Foot in His Mouth. Again

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Steelers President Art Rooney II doesn’t speak often. And when he does, he says little. And chooses his words very carefully. In the wake of a Steelers 2024 season that eerily mimicked the arc of Game of Thrones, last week Rooney did his round of press conferences and interviews.

  • He’s followed the same pattern for several years.

He does a press conference with a select group of “print” reporters. He does TV one-on-ones with Pittsburgh TV stations and with Steelers.com. Despite Rooney’s minimalist strategy (or perhaps because of it) there are several clear take aways:

1. The Steelers won’t be making coaching changes for the sake of change
2. Defensive line is a weakness that Rooney wants to address
3. The Steelers need an elite quarterback, but won’t to reach for one
4. 2nd contracts for George Pickens and Najee Harris are unlikely
5. Rooney does not see Pittsburgh’s small coaching staff as an issue

Those are all valuable insights, even if the majority of fans and commentators object to his resistance for change.

Art Rooney II, Pittsburgh Steelers President Art Rooney II

Pittsburgh Steelers President Art Rooney II. Photo Credit: Buffalo News

Rooney’s post-season press engagements had been going along more or less on script until he did a sit down with WTAE’s Ashley Liotus, there when challenged on the team’s culture this was Rooney’s response:

Look, I’m very comfortable with the culture in this team. I think it is a winning culture. You know, I think people need to keep it in perspective here. Even though we haven’t kind of reached our goal of winning a Super Bowl, we’ve had winning teams. We’ve been making the playoffs. And I understand the disappointment in terms of not succeeding in the postseason and that, you know, that’s what we have to do.
But, it’s not like we haven’t had some success around here. We just need to continue to build on the culture that we have and players like T.J. [Watt] and Cam Heyward, those kind of players help. [Emphasis added.]

To quote Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell, “Not that I disagree, but that was the LAST thing the person at the top should’ve said.”

  • Wexell’s right. And for the second year in a row, Art Rooney II has put his foot into his mouth.

A year ago, when challenged about the Steelers then 7-year playoff drought, Rooney declared, “It’s time to get some [playoff] wins.” I said then and have stood by it since then, that was a mistake.

It was a mistake for two reasons. First, because it lowered the bar for success. Bill Cowher reestablished the standard on the day he arrived in 1992, by declaring that the team’s objective was to add a Lombardi to the trophy case. Cowher reaffirmed that every season. Mike Tomlin has followed suit.

  • The second reason is that it created a faux rhetorical ultimatum for the team.

Even when the Steelers stood at 10-3 with a lead in the AFC North, they remained cloaked in the “…but they still haven’t won a playoff game” shadow. Commentators would have continued to cast that shadow regardless, but Rooney’s comments darkened and deepened that shadow.

  • Just about everything in Rooney’s remarks are on point, save for the portions in italics.

Even if Rooney has clearly reaffirmed the goal of winning the Super Bowl, his other comments beg to be taken out of context – as they surely will be. “…it’s not like we haven’t had some success here” is the only thing that many fans will hear, and it’s the only portion of his quote the reporters will recycle from now until next January.

And, absent other visible concrete changes, even taken in context, these comments appear to endorse the status quo.

  • It is the wrong message to send.

What might he have said instead?

Fair question. The Steelers are in a tricky spot. And there’s an inconvenient truth that frustrated fans certainly don’t want to hear, and reporters who depend on clicks to make a living certainly won’t say.

And that truth is this:  Objectively speaking, the Steelers have probably overachieved relative to the talent on their roster since Ben Roethlisberger’s elbow injury.

Rolling your eyes? Fair enough. But consider this:

This is a team that went into the final week of the 2019 season with Devlin Hodges as its starting quarterback with a shot at making the playoffs. It made the playoffs in 2021 with a franchise QB on his last legs and an offensive line built with spit, bubble gum and duct tape. It’s a team that started 3 quarterbacks in 2023 and was within a touchdown of tying the Bills on the road deep into the 4th quarter in the playoffs.

  • Art Rooney II cannot and absolutely should not acknowledge this publicly.

So what should he say instead? I’m no PR professional, but if Burt Lauten is reading this (as he surely is not reading this) here’s a freebie in case his boss has further interviews scheduled:

First, to all of our fans, let me say this, I understand your frustration, because I feel it. No one is more frustrated at our playoff drought than me, except for perhaps Mike Tomlin. But we may operate here a little differently in Pittsburgh. Our focus is on fielding the most competitive team we can field every season, without sacrificing our ability to win long-term.
By that I mean, we won’t mortgage our future the way we did when Buddy Parker was here, but at the same time, when we have a chance to add talents that can help us win as we did with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields this last off season, we’re going to take them.
And there are pro’s and con’s to that approach, just like any approach. So when you run into those con’s, you’ve commit yourself to not getting caught up in them. And by that I mean, the goal we have every season is to win the Super Bowl. In order to do that, you’ve got to make the playoffs. And you’ve got to win there.
And this year we fell short, yet again. So asking ourselves why, and focusing our efforts on fixing that. And that’s what we’re doing.

At this point Rooney could then make his comments about the need for the Steelers to find a quarterback, doubling down on winning in the trenches on offense and the imperative of getting younger and stronger on the defensive line.

Would that satisfy those who want to see a house cleaning akin to what the Chicago Bears do every 2-3 years or what the Cleveland Browns did for two decades prior to hiring Kevin Stefanski?

Nope.

But it would have been an honest, realistic take on where the Steelers are, how they got there, and how they hope to break out of the vicious cycle they’re in.

So Burt, if you’ve read this, feel free to use it. No extra charge.

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Steelers 2024 Season Review: Hard Knocks Meets Game of Thrones

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The Pittsburgh Steelers ended the 2024 regular season at 10-7 and the were One and Done in the playoffs after the Baltimore Ravens ridiculed them.

In hindsight, it’s fitting that HBO featured the Steelers on Hard Knocks in 2024. That’s because their season followed the arc of another famed HBO blockbuster, Game of Thrones:

  • The Steelers excited by exceeding expectations early on, only to stumble before imploding in a deeply disappointing finish.

Like Game of Thrones, the Steelers were undone by continuity errors and fatal plot holes. Unlike Game of Thrones, while these flaws did define their season, but do not necessarily define their destiny.

Let’s take a deep dive.

Derrick Henry, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Steelers vs Ravens, Steelers 2024 season

Derrick Henry stiff arms Minkah Fitzpatrick. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Backstory: Steelers Reach Beyond Their Comfort Zone

Chuck Noll once explained, “When you lose, everything they say about you is true.” And there’s a lot of truth circulating about the Steelers brain trust now. While it may not be popular with critics, here’s one basic truth: The Steelers did not start 2024 by doing the same things and expecting different results.

They hired Arthur Smith, who became the team’s first outside coordinator hire since Todd Haley in 2012.

They turned their quarterback room over end-to-end. In the blink of an eye, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph vanished.

Third, they traded Diontae Johnson, their best route runner and most-tenured receiver.

Omar Khan remained aggressive in free agency, poaching Patrick Queen from the Ravens, while signing DeShon Elliott to bolster their secondary. In the 2024 NFL Draft Omar Khan and Andy Wedil leaned into their “build through the trenches” philosophy.

  • Were those changes effective?

They certainly didn’t deliver dividends in December and January. But for whatever else went wrong in 2024, no one should accuse Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin of hiding in their comfort zone.

Opening Gambit: From Field of Dreams to Russ Cooks

Mike Tomlin brought Russell Wilson to Pittsburgh to start. Injuries threw a monkey wrench into his plans, and Justin Fields started the first six games of the season.

During that stretch, we both saw why the Chicago Bears made Justin Fields the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and why they moved on after 3 years. Fields made some spectacular throws. He added an unpredictable dynamic to the offense with his legs. He also had trouble handling snaps and missed routine passes.

  • Still, that was good enough for the Steelers to go 4-2.

Mike Tomlin nonetheless made a change and the Russell Wilson era started with the win over the Jets. He followed with a win over the Giants.

Calvin Austin, Steelers vs Giants,

Calvin Austin hauls in a touchdown. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Then he led the Steelers to wins over the Washington Commanders on the road and the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium.

But Pittsburgh bounced back with a road win over the Bengals and  a home win over the Browns that saw Pittsburgh put up 27 points — without George Pickens.

It was good times.

Russ was cooking. The long ball returned to the Steelers offense after a painful absence. The defense, when it wasn’t dominating, was making in-game adjustments and securing turnovers at critical points in game after game.

T.J. Watt, Joe Burrow, T.J. Watt strip sack Joe Burrow, Steelers vs Bengals

T.J. Watt strip sacks Joe Burrow. Photo Credit: X.com

By the time Steelers Nation was finishing the last of their Thanksgiving leftovers, the Steelers were 10-3, had just won two straight division games and led the AFC North with a 3-1 division record. Mike Tomlin was the consensus candidate for coach of the year.

  • Not bad for a team that every expert had pegged to finish last in the AFC North.

But “NFL” means Not For Long. One continuity error that had been popping up was about to take its toll. And an unforeshadowed, fatal plot hole was waiting to sink the Steelers season.

Continuity Error: A Run Focused Offense Lacking a Running Attack

Despite going one-and-done in the playoffs to the Bills, the Steelers ended 2023 on a hopeful note. One reason is that the running game had improved during the latter half of 2023. No, the offensive line wasn’t road grading for Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, but they were effective and getting better.

And as Mason Rudolph showed, when you combine that running game with competent quarterback play, the Steelers could play winning offensive football.

  • The Steelers quarterbacking improved in 2024.
  • Unfortunately its running game regressed.

You can marshal limitless facts, figures, statistics and sabermetrics to document the inadequacy of the 2024 Steelers rushing attack. Four simple plays illustrate this reality much better

  • On opening day, the Steelers went for it on 4th & 1 at Atlanta’s six and failed.
  • In the 1st quarter against the Browns on TNF, on 4th & 2 at their own 38 Pittsburgh went for it and lost 2 yards
  • In the 3rd quarter against the Browns on their own 46, the Steelers tried again on 4th & 1 and failed
  • In the regular season finale, with 0:49 left in the 1st half, on their own 37 the Bengals snuffed them on 4th and 1

The consequences of these “continuity errors” cascaded as the season progressed.

In Atlanta and Cleveland, the defense bailed them out on the ensuing drives. The Steelers beat the Falcons, but lost to the Browns – perhaps 2 failed 4th down conversions in a game 2 too many. In the finale, the Bengals kicked a field goal with the extra time in what ended as a 2-point game.

Arthur Smith was brought to Pittsburgh to reestablish a physical style of football. While he was in Tennessee, Steelers fans longingly hailed him for “Running a Bill Cowher-style offense.”

Russell Wilson, Najee Harris, Steelers vs Giants

Russell Wilson hands off to Najee Harris. Photo Credit: Steelers.com

At times, the Steelers ground game was OK. But never did it even feign dominance. The fact that the Steelers deployed Justin Fields to close their two biggest AFC North wins reinforces that reality.

“If you can’t get a yard, you don’t deserve to win,” Mike Tomlin is wont to say. We know from Hard Kocks he made a deliberate decision to lean on his running game late in the season. But the running game faltered.

Was it Smith’s system? (Explain the pitch play. Please.) Should he have platooned Harris and Warren differently? Was the offensive line simply ineffective?

All three factors played a role. But given that the pass protection broke down late in the year, the offensive line’s poor play is probably the root cause.

Going back to the Game of Thrones analogy, one of the first signs that the show was headed for the rocks was when the show runners suddenly had characters “teleporting” across vast distances and time periods.

  • It was lazy production.
  • A smidge of script creativity could have resolved everything.
  • These were unforced errors.

We can probably view the Steelers offensive line problems in a similar light. The line is young. It was oft injured. It has “upside.” The answers to the Steelers offensive line issues very well may be on the roster.

Closing the plot hole may not be so easy.

Plot Hole: Defense Comes up Choto When it Counts

The Steelers plan for the post Ben Roethlisberger era was simple: Have the defense carry the team until a new franchise QB could be found.

The franchise’s philosophy has been clear: By investing in players such as T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alex Highsmith and Patrick Queen the Steelers would empower them to go toe-to-toe with elite quarterbacks.

  • 2024 provided a rude awakening to the fact that this philosophy might be fatally flawed.

Strictly speaking this fatal flaw appeared in the December losses to the Eagles and Ravens. But the defense was playing down several starters in both games and, absent a sprinkling of critical errors, Pittsburgh had a puncher’s chance to win both games.

Travis Kelce, Donte Jackson, Steelers vs Chiefs, Steelers Chiefs Christmas 2024

Travis Kelce scorches the Steelers. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

There were no such mitigating circumstances against the Chiefs at Christmas and the Ravens in the playoffs.

Patrick Mahomes devoured the Steelers pass defense, exploiting holes with laser-like precision. The Baltimore Ravens imposed their will on the Steelers. Kirk Herbstreit assailed the Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin’s defense for lack of effort.

I think he was wrong, but it some ways wish he were right because the Steelers defense got its ass kicked by a superior, more physical offense.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but in 2024’s the two-most critical contests against elite offenses, the Steelers defense came up Choto (yes there’s that word again,) both times.

Rooney, Tomlin and Khan and Road from Here

Game of Thrones first several seasons were so successful because show runners Benioff and Weiss did a better job of telling George R.R. Martin’s story on screen than he’d done on paper.

  • They hit the narrative equivalent of an iceberg when they ran out of Martin’s original material.

Art Rooney II, having already decided to retain Mike Tomlin, needs to determine with Tomlin and Omar Khan whether the franchise’s defense-first script has run its course.

And that determination will define how soon the Steelers go all in on finding their next young quarterback.

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