Tag Archives: Senquez Golson

What a Shame: Steelers Trade Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys

Posted on by Standard Reply

The Pittsburgh Steelers will trade Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for Dallas’ 6th round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and their 2nd Round Pick in the 2028 NFL Draft.

The move, while hardly surprising, remains incredibly disappointing.

Joey Porter Jr and Joey Porter Sr and Porter Jr. with Nico Collins

Joey Porter Jr.’s Steelers journey comes full circle, to a bitter end. Photo Credits: G. N. Lowrance, Getty Images; Houston Chronicle

How should Steelers fans make sense of this? In this case, three simple words we all learned as young children suffice:

What a shame.

Yes, it is a real shame for the organization, for Joey Porter Jr., for the fans, for everyone.

  • The Steelers defense clearly needs Porter: Now they won’t have him.
  • Joey Porter Jr. wanted a long term deal: Now he’ll play in Dallas, without one.

No matter how you slice it, no matter whose side you’re on, regardless of who you consider to be “at fault,” this situation has ended badly.

A narrative that was shaping up to be something that Disney itself couldn’t have scripted better has instead taken on the feel of a poorly executed B-level reboot of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

One of the enduring images from Super Bowl XL is that of Joey Porter Jr. sitting on the arm of his father Joey Porter Sr. That’s where Joey Porter Jr.’s story with the Pittsburgh Steelers began.

But its roots run far deeper. Porter worked as a ballboy. Apparently he drilled, at some level, against Antonio Brown in training camp. He played in school with Mike Tomlin’s kids. He went to Penn State. He was drafted with the 32nd pick, a second rounder that Omar Khan had swindled out of Chicago in the Chase Claypool trade.

Arriving in Pittsburgh, he took on Number 24, the number worn by  “Uncle Ike,” or Ike Taylor who made the game-changing play in Super Bowl XL.

Porter’s first interception came courtesy of Lamar Jackson, in the end zone no less, and sparked an improbable comeback victory over the Ravens. (Yes, Kenny Pickett left Pittsburgh and remains “undefeated” against Lamar Jackson – there’s a factoid to stock up on for Final Jeopardy.)

Joey Porter Jr., Steelers vs Ravens

Joey Porter Jr. gets his first interception. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Porter had a strong rookie year. It is probably fair to say that he didn’t quite make the proverbial “second year leap” in 2024. But it is even more accurate to say that he did make a significant leap in year 3. No, Porter hadn’t established himself as a true, “shut down corner” but he was heading in that trajectory.

  • For the Steelers, this was a dream come true.

When you think of defensive backs drafted by the Steelers in this century, names like Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor and maybe even Big Play Willie Gay come to mind. So they should.

But other monikers, we forget. Names like Hank Poteat, Ricardo Colclough, Cortez Allen, Shamarko Thomas, Senquez Golson and Terrell Edmunds.

Joey Porter Jr. was the antidote to those misses. Finally, after so many misfires, the Steelers had drafted and developed a cornerback and were about to see him bud into his prime.

Alas, that’s all been reduced to a 6th round pick next spring and a 2nd found pick two springs after that.

Who to Blame for the Joey Porter Jr. Fiasco?

Focusing on blame is something I try to avoid going through life. It is seldom productive and often a corrosive endeavor. But the Joey Porter Jr. fiasco did not need to end this way.

  • As with most situations, both sides share responsibility.

For their part, the Steelers never should have declared him injured if he in fact was healthy. If Mike McCarthy wanted to end the policy of allowing “hold ins” – as is his right as head coach – that should have been crystal clear from the beginning.

But the lion’s share of the responsibly falls on Joey Porter Jr.’s shoulders.

  • By all accounts, the Steelers made him a fair offer.
  • If Joey Porter Jr. didn’t want to accept it and bet on himself, he had the right.

But then he needed to follow through and prove that he deserved to be paid what he thought he was worth by playing through the final year of his contract.

  • That’s how the dynamic of negotiations with 3rd year players works.

The team offers him a deal, usually a little less than the player would command on the open market, and the player gets his money a year earlier and reduces his injury risk.

Most often it works out as a win-win situation – see Hines Ward whom the Steelers re-signed before the 2001 season. Other times, it backfires on the team – see Cortez Allen’s second contract.

Hines Ward, Steeles vs Ravens, 2001 AFC Divisional Playoffs, first playoff game Heinz Field

Hines Ward flexes his muscles in the playoffs against the Ravens. The Steelers were back!. Photo Credit: Steelers.com

If Porter was dead set on opting out of this dynamic, only playing if and when he got a new contract, they he should have stated that from the get-go.

Instead, he feigned injury, as confirmed by is comments that he hopes to suit up for the Cowboys this Sunday.

That’s the adult equivalent of shaking the thermometer to make it look like you’ve got a fever of 99 degrees so that mom will let you stay home from school on Friday, and then turning around and saying “Hey mom, I’m feeling better. Can I go to the dance tonight?”

In the end, the Steelers really are accepting the short end of the stick by taking a 2nd-round 2028 and a 6th-round 2027 in exchange for Porter.

But moving on from Porter is the best choice they could make at this point, even if it is a bad one. It is far, far better than watching Art Rooney II becoming the NFL equivalent of Ferris Bueller’s nemesis Edward “Ed” Rooney.

What a shame.

Please lend a hand by sharing this on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp etc... Thanks.

Steelers Extend Chris Boswell’s Contract, Cut Cory Trice Revealing Wicked Role Injuries Play in NFL

Posted on by Standard 1

What at first glance appear to be two routine roster moves by Omar Khan actually shed a lot of light on the NFL’s darker side.

Coming out of rookie mini-camp, the Steelers made two moves: They extended Chris Boswell’s contract through 2030, and they cut cornerback Cory Trice.

While neither move is surprising, both reveal the wicked role injuries play in a player’s success or failure when he rides the NFL roulette wheel.

Chris Boswell, kicks 6 field goals in the Steelers 2024 opener vs the Falcons. Cory Trice carted off with an Injury at St. Vincents in the summer of 2025.

Chris Boswell kicking 1 of 6 field goals. Cory Trice injured at St. Vincents. Photo Credits: AP via Tribune-Review; Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Taken at face value, a glance at Boswell and Trice’s stat sheets suggests that you’re simply looking at two Pittsburgh Steelers players on the opposite ends of the NFL’s bell curve of career trajectories.

  • Chris Boswell has played for 11 years in 167 games and scored 1250 points.
  • Cory Trice has been on an NFL roster for 3 seasons, appeared in 6 games, making one start

There you have it ladies and gentleman — see for yourself ultimate meritocracy that is the NFL in action. The truly great players endure to play in hundreds of games, while others who can’t crack double digits are discarded as below average.

That is true, to a degree. About 40% of the players who begin the summer at St. Vincents won’t be on the opening day roster. Each summer, the cycle renews itself.

But merely looking at the number ignores the role that injuries play in swaying the NFL’s hand of fate.

  • Boswell and Trice’s experiences drive that point home.

The Steelers drafted Cory Trice in the 7th round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Injuries were the reason why he fell to the 7th round. Still, immediately after the draft, Jim Wexell waxed about the prospect of Trice tandeming with Joey Porter Jr.

That dream got delayed by a season as Trice tore his ACL in his rookie training camp. His second year he not only made the 53 man roster, but started the Steelers 2024 week 2 road win over the Broncos, and made an end zone interception in what was a 13-6 win for Pittsburgh.

 

The following week against the Chargers he lasted all of 3 snaps, and was out until the week 16 road loss to the Ravens. He got injured in camp again in the summer of 2025, healed enough to have his practice window opened, but got hurt again and finished the year where he started it – on injured reserve.

After having him spend 45 of 51 games in injured reserve, the Steelers waived Trice with a failed physical designation.

  • Cory Trice may get another shot with a new team, but his NFL dream is on borrowed time.

In contrast, Chris Boswell inked a 4-year contract extension for a reported 28 million dollars. Even if he doesn’t play out the entire length of that contract, he’ll almost certainly break the Steelers all-time scoring record.

Boswell’s field goal percentage may “only” rank 5th among active kickers, but half of his kicks come at Acrisure Stadium one of the NFL’s most difficult venues.

  • But Boswell didn’t get where he is on merit alone.

He joined the Steelers in 2015. Shaun Suisham began the summer as the Steelers kicker. But he got hurt during the Hall of Fame Game. So Kevin Colbert signed Garrett Hartley. Then Hartley got hurt. So Colbert traded for Josh Scobe. Scobe was OK. Until the Steelers lost on the road to the Ravens due in no small part to missed kicks , and then not so much.

Mike Tomlin let him go. Scobe’s agent leaked news of an injury. Maybe it was true, maybe it was made up.

  • Either way neither Suisham, nor Hartley, nor Scobe ever kicked another ball in an NFL game.

Their injuries opened the door for Chris Boswell to make 1570 kicks in the NFL and counting, not including his one punt.

  • Yes, injuries are as much a part of football as blocking and tackling.

They stop promising careers from one moment to the next, think Ryan Shazier. Other times they grind good players down, think Aaron Smith. Sometimes they end careers before they start, think Senquez Golson and now fellow cornerback Cory Trice.

  • But for as harsh as that reality is, injuries also open doors for players such as Chris Boswell.

Here’s to wishing Chris Boswell success – and health – as he plays through his latest contract with the Steelers, and here’s to wishing Cory Trice better luck — and health — in either his next NFL stop – or his “Life’s Work.”

Please lend a hand by sharing this on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp etc... Thanks.

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

Posted on by Standard Reply

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.

Please lend a hand by sharing this on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp etc... Thanks.

Steelers Trade of Kendrick Green Highlights the Danger and Unavoidability of Drafting for Need

Posted on by Standard Reply

The Steelers decision to ship Kendrick Green off to the Houston Texans for a 6th round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft is a pure admission of failure on the part of the front office.

  • Third round picks are supposed to grow into starters.
Kendrick Green, Kendrick Green Fullback

Steelers guard/center takes reps at fullback. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Kendrick Green’s trajectory with the Steelers went in the opposite direction. He started immediately, got benched late in his first year, stood in street clothes his second year, and was dealt at fire sale prices in his third year.

  • NFL teams don’t give up on third round picks so easily. The Steelers offer no exception.

The Steelers gave the boot to just one year Bruce Davis after drafting him third in the 2008 NFL Draft. Two Septembers, they also cut rookie Kraig Urbik, but that move was a miscalculation on their part, forced by the need to carry Charlie Batch on the 2010 roster.

As the stories of Curtis Brown, Sean Spence and Senquez Golson reveal, the Steelers normally bend over backwards to give a third round second, third and fourth chances to make the team.

And in a sense, the Steelers did that with Green. They moved him to guard in 2022, sort of giving him a Redshirt year as he was inactive for all 17 games. In 2023 they gave him work at both center and guard and even repped him at fullback.

Mike Tomlin singled him out after the Bills game, making no bones about the fact that his errant snaps to Mason Rudolph were unacceptable. Green saw action at both center and guard in the win over the Falcons, and in this observer’s opinion he did pretty well.

  • Pat Meyer, Matt Canada and Mike Tomlin reached a different conclusion.

Thus ends the Kendrick Green experiment, after over a little over two years and 15 games. For a franchise that boasts a lineage at center that begins in the ‘60s with Ray Mansfield, dominates the 70’s with Mike Webster, continues into throughout the 1990’s with Dermontti Dawson and extends into the 21st century with Jeff Hartings and Maurkice Pouncey, Kendrick Green represents a tremendous disappointment.

But if Kendrick Green’s footnote in the Definitive History of the Pittsburgh Steelers will be short, his story leaves a lasting lesson:

  • Drafting for need is dangerous. But sometimes its unavoidable.

Maurkice Pouncey’s retirement hit the Steelers at the worst possible time. Neither the coaches nor the front office were expecting it, particularly since Ben Roethlisberger returned for one more go.

Not only did the Steelers need to find a center, COVID-19 had plunged Pittsburgh into salary cap hell, cutting off free agency as a means to signing a new center. That left the draft. The Steelers tried to stick to their board picking Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth in the 1st and 2nd rounds (cue the arguments that the Steelers should have taken Creed Humphrey before Najee Harris) but their hand was essentially forced by the third round, when they took Green.

You can argue that they were in the same position in the 4th round, and were essentially forced to pick Dan Moore. More, like Green struggled on, but he starts his third year by keeping 2023’s first round pick Broderick Jones on the bench.

So sometimes you can get away with drafting for need. But as The Wire’s Omar Little reminded us, “You come at the king, you best not miss.” Yep, the Steelers missed on Kendrick Green.

Please lend a hand by sharing this on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp etc... Thanks.

Sometimes Lady Luck Ain’t Fair: Cory Trice’s Injury Begins the Winnowing of the ’23 Steelers Draft Class

Posted on by Standard Reply

It only took the first day of padded practices. The injury was actually contactless. Yet the winnowing of the Steelers 2023 draft class has begun.

And its first victim is 7th round draft pick Cory Trice.

Cory Trice is a 6’3” cornerback who played in 30 games for Perdue making 5 interceptions. Trice tore an ACL in his left leg 2021, but he rebounded to post a strong season for the Boiler Makers in 2022.

Cory Trice, Cory Trice injury

Steelers 7th round pick Cory Trice is carted from the field. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Despite his injury history, Dane Brugler of The Athletic rated him as the 14th best corner in the draft and the 88th best player overall. NFL scouts felt differently. Trice didn’t go a 88, but 153 picks later. Still, when the Steelers drafted him at 241 in the 7th round, drafnics immediately pronounced him as “steal.”

Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell took stock of Trice’s medical history and draft pedigree to conclude: “They HAD to take this cornerback.”

Maybe they did. And maybe couple of 3 years from now we’ll say that Corey Trice was to Lombardi Number 7 what Deshea Townsend was to Lombardi Number 5 and Lombardi Number 6. Let’s hope so.

But today the story on Corey Trice is something different and cautionary, if not darker:

  • Lady Luck plays as big of a role in successful NFL drafting as does science and art.

Normally when you think of Lady Luck’s role in the draft you think of the players you could or couldn’t take. Think of missing out on William Jackson and getting Artie Burns instead. Or not getting O.J. Simpson and having to “settle” for drafting Joe Greene.

  • But Lady Luck continues playing her role long after a pick reaches the podium.

All reports on Corey Trice from OTA’s, Minicamp and non-padded practices were positive. This kid looked like a keeper. Yet, on Tuesday August 1st, Kwon Alexander tackled Jordan Byrd. Corey Trice didn’t touch either man or anyone else during the play, but as soon as it was over he stood in in pain favoring his left side, having sustained an injury to his right leg.

“That’s just unfortunate,” Mike Tomlin explained, “but that’s football and life.”

Tomlin is right. Sometimes Lady Luck just ain’t fair.

In 2011 running back Baron Batch started off at St. Vincents looking like a late round steal, only to tear his ACL. Further back, 6th round pickc ornerback Barron Miles was having a very strong camp until suffering a knee injury in the 1995 Steelers preseason game against the Bills, and was lost for the year.

Batch returned in 2012 to earn 49 yards on 25 carries, but Barron Miles never played down in the NFL, (although he was quite successful in the CFL.)

Those two fared better than Senquez Golson, the Steelers 2nd round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Golson missed his rookie training camp with a torn rotator cuff, suffered a Lisfranc injury in his second summer at St. Vincents, got injured again in ’17 and after being cut he spent a few days on Tampa Bay’s practice squad and was done.

That’s three NFL careers – two would-be steals and one premium pick – all ended in the blink of Lady Luck’s eye.

  • Corey Trice should remain hopeful. Lady Luck sometimes grants second chances.
Greg Lloyd, Rashaan Salaam, Steelers vs Bears 1995

Greg Lloyd closes in on the Bears Rashaan Salaam in the Steelers 1995 win over the Bears. Photo Credit: Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images via the Bleacher Report

Ahead of the Steelers 1987 draft Tom Donahoe spied a dominating outside linebacker in some grainy footage from Ft. Valley State. The Steelers picked Greg Lloyd in the 6th round that spring, but Lloyd tore an ACL in preseason against Washington and spent his rookie year on IR. Lloyd got injured again in the summer of 1988 and spent the first seven games in IR.

But Lloyd appeared in the final nine games of 1988 including four starts.

Here’s where things get a bit uncanny. Where did Lloyd make his first start? On November 13th 1988 at Philadelphia. Where was his last start for the Steelers? November 23rd, 1997 where he injured himself on the turf at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium during the 1997 Steelers loss to the Eagles.

It would seem that even when she grants second chances, Lady Luck certainly lacks no sense of irony.

Please lend a hand by sharing this on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp etc... Thanks.

Grading Omar Khan’s First Year as Steelers General Manager – A Khan Artist? Or Just a Risk Taker?

Posted on by Standard Reply

Omar Khan’s first year as Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager has drawn praise from through out Steelers Nation. He’s been called a “Khan” artist. Some of the Black and Gold Faithful are already fitting him for a Gold Hall of Fame Blazer.

Khan addressed the media at St. Vincents, in Latrobe as Mike Tomlin and his staff began their first practices with the team.

With that in mind, it’s time to take an objective look at Khan’s first year on the job and ask, is Omar really a “Khan Artist?”

Omar Khan, Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan

Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan, Photo Credit: Nola.com

A Subtle, but Important Shift on Contract Extension Timing

The under Tom Donahoe and Dan Rooney, Steelers were pioneers in targeting key players for contract extensions before they hit the free agent market. Kevin Colbert continued Donahoe’s policy.

  • However, Colbert was a bit more cautious, particularly in the Tomlin era.
Troy Polamalu, Troy Polamalu Interception Ravens, Troy Polamalu Interception AFC Championship Game, Troy Polamalu pick six AFC Championship

Troy Polamalu’s pick six vs Ravens the 2008 AFC Championship Game. Photo Credit: Post-Gazette.com

Colbert typically waited to finalized contract negotiations shortly before the regular season began. James Farrior, Troy Polamalu, Stephon Tuitt and Cam Heyward were all players who inked deals at the tail end of summer.
While this injected some “will so-and-so get his deal” uncertainty into the summer, it did allowed the Steelers to hedge against injury.

  • Omar Khan hasn’t hedged when it comes to contracts.

Last year the Steelers signed Minkah Fitzpatrick, Chris Boswell and Diontae Johnson to extensions early or before training camp. This year they got Alex Highsmith’s name on a long-term contract.

Injuries can and do happen during training camp and preseason (think Senquez Golson and/or Sean Spence) so Khan’s approach does carry a bit of extra risk. But it also provide certainty and helps ensure roster continuity.

Taking the Steelers Out of Their Comfort Zone on Free Agents

The Steelers were aggressive players in free agency during the spring of 2023, but that continued a trend Kevin Colbert started during the spring of 2022. And that new found aggressiveness is probably due to the fact that the team both doesn’t have a franchise quarterback’s contract to carry and didn’t have a lot of veterans to resign.

  • But under Khan, the Steelers did slide a bit out of their free agent comfort zone.

Entering the off season, resigning Cam Sutton seemed like almost a no brainer. Sutton wanted to stay, the Steelers said they wanted up. Yet, they were never able to get a deal done. The happened a few times under Kevin Colbert.

  • What makes Khan unique is the way he reacted.

The Steelers replaced Cam Sutton by signing Patrick Peterson, who will be 33 this year. Giving a major free agent contract to such an old player was almost unheard of under Kevin Colbert.

Khan also moved out of his comfort zone when it came to injuries, making major signings with Cole Holcomb and Keanu Neal who were either coming off of injuries or had significant injury history.

Khanning Others with Trades?

What’s really earned Khan his title of “Kahn Artist” is his work with trades.

First he traded Chase Claypool for the 32nd pick in the 2023 NFL draft and then watch from afar as Claypool make 14 catches for 140 yards over the last 7 games of the season. Today, trading Chase Claypool for Joey Porter Jr. looks like a very, lopsided deal.

Next he swapped 7th round picks to bring veteran receiver Allen Robinson to Pittsburgh from the Los Angeles Rams – with LA agreeing to pay 10 million of the 15 million he’s owed during the final year of his contract.

He also traded up to get Brodrick Jones in the 2023 NFL Draft, and then swapped 3rd round picks with the Panthers and got Carolina’s 4th round pick, getting them back into that critical depth round.

Even if we accept the obvious caveat that every trade carries risk, Khan has shown incredible negotiating savvy with these moves.

  • But credit for Khan’s savvy here doesn’t come as the result of comparisons to Colbert.

Kevin Colbert’s first major trade brought Troy Polamalu to Pittsburgh. His next major trade bagged Santinio Holmes, who was MVP of Super Bowl XLIII. He also suckered a 3rd round pick out of the then Oakland Raiders for Martavis Bryant (after declaring that he wasn’t available for trade). And Colbert committed highway robbery by getting a 3rd and a 5th for Antonio Brown.

Conclusion? Not a “Khan Artist” but Rather a Risk Taker

In his first year as Steelers General Manger, Omar Khan has shown himself as someone who can both live by the “Steelers Way” while acting as his own man.

And in that respect, he shown himself to be more of a risk taker, than a “Khan Artist.”

During these next three weeks on the fields at St. Vincents we’ll start see if those risks pay off.

Please lend a hand by sharing this on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp etc... Thanks.

Like Fine Wine, Steelers 2015 Draft Grade of “B” Gets Better with Age

Posted on by Standard Reply
Bud Dupree, Ryan Finley, Steelers vs Bengals

Bud Dupree strip sacks Ryan Finley. Photo Credit: Matt Sunday, DK Pittsburgh Sports

“Better late.”

As mentioned before, stories about Vince Williams, Tyson Alualu and JuJu Smith-Schuster leaving Pittsburgh were planned but never published due to time constraints. And that worked out well as all 3 are still Steelers.

This site follows Chuck Noll’s “It takes 5 years to grade a draft” philosophy, but the 2015 grades never got published by virtue of the pandemic-fueled 24/7 digital office.

That too has worked for the better because it proves once again that this is one draft report card that’s gotten better with time.

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

True NFL Draft grades only come with years of hindsight

First Round: Budy Dupree the Late Bloomer

Bud Dupree, drafted as a “project,” started his rookie year gang busters, racking up 4 sacks early in the season before hitting the rookie wall. Year two began on injured reserve, but his return helped spark the Steelers late season defensive turn around.

  • Bud Dupree plateaued in years 3 and 4, and that’s being polite.

Then, in year five, under the tutelage of Keith Butler, Bud Dupree exploded for 11.5 sacks. But aside from his numbers popping, Bud Dupree did his damage in critical situations. But had we graded him last year, it would be impossible to know if 2019 was an aberration.

  • In 2020 Bud Dupree proved he was the real deal.

To understand how good Bud Dupree was, just look at how bad the defense got after he got hurt. Like a good bottle of Riglos Gran Corte, Bud Dupree’s draft has only gotten better with time. Grade: Grand Slam

Second Round: Senquezy Golson – The Ever Injured Cornerback

The Steelers desperately needed a corner going into the 2015 NFL Draft. They grabbed one in the 2nd round with Senquez Golson.

  • A torn rotator cuff scuttled his rookie season.
  • Another injury scrapped his second year.
  • His 2017 season consisted of maybe a practice and half before he suffered another injury.

All this for a guy whose college career was basically injury free. All at a time when the Steelers’ secondary screamed for help at cornerback. Grade: Incomplete

3rd Round: Sammie Coates the Strange Cat

Sammie Coates had a quiet rookie regular season but did a respectable job during the playoff loss to the Broncos. Coates started strong in 2016 and seemed to breakout with a 6-catch 136-yard two touchdown performance against the Jets.

Coates cut his hand and/or broke a finger. Or two. His story kept changing. He disappeared from the offense only getting 18 more balls thrown his way; he caught only 2. He was next seen wide open in the first drive of the AFC Championship loss to the Patriots.

If Coates catches it, he’s still running, Forrest Gump style. Coates did not catch it. The Steelers traded him the next summer and he caught 7 passes over two years with the Browns and Texans. Grade: Bust

4th Round: Dorany Grant – Sound and Fury Signifying Nothing

When Pittsburgh drafted Doran Grant as their 2nd corner in the 2015 NFL Draft, Steelers Nation cheered. When they cut him at summer’s end, Steelers Nation called it a crisis. They chilled out when he returned via the practice squad.

The Steelers cut him the following September. Over the next two years he’d do stints with the Bills, Giants, Jaguars, and Bears but played nary a down. Grade: Bust.

5th Round: Jesse James – The Outlaw

 

Jesse James, Jesse James Patriots touchdown

Jesse James touchdown that wasn’t vs Patriots. Photo Credit: Barry Reeger, PennLive.com

Pat Freiermuth’s arrival probably means Jesse James’ second act with the Steelers will never happen. That’s a shame. Because he’ll always be remembered for the Jesse James game, and that’s a shame, because as Tony Defeo pointed out, he deserves to be remembered for so much more.

  • In four years, Jesse James never touched Heath Miller’s status as the best tight end in franchise history.

Nor did he put himself into the conversation with Bennie Cunningham or Mark Bruener. But he was, and remains the Steelers most consistent player at this position following Miller’s retirement. And while Jesse James never kept opposing defensive coordinators awake at night, he delivered critical catches when called upon. Grade: Quality Value Pickup

6th Round A: L.T. Walton – Overvalued, Undervalued Elsewhere, Part I

We’ve spilled too much digital “ink” on L.T. Walton. If you’re burning for a deep dive (and you certainly aren’t, but do you REALLY want to get back to work?), click here and here. If not, here’s the skinny:

  • In his first 3 years, L.T. Walton broached becoming a viable 5th lineman in John Mitchell’s system.
  • Under Karl Dunbar, not so much, as he languished behind Daniel McCullers.

Not great for a 6th round pick, but not bad either. Grade: Serviceable Pickup

6th Round B: Anthony Chickillo – Overvalued Here, Undervalued Elsewhere, II

Sure, I overreached a bit when declaring Anthony Chickillo as “starter capable” when reached restricted free agency. Fair enough.

  • But that makes up for the lack of love Chickillo got from the rest of Steelers Nation.

But in 5 years Anthony Chickillo appeared in 65 games for the Steelers and started 9 of them at both outside linebacker spots. While averaging at about 30% of the defensive snaps during his middle 3 years, Chickillo made 7.5 sacks, 3 defensed passes, 3 forced fumbles and had 3 fumble recoveries. Not bad. Grade: Quality Value Pick

7th Round: Gerod Holliman – Unsafe in Any Round

What’s an NFL Draft analyst’s best friend? How about a 404 error? In January 2015, NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his mock draft and had the Steelers drafting Louisville Safety Gerod Holliman in the first round.

  • Jeremiah was only off by 6 rounds.

Full disclosure. Both staff writer Tony Defeo and I mused aloud whether Gerod Holliman would be the next Darren Perry. He wasn’t. But hey, those were good articles for an otherwise dead time for Steelers “content.” Holliman played well in Steelers spring practices, but that was his peak. He got cut in training camp. He did some time on Tampa Bay’s 2016 off season roster and was done. Grade: Incomplete

Overall Draft Grade for the Steelers 2015 Draft Class

In Bud Dupree the Steelers got themselves a Pro Bowl caliber outside linebacker, even if his development was delayed.

At the bottom of their draft class, the Steelers got excellent value out of the Jesse James and Anthony Chickillo picks. While L.T. Walton is hardly a “Sleeper,” he did help steady the ship on the back end of the 2026 season after Cam Heyward went down.

For all of those positives, the Steelers got nothing out of their middle 3 picks, aside from a few tease plays by Sammie Coates. That brings the grade for the Steelers 2015 draft down a bit, but the grade is far, far better than I would have been 3 or 4 or even 5 years after draft. Grade: B

Please lend a hand by sharing this on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp etc... Thanks.

NFL Draft 2021: Is Cornerback Back as a Steelers Need?

Posted on by Standard Reply

Steel Curtain Rising has been doing the Steelers Draft Needs Matrix for the better part of the last decade.

  • A year ago something new, and dare we say exciting, happened.

In previous years, cornerback would invariably stand out as a top Steelers need. But last year was different. Last year we went as far as to rate Pittsburgh’s need at cornerback as Low-Moderate. Can history repeat itself in 2021? Time to find out.

Cam Sutton, Cam Sutton interception, Steelers vs Bills

Cam Sutton intercepts Josh Allen. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla

Steelers Depth Chart @ Cornerback Before the 2021 NFL Draft: The Starters

The Steelers may not draft cornerbacks very well (see Artie Burns.) Nor can they keep them healthy (see Senquez Golson, and Cortez Allen after a fashion.) Nor do they seem to have a knack for trading for them (See Brandon Boykin and/or Justin Gilbert.

  • But they do seem to transform other team’s trash into Pittsburgh’s treasure.

Such is the case with Joe Haden, whom the Steelers swooped up after Cleveland Browns cut in him 2017. Pittsburgh hasn’t looked back since, as Joe Haden started 56 games, hauled in 10 interceptions (or 3 fewer than Ike Taylor’s career total), taken home a pick six, and batted away 48 passes.

Joe Haden will be 32 next year and may be slowing a step, but the Steelers made clear how much they valued him when they opted to cut Steven Nelson who started alongside him.

In his place, Pittsburgh will start Cam Sutton. Cam Sutton was the Steelers 3rd round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft who, as fate would have it, saw his first action in the 2017 road game against Cincinnati where Ryan Shazier’s career ended. Since the Sutton had developed slowly, but steadily.

He’s logged 3 interceptions during his first four years, and started 6 games in 2020 and his forced fumble was one of the lone bright spots in a remarkably ugly loss to the Bills.

  • In today’s NFL the slot corner is essentially a starter.

The Steelers don’t have one as Mike Hilton signed with the Bengals as a free agent after manning the positon for 4 years.

Steelers Depth Chart @ Cornerback Before the 2021 NFL Draft: The Backups

One of the Steelers two backups at cornerback will occupy the role of the slot corner. That player will be expected to slide over to the edge while Cameron Sutton moves over to the slot on third down just as Deshea Townsend did.

James Pierre made the Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent during 2020 training camp, and appeared in all 16 games, including 12% of the defensive snaps in the Steelers Hindenburg Rescues the Titanic playoff loss to the Browns.

  • James Pierre’s playing time came at the expense of Justin Layne.

Justin Layne was the Steelers 3rd round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, who was drafted on “measurable” as opposed to pedigree. Layne began at wide receiver and transitioned over to cornerback late during his time with the Michigan State Spartans.

He appeared in 10 games as a rookie and all 16 games during the regular season. But tellingly, the coaches after getting 26% of the defensive snaps in the regular season road loss to the Browns, coaches looked to Pierre over Layne for the playoffs. Justin Layne was of course arrested last week.

The Steelers also have free agent Trevor Williams, a five year veteran with 27 starts and 41 games under his belt from his time with the Chargers, Cardinals and most recently the Eagles. The Steelers also have first year veteran Stephen Denmark on their roster.

Steelers 2021 Draft Needs @ Cornerback

steelers, draft, needs, priority, 2021 NFL DraftWhen the news broke of Justin Layne’s legal troubles, my reaction was, “Better now than after the draft.” Over at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Tim Benz opined that Layne’s judicial woes probably won’t change the Steelers plans.

  • Benz may be right.

With Trever Williams the Steelers brought in some experience to supplement the youthful potential they have at cornerback, which is a wise move. But right now the Steelers have an aging quality corner on one side and a probably up-and-comer on the other side with little behind them.

Which is to say the Steelers need depth and/or a possible future starter, so their need at cornerback heading into the 2021 NFL Draft must be considered Moderate-High.

Please lend a hand by sharing this on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp etc... Thanks.

Is Cam Sutton Really Challenging Mike Hilton for the Starting Slot Corner Position?

Posted on by Image Reply

As the Steelers unique Heinz Field training camp begins to ramp up this week, complete with padded practices, there aren’t many starting jobs up for grabs.

There’s the battle for the starting right tackle spot between Chukwuma Okorafor and Zach Banner, along with…….that’s really about it.

  • Seriously, try naming another starting position that’s up for grabs, as the Steelers, a team that’s missed the playoffs the previous two years, prepare for the 2020 regular season.

There is still intrigue–including the continued progress of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger following major elbow surgery that snuffed out his 2019 campaign; the development of second-year inside linebacker Devin Bush, a talent that could take an already explosive defense to a whole new level in 2020; the overall abilities of a rookie class that includes receiver Chase Claypool, outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, guard Kevin Dotson and running back Anthony McFarland; and, oh yes, the progress of third-year quarterback Mason Rudolph, just one season after he turned in mixed results–at best–while filling in for an injured Roethlisberger.

  • But, to reiterate, starting jobs?

Not much news there, not unless you’re talking about the starting slot corner position that has been occupied the past three seasons by Mike Hilton, an undrafted free agent — a diamond in the rough, if you will — who Kevin Colbert plucked out of nowhere in 2017 (the Patriots practice squad, actually) to make the Steelers roster and fill the void at a position that had been seriously neglected for many years.

Mike Hilton, Mike Hilton interception Buccaneers, Joe Haden, Bud Dupree, Vince Williams

Mike Hilton’s Red Zone interception. Photo Credit: Mark LoMoglio, AP via Tribune-Review

Not only did Hilton instantly fill a void, he became one of the better slot corners in the entire NFL, as the product from Ole Miss — or the same school that failed and oft-injured second-round pick (and believed to be slot-corner extraordinaire) Senquez Golson hailed from two years earlier–finished his rookie campaign with two interceptions, six passes-defensed and a whopping four sacks — including three in a blow-out victory over the Texans on Christmas Day.

  • Hilton has remained the Steelers starting slot corner–and one of the better ones in the league–ever since.

So who is supposedly coming for his job? How about Cameron Sutton, a third-round pick out of Tennessee in the 2017 NFL Draft. That’s right, Sutton is believed to be a serious contender for the slot corner role, this summer.

And far be it for me to contradict “they” two summers in a row, but if you think about it, why would you take a player like Hilton, again, someone who is considered to be one of the better slot corners in the NFL, and bench him in his fourth season? That was a rhetorical question, because you wouldn’t.

And the Steelers won’t, either. This is just my theory (my conspiracy theory, if you will), but I think Pittsburgh is hoping Sutton makes the competition for the supposed open slot corner position close at training camp, but not close enough that he wins.

  • Why? Because both Hilton and Sutton are unrestricted free agents, next spring.

There’s already so much tape on Hilton that, even if he loses his starting job in 2020, interested teams will know enough about him to offer him a fat contract in 2021. As for Sutton, the only way he will truly be on anyone’s radar is if he starts in 2020–and excels.

If you’re the Steelers, why would you risk it? They already know what they have in Hilton. They thought enough of his abilities to tender him and pay him $3.2 million for the 2020 season. However, the whole tender thing won’t work for Hilton, next season. He’ll be able to shop his services to the highest bidder–and the highest bidder is likely to pay him much more money than the Steelers and their ongoing salary cap restrictions (restrictions that are about to get worse due to the revenue-shrinking pandemic)–would ever seriously consider.

With that in mind, you let Hilton start one more year at slot corner. In the meantime, you can keep Sutton in the same versatile role he’s been in since his rookie season.

Starting next season, the Steelers let Hilton walk and offer Sutton a team-friendly multi-year contract and hope that he settles for an annual salary on par with the $3.2 million Hilton is making in 2020.

  • But if Sutton becomes the starting slot corner this season, chances are, Pittsburgh won’t be able to afford to retain either him or Hilton in 2021.

Sound logical? I think so. The Steelers have a good thing going on defense, especially in a secondary that has seemingly found all the right parts after many years of struggle.

  • No sense in upsetting the apple-cart now, not when the unit looks poised to have another dominant season.

Let Hilton do his thing for one more season. After that, give the starting slot corner job to Sutton.

That’s my plan.

Please lend a hand by sharing this on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp etc... Thanks.

Is Mike Hilton’s Slot-Corner Role Up For Grabs @ St. Vincents?

Posted on by Standard Reply

When comparing Steelers third-year slot-corner Mike Hilton‘s stats from 2017 with those from 2018, there doesn’t appear to be much of a difference.

In 2017, Mike Hilton, an undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss in 2016, had 54 tackles, four sacks, six passes defensed, two interceptions and one forced fumble while appearing in 16 games and starting four.

In 2018, Mike Hilton had 57 tackles, one sack, eight passes defensed, one interception and two fumble recoveries while appearing in 15 games and starting two.

Mike Hilton, Mike Hilton interception Buccaneers, Joe Haden, Bud Dupree, Vince Williams

Mike Hilton’s Red Zone interception. Photo Credit: Mark LoMoglio, AP via Tribune-Review

Other than the number of sacks, which are a bit misleading considering he had three in one game in a Week 16 blowout victory over the Texans in 2017, again, there doesn’t seem to be much of a discernible difference in play and performance over Hilton’s first two seasons in the league.

Yet, after entering his second Steelers training camp as a youngster who appeared to have a bright future in the defense, Mike Hilton enters his third Steelers training camp looking like a player who is in for a fight for his starting role in the secondary.

Yes, the slot corner position is very much considered a starting role in the modern era of football; and after some unsuccessful attempts to fill this now very important role–including with Hilton’s old college teammate, 2015 second-round pick Senquez Golson–the Steelers seemed to find their man two years ago.

What changed? It’s not rumor or speculation, either. The sudden drop of Mike Hilton’s stock from one season to the next — specifically, the tail-end of last season, when other corners were now battling him for playing time.

To further reinforce this apparent lack of confidence in Mike Hilton’s abilities, the Steelers barely even made an attempt to negotiate with him on a multi-year contract this past offseason, and he ultimately signed his $645,000 tender as an exclusive rights free agent. as you probably know, an exclusive rights free agent is someone who has no power or leverage to negotiate a deal. It’s a take it or leave it situation.

  • For whatever reason, the Steelers made it pretty clear to Mike Hilton that he had no leverage.

In other words, they opted not to treat him like James Harrison, Willie Parker and/or Alejandro Villanueava who got second contracts as Exclusive Rights Free Agents. 

To his credit, Mike Hilton participated in all offseason workouts, even before signing his tender. Now, he’s at Steelers training camp in Latrobe, Pa. trying to prove to his bosses that 2017 was no fluke. Again, though, what happened in 2018 that made Mike Hilton’s rookie season seem so fluky?

  • I’m obviously no expert, so maybe there was a drop off in Mike Hilton’s play that only those who get paid to evaluate could have detected.

Nobody on Pittsburgh’s current roster appears to be nipping at Hilton’s heels, not 2017 third-round pick, Cam Sutton, not 2017 fifth-round pick, Brian Allen and certainly not 2016 first-round pick, Artie Burns, who is fighting just to stay on the roster.

Maybe it really is just speculation, this apparent falling out of favor by Mike Hilton with the Steelers. After all, you’ll be hard-pressed to find him on any list ranking the NFL’s top nickle corners. Furthermore, Mike Hilton is a restricted free agent in 2020, meaning the Steelers essentially control his rights for another offseason. Therefore, why bother with a multi-year contract at this point?

Maybe the Steelers feel that there is much room for improvement at slot corner, and while Hilton is a nice player, perhaps they’re looking for a little more out of the position.

By all outward appearances, Mike Hilton has been put on notice by the Steelers, and the battle for the slot-corner position is one worth watching this summer.

Please lend a hand by sharing this on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp etc... Thanks.