Tag Archives: Minkah Fitzpatrick

Steelers 2026 Draft Needs at Safety: Maybe Not First, But Certainly Never Last

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Here’s an interesting factoid about the Steelers situation at safety: Pittsburgh began the 2025 season without any home-grown safeties on its active roster.

Sure, the Steelers have had several successful safeties that started their careers elsewhere, think Ryan Clark, this is an anomaly for a franchise that boasts Hall of Famer safeties like Donnie Shell and Troy Polamalu.

With that in mind, might it be time for the Steelers to re-stock at safety in the 2026 NFL Draft?

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

Jalen Ramsey and DeShone Elliott at St. Vincents in the summer of 2025.

Jalen Ramsey and DeShone Elliott at St. Vincents. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images, via SI.com.

The Steelers Safety Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Starters

Question: If the Steelers gave out offensive and defensive MVP awards who should have shared the honors with Kenneth Gainwell last year? For my money the answer is starting safety Jalen Ramsey.

  • Problem? Ramsey started the season at cornerback.

The Steelers started the summer trading for Jalen Ramsey and from that point on, as long as air conditioners kept running in Western Pennsylvania, Mike Tomlin kept talking about his “coverage guys.” As Chris Halicke from DK on Pittsburgh Sports shares, Tomlin didn’t just do this with reporters, but he did with everyone it inside the building.

But there was a little problem.

One of his best “coverage guys” got hurt. And a couple of others couldn’t cover. The Steelers made trades, cut guys, but things the ship only began to right itself when he moved Jalen Ramsey from corner to safety.

Working at free safety, Ramsey didn’t prove to be a ball hawk like Polamalu or Minkah Fitzpatrick circa 2019-2022, but he did force opposing offensive coordinators to account for him. And he proved he could lay in the wood on someone, including unsuspecting quarterbacks.

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

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

The Steelers signed DeShon Elliott in the spring of 2024 and during the entire fall the question was, “What was it that Baltimore, Detroit and Miami didn’t like about him?” The Steelers gave Elliott a second contract, but unfortunately, he go hurt in the season opener against the Jets.

Elliott returned in week 4 with a sack, interception and 2 quarterback hits in the win over the Vikings in Dublin, and the defense continued to be notably different the following week against Cleveland. The shorthand for the next two weeks is that the Bengals and Packers torched the Steelers defense.

What people forget is that Pittsburgh was actually beating the Green Bay before Elliott got injured and was lost for the season. He’s expected to make a full recovery and if he does do that, he’ll be an asset as a starter.

The Steelers Safety Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Backups

To add depth behind Ramsey and Elliott the Steelers signed Pittsburgh native Jaquan Brisker. Jaquan Brisker was a 4-year starter for the Chicago Bears and has been compared stylistically to Elliott. Brisker made his presence known in the Bears win over the Steelers last season, including batting away Mason Rudolph’s final pass intended for D.K. Metcalf.

Sebastian Castro, Garrett Greene, Steelers vs Buccaneers preseason

Sebastian Castro makes a tackle in preseason. Photo Credit: Barry Reeger, IMGAN Images via Dearoldgold.com

The Steelers also have Sebastian Castro, one of their 2025 undrafted rookie free agents, who opened the season on the practice squad got signed by Tampa Bay, only to get cut and return to the Steelers in time for their week 11 win over the Bengals where he would appear on special teams throughout the season.

Jack Henderson, who played in college for Minnesota, is also a safety under contract. Henderson signed as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Carolina Panthers, spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and alternated between stints on the Steelers and Dolphins practice squads in 2025. The Dolphins cut him lose in January, and the Steelers signed him to a futures contract.

Steelers 2026 Draft Needs at Safety

The Steelers have two NFL veterans at safety, one converted 32 year-old cornerback, an undrafted rookie free agent and a practice squad bubble baby. And one of those veteran safeties is coming off of a leg injury that, at one point, was feared to be career-threatening.

The oft-discussed signing of  Darnell Savage has yet to materialize.

The Pittsburgh Steelers draft needs scale

Even without taking into consideration Jalen Ramsey’s age, Sebastian Castro’s inexperience, or DeShon Elliott’s injury, the Steelers still must add depth at safety in the draft.

So while they don’t need to find a starter, they clearly must find someone capable of playing real snaps this fall – making safety an Extreme need for the Steelers in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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Steelers Cut Jonnu Smith — Raising Questions About Arthur Smith’s Offensive Choices

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The Pittsburgh Steelers cut tight end Jonnu Smith, making their first major personnel move ahead of free agency. The decision isn’t a surprise and upon closer inspection reveals more about ” the other Mr. Smith,” Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and his 2025 offense than it does about Jonnu.

Jonnu Smith Denzel Ward, Steelers vs Browns

Jonnu Smith with 1 of his 3 catches. Photo Credit: Alyssa Rubin, Steelers.com

But cutting Jonnu Smith does save them 7 million dollars against the salary cap and while the Steelers aren’t strapped for space, more is better than less.

Jonnu Smith arrived in Pittsburgh last June as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami in return for Smith and Jalen Ramsey.

And Smith came in on a hot streak. He’d logged 50 catches in 2023 for Atlanta, doubling his 2022 total. In 2025 he played for the Miami Dolphins where he hauled in 88 catches, including 8 touchdowns.

With no true number 2 wide receiver to pair with D.K. Metcalf, Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin hoped they could Jonnu Smith would fill the void. Alas he could not.

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

Perhaps most tellingly, the loss to the Bengals was the only game an Arthur Smith led tight-end-centric Steelers offense seemed to be viable concept, Jonnu Smith had 3 catches for 28 yards and was clearly outplayed by Pat Freiermuth who had 111 yards and 2 touchdowns.

  • One would figure that Arthur Smith would feature Pat Freiermuth more after that.

Alas, he did not.

By a hair, Jonnu Smith actually had a higher snap count that Freiermuth, despite the fact that Freiermuth more touchdowns, a better catch rate and higher success rate that Smith.

And that brings into focus the biggest quibble about former Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s brief tenure in Pittsburgh: He tended to favor his former players.

Jonnu Smith played for Arthur Smith both in Tennessee and at Atlanta. A year ago, MyCole Pruitt got playing time at the expense of Connor Heyward, despite the fact that Heyward out performed Pruitt – although the sample size is much smaller than the one for the Smith-Freiermuth comparison.

This is how Alan Saunders at SteelersNow described the dynamic after criticizing Omar Khan for acquiring Jonnu:

To be clear, it’s not necessarily his fault that Arthur Smith played favorites with Jonnu Smith to the point that he sabotaged his own unit’s success.

Saunders may be being a little harsh – the Steelers could have and should have found ways to get the ball into Freiermuth’s hands more frequently, but there were a lot of other things ailing the offense.

But in 2024 it seemed like Smith’s favoritism of Pruitt over Heyward suggested he had a blind spot when it came to favoring his former players, and his reliance on Smith at the expense of Freiermuth confirmed that suspicion in 2025.

Anderson Leaves Pittsburgh with Class

The Steelers also cut vetern offensive tackle Calvin Anderson ahead of free agency, saving themselves another 2 million dollars in salary cap space.

Anderson took the high road out of Pittsburgh

The NFL is a business. Players know that. But getting a visit from the Turk is never easy, especially when it may be your last stop.

But Anderson is handling it with class. We wish him well at his next stop or, if fate be it, in his “Life’s Work.”

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Help!? Steelers Trade for Safety Kyle Dugger, Make More Roster Moves

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The 2nd half of the Steelers loss to Green Bay was a miserable affair. But credit Cris Collinsworth for working in a laugh. At some point during Jordan Love’s 20 consecutive passing streak, Collinsworth floated the idea that the Steelers might trade for a wide receiver.

  • My immediate reaction: “Wide receiver? What about defensive back?”

Omar Khan agrees apparently, as the Steelers have traded with the New England Patriots for safety Kyle Dugger. The Steelers will send a 6th round pick to New England and get a 7th rounder along with Dugger in back.

With DeShon Elliott injured and out for an indefinite period of time, the Steelers secondary is reeling.

The defense struggled mightily without Elliott in the season’s first three weeks, and the wheels came off of what had been a solid first-half defensive effort against the Packers as soon as they lost Elliott.

How much Dugger can contribute remains to be seen, but the stark reality is that the Steelers need bodies in the secondary, with Miles Killebrew, already on IR (not that you’d really want to see Killebrew suiting up at safety.)

Kyle Durgger, Pat Freiermuth, Steelers vs Patriots

Kyle Dugger tackles Pat Freiermuth. Photo Credit: Seth Wickerstien, Steelers.com

Kyle Dugger @ a Glance

The New England Patriots drafted Kyle Dugger in the 2nd round of the 2020 NFL Draft (12 picks before the Steelers too Chase Claypool) and Dugger appeared in 14 games as a rookie, starting 7 and then earned the starting role in 2021.

Dugger started though the 2024 season, hauling in 9 interceptions, 2 pick sixes, 24 passes defensed, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 3.5 sacks.

Like fellow Patriot safety cast-off Jabril Peppers, the word is that Dugger wasn’t a good fit for Mike Vrabel’s scheme. The Patriots have been looking to unload him since this summer given his salary.

Can Dugger Really Help?

Judging by his resume, Dugger appears to be “starter capable.” But given that New England only asked for a 6th and threw in a 7th it is fair to ask why the Patriots were so eager to part with him.

  • The Steelers success rate with trades made in training camp or during the season is mixed at best.

Levi Brown ever saw the field, nor did William Jackson. Felix Jones, Avery Williamson and Brandon Boykin were duds. Justin Gilbert was a good guy to take a flyer on, but thank God they only gave up a 6th for him instead of taking him in he first, as some thought they would.

The Steelers traded for Vannett in the middle of the 2019 season, started him immediately and he helped convert a critical 3rd down in his first game. And that was almost the last time we heard his name.

Mike Williams arrived in Pittsburgh in at the trade deadline last year, and entered the game against the Commanders making the go ahead catch. After that Williams sightings were scarce, even after George Pickens went down with injury.

With all that said, the Steelers needed to add someone, and they’ve brought in someone with 69 starts to his name.

Trice Practices, Steelers Make Other Moves

Cornerback Cory Trice who has been on injured reserve since the summer, has returned to practice. He remains on IR but could be activated as early as this week.

Trice missed his rookie season due to injury, and missed the first 11 games of 2024 on injured reserve as well.

Whether he can stay healthy is a critical question for the Steelers.

  • But if he can, he’ll be a welcome addition to a secondary screaming for a shot in the arm.

The Steelers have also signed veteran wide out Marquez Valdes-Scantling to their practice squad and will welcome back 2024 undrafted rookie free agent wide out-QB John Rhys Plumlee.

Finally, the Steelers added Jack Driscoll and Darrick Forrest to the practice squad.

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Steelers Report Card for Loss to Bengals: Secondary is NOT a Synonym Edition

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Taken from the gradebook of a teacher admonishing his students that “sieve” and “secondary” should NEVER be a synonyms, here is the Pittsburgh Steelers Report Card for the 2025 Thursday Night Football loss to the Bengals at Paycor.

Aaron Rodgers, Steelers vs Bengals, Steelers vs Bengals TNF

Aaron Rodgers on the move. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers went 23-34-249 throwing 4 touchdown passes on 5 scoring drives. However, he did throw two interceptions. Chalk the second one up to a good play by the DB and a gift from the officials. But the first was a poorly placed ball thrown into double coverage, and the play energized the Bengals. Grade: C+Steelers, Report Card, grades,

Running Backs
Steelers running backs ran for a cumulative 141 yards for a 7.4 average, with Kenneth Gainwell again proving he’s a viable number 2 back in this offense. The running backs also caught 6 passes for 32 yards. The Steelers lost for many reasons, but the running backs were not one of those. Grade: A

Tight Ends
Wow! The Steelers showed that they can not only survive but thrive with a tight-end centric offense, for one night at least. Pat Freiermuth led the group with 5 catches for 111 yards in two touchdowns. Jonnu Smith had 3 grabs for 28 yards and a touchdown. Darnell Washington joined the party 3 catches for 2 yards, but one of those was for a touchdown. Grade: A-

Wide Receivers
D.K. Metcalf had 3 catches for 50 yards including a field flipper that set up the first touchdown. He did lose control of the second interception. Scott Miller had one catch for 9 yards while Roman Wilson had 2 for 17 one of which was a certifiable Kodak moment. Their overall performance was good, but you do expect more than 6 total catches from an NFL receiving corps. Grade: B-

Roman Wilson, Dax Hill, Steelers vs Bengals, Steelers vs Bengals TNF

One giant leap for Roman Wilson. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Offensive Line
Aaron Rodgers was not sacked and only hit twice, per ESPN’s stats. Steelers running backs had ample room to run. Still, two penalties in the Red Zone conspired to force the Steelers to settle for 3 when an additional four would have been a difference maker. And Broderick Jones’ holding call on the penultimate drive forced the Steelers into a throwing situation when it would have been wiser to run. That brings the grade down. Grade: B

Defensive Line
Keeanu Benton opening sack was excellent. As was Cameron Heyward’s late half sack. Unfortunately, those plays were aberrations instead of tone setters. Yet the Bengals, who going into this game couldn’t so much as run a photocopy, averaged 6.2 yards on the ground, with Chase Brown clocking in at 9.8. Heyward described the Steelers run defense as unacceptable. We agree. Grade: F

Linebackers
OK. T.J. Watt had a half sack an arguably should have had a share of Benton’s. Jack Sawyer got a hand on a pass. Outside of that, the linebackers were complicit in the inability to stop the run when it counted and got no pressure on Flacco. Grade: F

Secondary
Looking at his stats down in Miami, one would be hard pressed to argue that he’d be a difference maker, but this is not what anyone had in mind when they traded for Minkah Fitzpatrick. Joe Flacco, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins looked like they were professionals playing against an intramural college flag football secondary. The Steelers secondary was a total sieve. Grade: F

Special Teams
Chris Boswell was perfect on his kicks. Kick coverage was excellent and the return game respectable. Grade: B

Coaching
Let’s start with a positive by crediting Arthur Smith for executing a tight end focused passing game that left the Steelers with the lead with just over 2 minutes to play. That may not work against a good defense, but it did against the Bengals.

It is fair to question Smith’s play calling at the end. With the Steelers needing a touchdown and with over 2 minutes left, Smith went right to the empty set. There’s nothing wrong with passing in those situations, and Rodgers was certainly right to hit Freiermuth when he did, his first two play calls lead one to question whether he even consider a run on a night when the Steelers had proven they could run.

Teryl Austin doesn’t really have any positives to hang his hat on.

Sure, his defense forced a few punts. And he did adjust to stop the run game after the damage had been done, but by outward appearances, that came at the expense of neutering the pass rush.

The Steelers inability to stop the pass was such that I suspect that no one in the stadium, including the coaches, had any faith that Pittsburgh’s defense could stop Flacco’s Nintendo-like arm.

  • Ultimately, that comes to Mike Tomlin.

Judging by his own words, he re-built this secondary to stop the Bengals passing attack. They’ll get at least one more chance later this season. But their first test was an utter failure. Grade: F

Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs Bengals, Steelers vs Bengals TNF

Jaylen Warren, running like a back begging to take over a game. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

Unsung Hero Award
Thursday Night road divisional games have been disastrous for the Steelers. But there is one player whose star shown with brilliance. He only ran the ball 16 times but that was good enough for 127 yards and he had the look of a back begging to take over the game, and for that Jaylen Warren wins the Unsung Hero Award for the Steelers 2025 loss to the Bengals on Thursday Night Football at Paycor.

 

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The Case for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025

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September has arrived. Opening day against the Jets is days away. Once again, it’s time for Steel Curtain Rising’s annual, “The case for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025” column

A few years go I stated this tradition as memorial to my friend, the late, great Ivan Cole. Ivan would publish these columns annually for Behind the Steel Curtain, in the site’s golden age, and later for Rebecca Rollett’s Going Deep with the Steelers.

In penning these columns, I not only try to follow Ivan’s form but also attempt to find his voice. This has given me and hopefully readers a chance to continue to commune with this great Steelers scribe.

Aaron Rodgers, T.J. Watt, Steelers St. Vincents

T.J. Watt rushes Aaron Rodgers at St. Vincents. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images, via SI.com

Expectations: Keeping An Eventful Offseason in Context

As we dive in, let’s use Ivan’s own words to establish our level of expectation:

If you’re looking for yet another set of predictions in what is the season of predictions you will be sorely disappointed here. I don’t do predictions, don’t believe in them. I’m sure someone will hit the nail on the head as to how the [2025] season will unfold, and there will be a certain element of skill involved in their assessment, but there will probably be a lot of luck involved as well.
What I attempt to bring to the table are some observations as to how to think about what factors might be key to a positive outcome for the Steelers this season. Specifically, what has to happen (and what has to not happen) in order for the team to, hopefully, make it to the playoffs and have a shot at the world championship.

Any look forward at what’s come must be firmly grounded in and understanding of what has transpired in this eventful off season.

So let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room: The ending to the Steelers 2024 season, which featured 5 straight losses where Pittsburgh got progressively worse left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth.

7 months later it’s obvious that no one suffered the bitter taste of bile worse than Art Rooney II, Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan. To a man, they promised change. And they’ve delivered.

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

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

Precise numbers will vary depending on which NFL personnel accounting method you choose, but when the Steelers take the field against the Jets you’ll see that they’ve replaced approximately half of their starters since last year. Deep deeper into the depth chart, and you’ll find even more new faces.

  • For some, these changes are already insufficient.

Ever since Ben Roethlisberger injured his elbow, a large contingent of both the fans and the press have called for “ripping off the Band-Aid” and rebuilding the franchise, from the roster to the coaching staff, from scratch. They’ll point to the franchise’s on-going playoff drought as self-evident justification.

To those naysayers I offer this simple factoid:

Since Chris Boswell booted the Steelers to their last victory on that frigid Kansas City night in the wanning days of the Obama administration, the Chicago Bears have drafted 3 quarterbacks in the first round – all of them taken in the top 11, employed 2 general managers and 5 head coaches and enjoyed one winning season.

More importantly, that “coveted” playoff win remains elusive for the Bears too.

Which team would you prefer to root for? I know my answer.

Rebooting on Offense

Quarterback unquestionably remains the most important position in football. Long gone are the days when we remember names like Jim Brown, Eric Dickerson and Barry Sanders without having an inkling as to who their quarterbacks were.

And in this regard the Steelers do deserve their share of criticism for their misfires during the post-Roethlisberger era. But South Side brain trust deserves credit that they’re seldom granted: Despite their errors, the Steelers have avoided squandering an excessive amounts of draft capital or salary cap space on the position.

Like many of you, I was not initially a fan seeing Rogers in Black and Gold. At all. But since he’s signed, he’s both said and done all the right things. We’ve all had cases where we’ve befriended someone who didn’t have the best reputation, and then explained, “…you know he’s not so bad once you get to know him.”

  • Thus far that seems to be the case for Steelers Nation and Aaron Rodgers.

The proof will come in what we see on the field. It is hard to say much about that now, given his absence in preseason, but at St. Vincents all indications are that Aaron Rodgers has something left in the tank.

Rudolph’s time in Pittsburgh has had more twists and turns, ups and downs than Kennywood’s Phantom’s Revenge. The fact that he was so willing to return I think speaks volumes not only to Rudolph’s character but also of the franchise’s.

We know that Rudolph is a capable number 2 who will respond if and when his name is called. Behind him we have newcomer Skylar Thompson. Everyone expected Thompson to be the odd man out when training camp started, but an injury to 6th round draft pick Will Howard opened the door.

And Thompson took advantage, as once again Mike Tomlin lived up to his credo that when you arrive in Pittsburgh its not about where you came from but what you do.

  • Quarterback isn’t the only skill position that saw Omar Khan aggressively renewed this off season.

At running back the Steelers wisely let Najee Harris walk, and have turned to Jaylen Warren who has shown himself to be a capable runner, a willing blocker and an under appreciated receiver.

Jaylen Warren, Marion Humphrey, Steelers vs Ravens

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

He also added found Kaleb Johnson in 2025 NFL Draft, based on what we saw in preseason, he should boost the running back’s room, with Super Bowl veteran Kenneth Gainwell rounding out the group.

At wide receiver, the Steelers embraced addition by subtraction by trading talented but troubled George Pickens to Dallas, while replacing him with D.K. Metcalf. To be honest, the Steelers depth behind Metcalf does constitute a risk, particularly if they suffer a serious injury, but last year Calvin Austin proved he’s a legitimate NFL wide receiver, and Roman Wilson had a strong summer after a lost rookie year.

At tight end the Steelers bolstered the depth behind Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington with veteran Jonnu Smith with Swiss Army Knife Connor Heyward rounding out the quartet.

But the most exciting thing about this offense isn’t the individual talent that’s been added, but the potential of what it can do together. When he was Mike Vrabel‘s offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith was described by Steel City Insider scribe Matt C. Steel has running a “Bill Cowher style offense.”

  • The 2024 Steelers offense didn’t fit that mold, but it also didn’t have the talent.

But with draft picks Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones leading the way, don’t be surprised if the 2025 edition of the Steelers offense looks more like its 2005 ancestor than it does its immediate predecessor.

Daring to Be Different on Defense

Doubtlessly, the most disturbing aspect of the late-2025 collapse was the sight of a once-proud Steelers defense getting dominated. Patrick Mahomes humiliated  us through the air.  Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry imposed their will on the ground.

We all saw that coming in the wake of the ridiculing the Ravens inflicted in the, right?

Of course we didn’t. Nor, frankly, did we see it coming during the heat of free agency or the 2025 NFL Draft. But it still happened, proving that Mike Tomlin is, in fact, willing to leave no stone unturned.

  • And its obvious that he has no a sacred cows in his locker room.

Raise your hand if you watched Donte Jackson last season and wondered, “What was it that Carolina didn’t like about him?” Mine’s raised. But when he couldn’t sustain his early and mid-season fireworks down the stretch, he was deemed expendable.

The lesson is clear: Just being “Good enough” is not sufficient. Beanie Bishop is another player who flashed in 2024 but is learning that lesson in 2025.

In response to the need for more sheer bulk upfront, the Steelers have double-dipped on the defensive line in the 2025 NFL Draft, bringing Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black to Pittsburgh. Injuries will limit Harmon early, but Black’s preseason resume suggest that we may be able to count on him early than would normally be expected of a 5th round pick.

Yahya Black, Bryce Perkins, Steelers vs Panthers Preseason

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

At outside linebacker the Steelers have future Hall of Famer T.J. Watt with Alex Highsmith bookending him on the other side. Behind them they have Nick Herbig who, with a strong third season could force a difficult decision next spring. Jack Sawyer arrives providing depth – and more bulk – to round out the quartet.

At inside linebacker, knock on wood, the Steelers finally appear to have a room that features 3 starter-capable players along with two quality backups. The Steelers last enjoyed this mix of quality and quality, experience and youth, in 2015 and 2016 – which were not uncoincidentally the last two seasons that included playoff wins.

Just Sayin….

The Future is Now. And Tomorrow

As detailed earlier on this site, watching the yin and yang of the discourse in Steelers Nation has been interesting to say the least. The conventional wisdom has swung from suggesting that the Steelers are executing a tank-lite strategy to declaring that the franchise is “All In.”

  • What’s exciting about 2025 is that neither of the two is true.

The Steelers, through deft use of the free agent market, drafting with an eye towards the long term and a duce of bold trades, have assembled a roster that is far better equipped to compete with the AFC titans like the Chiefs, Bills and Ravens.

But they’ve done so in a way that gives them ample salary cap space for heading into 2026 and a projected 11 or 12 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. We’re seeing “The Steelers Way” evolve in real time, and that should have everyone excited.

Bring on the New York Jets!

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Secondary Insurance: Steelers Sign Safety Chuck Clark

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When Omar Khan addressed the press as the Steelers opened camp at St. Vincents, reporters wasted little time in asking him about plans for addressing the void created by the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade.

After acknowledging free agent Juan Thornhill’s increased role, Khan quickly pivoted, explaining:

That’s not to say we won’t look to see what else is out there. But part of training camp is for us to kind of figure out and get to know the players that we have and see how those roles are going to come together.

So… After just two days of padless practices the Steelers made their first roster move of training camp, signing safety Chuck Clark. What to make of the Khan’s comment and the subsequent move?

Pat Freiermuth, Chuck Clark, Steelers vs Ravens

Chuck Clark takes out Pat Freiermuth. Photo Credit: David, Tulis, UPI via Shutterstock

Does the Clark signing it in-and-of-itself represent a vote of no confidence for Thornhill?

Almost certainly not.

The Steelers depth chart at safety wasn’t particularly deep before Minkah Fitzpatrick got traded and has remained thin. Mike Tomlin can talk about cornerback Jalen Ramsey as a “coverage guy” all he wants, Miles Killebrew taking snaps with the secondary speaks for itself.

  • By all appearances  Clark looks like a classic depth signing.

The Baltimore Ravens drafted Chuck Clark in the 6th round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and Clark appeared in 96 games while starting 63 games for Baltimore, including 12 against the Steelers.

Clark played well enough for the Ravens to re-sign him after his third year, but they decided to trade him to the New York Jets in March of 2023. Clark tore his ACL in the summer of 2023 and did not play.

  • He returned to play the 2024 season for the Jets and started 12 games.

His stint in New York increased his start total to 75 games and game total to 108, but the injury bug bit him again as the finished 2024 on injured reserve.

During his NFL career, Clark has intercepted 5 passes with one pick-six, and Pro Football Reference credits him with 34 passes defensed. He has also made 4.5 sacks.

To make room on the roster for Clark, the Steelers cut defensive tackle Domenique Davis.

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Thank You: Minkah Fitzpatrick’s Steelers Career and Legacy at a Glance

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Minkah Fitzpatrick’s Steelers career ended exactly as it started: As a complete surprise.

In September 2019 while traveling on business in San Francisco an update flashed across the SteelersTres60 WhatsApp group announcing that the Steelers had traded their first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to the Miami Dolphins for Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Surely, this must be a false, this skeptical scribe concluded.

But it wasn’t. The trade was real and a sign that “The Steelers Way” was evolving. So I wasn’t quite as skeptical when the same SteelersTres60 WhatsApp group posted that Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith were soon to be Steelers.

But I never expected the cost of Ramsey and Smith’s tickets to Pittsburgh would be Minkah Fitzpatrick. But in Pittsburgh they are, and Minkah has returned to Miami.

Today we take a look at Minkah’s contribution as a Pittsburgh Steeler.

Minkah Fitzpatrick, Kameron Kelly, Mark Barron, Steelers vs Rams, Minkah Fitzpatrick's Steelers career

Minkah Fitzpatrick celebrates after returning a fumble for a touchdown. Photo Credit: Barry Reeger, Penn-Live

2019: Best 3 Game Stretch by a Steelers DB?

Minkah Fitzpatrick became an immediate starter and logged an interception 11 minutes into the first quarter of his first game against the 49ers. The Steelers lost in San Francisco that day, but Minkah flashed his calling card: Making dramatic, game-changing plays.

Fitzpatrick was quiet for the next three weeks, “only” deflecting two passes. But soon he would strike fear into the hearts of opposing quarterbacks and offensive coordinators.

People forget, but Mason Rudolph looked shaky against the Dolphins early in his first game back following his concussion. A Rudolph interception set up an easy touchdown for Miami, and the Dolphins put up 14 unanswered points in the first quarter as the Steelers struggled.

Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted Ryan Fitzpatrick at the 11:14 mark of the 2nd quarter, and 13 plays later the Rudolph was hitting Diontae Johnson to get the Steelers into the end zone to cut Miami’s lead to 4.

Minkah, Fitzpatrick, Minkah Fitzpatrick interception Dolphins, Steelers vs Dolphins MNF

Minkah Fitzpatrick 2nd interception against the Dolphins. Photo Credit: Barry Reeger, PennLive

The Steelers struggled out of the gate to start the 2nd half, as Chris Boswell missed a 54 yarder.

Miami’s offense never had a chance to capitalize. Ryan Fitzpatrick misfired deep on his first two throws, but he found Minkah Fitzpatrick for his third one. 13 plays later Rudolph found JuJu Smith-Schuster in the end zone to put the Steelers up for good.

A week later against the Colts, the Steelers were in a tighter spot late in the first half as the 2-minute warning loomed. Indianapolis had a 10 to 3 lead that they were on the verge of transforming into a 17 to 3 lead. Minkah Fitzpatrick thought otherwise:

The Steelers beat the Colts that day, 26 to 24, with Minkah Fizpatrick authoring what was, at a minimum, 10 10-point swing in Pittsburgh’s favor.

A week later, against the Los Angeles Rams, Mason Rudolph had just made a field-flipping play to James Washington with 2:26 left to go in the first half, only to have Washington fumble. The game was tied and the Rams had a golden opportunity to seize the lead going into half time.

Two plays later, Javon Hargrave strip-sacked Jared Goff as Minkah Fitzpatrick scooped up the loose ball and streamed 46 yards to the end zone.

The play put the Steelers up 14 to 7, the last points the offense would see until Chris Boswell tacked on three with just over two minutes left to play. Oh, Los Angeles did attempt a comeback, but it was stopped after Robert Woods got past Joe Haden only to have Minkah Fitzpatrick intercept his pass with 20 seconds remaining to preserve the 17-12 victory.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have sent Jack Butler, Mel Blount, Donnie Shell, Rod Woodson and Troy Polamalu to Canton to represent their secondary in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But in weeks 7, 8 and 9 of the 2019 season, Minkah Fitzpatrick may have authored the best 3 game stretch of any Steelers defensive back in history.

2020 through 2022 – Minkah Magic When The Steelers Need

Quarterbacks noted Minkah Fitzpatrick’s prowess and avoided him like the plague. Still, he scored the Steelers first touchdown against Cleveland with a pick six of Baker Mayfield in the 2020 home win over Cleveland.

As the true great ones do, Minkah Fitzpatrick displayed a knack for making timely plays at critical junctures in games.

In week 8 of the 2020 season, at the two-minute warning Lamar Jackson tried to tuck and run with it at the Steelers 3. HE made it two yards before Fitzpatrick stoned him forcing a fumble, which Robert Spillane recovered.

Minkah Fitzpatrick, Willie Snead, Justin Tucker, Steelers vs Ravens

Minkah Fitzpatrick knocks the ball away from Wille Snead. Photo Credit: Patrick Smith, Getty Images via Fansided.com

He wasn’t done. The Steelers couldn’t kill the clock. Jackson moved the Ravens to just outside Pittsburgh’s 23, where, with 5 seconds left he had Willie Snead open in the end zone, only for Minkah to step in and deflect the pass.

Minkah Fitzpatrick, Steelers vs Cowboys

Minkah Fitzpatrick after saving the day for the Steelers. Photo Credit: Boston Globe.

A week later against Dallas, he did it again, opening the 4th quarter against Dallas with an interception. Again, ended the Cowboys comeback attempt with a pass deflection over CeeDee Lamb in the end zone with 4 seconds remaining.

  • Fitzpatrick added two more picks against Jacksonville two weeks later.

In 2021 Fitzpatrick “only” had two interceptions, but he made those count, negating a would-be Ravens touchdown early in the game with an end zone pick and a game the Steelers would win 19-18, thus helping Ben Roethlisberger win his final game against Lamar Jackson.

2022 was a rough year for the Steelers, but they started it with a bang. Cam Heyward sacked Joe Burrow in week one on Cincinnati’s first play from scrimmage. Not one to be upstaged, Minkah did this on the next play:

Fitzpatrick started fast and finished strong that day. When the Bengals tied the game with 4 seconds left in the 4th quarter, Fitzpatrick didn’t fret – he fought back:

And thus the Steelers stole one from Burrow and the Bengals in overtime.

2022 was Minkah Fitzpatrick’s best season with the Steelers, as he logged additional 5 more interceptions, including victory sealers against the Falcons and then against the Ravens, the latter one coming on the heels of the “Kenny F__ing Pickett” comeback. He also batted away 11 passes, earning first team AP All Pro Honors.

Minkah Fitzpatrick, Steelers vs Ravens, Steelers vs Ravens 2022 M&T Bank Stadium

Minkah Fitzpatrick with the game-sealing pick. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune Review

From 2020 to 2022, whenever the Steelers needed it, Minkah Magic delivered.

2023 and 2024, Fitzpatrick Is Seen Less than He’s Heard

Using conventional metrics, Minkah Fizpatrick’s play dipped in 2022 and 2023. He only had one interception in that two-season span. He defensed a total of 7 passes in the two seasons, or the same number that he logged in 2021.

  • Pundits in some quarters rushed to conclude at, at age 29, Fitzpatrick was slowing a step.

But as Derrick Bell from Steelers Now pointed, out while we may not have heard much from Minkah Fitzpatrick, opposing quarterbacks saw him and shifted their targets accordingly.

In 2024 the Steelers defense boasted the NFL’s 2nd best 3rd down percentage, and in Bell’s estimation, how Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin chose to deploy Fitzpatrick helped that happen. In breaking down a critical third down stop from the 2024 home win over the Ravens, Bell concludes:

This play results in a scramble drill turned prayer down the field, with the defense getting off the field on third down against the league’s best offense. These turn-downs aren’t a statistic that is measured like interceptions, stops, or forced incompletions, but having strong enough hook play to erase these beaters is crucial nonetheless.

So no one should mistake them missing splash plays from Minkah’s game recently for a lack of impact.

Minkah Fitzpatrick Trade = Cost-Benefit Calculation

Success in the NFL hinges on getting the most bang for your salary cap buck. Salarycaponomics alone indicate that mega contracts are more wisely invested in cornerbacks than in safeties. Throwing in Jonnu Smith makes this trade is a no-brainer – on paper.

Early in the off season, Steel City Insider’s Matt C. Steel argued for the Steelers to follow Philly’s blueprint and play more Cover 4. As Steel explains, “Besides a big, strong defensive front with depth, ideally, you want three corners who can cover.” Ramsey, alongside Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay gives the Steelers that third corner.

Troy Polamalu, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers, St. Vincents

Two safeties @ St. Vincent’s. Photo Credit: Steelers.com

Fair enough.

The Philadelphia Eagles did something in route to victory in Super Bowl LIX that no one else has done: Make Patrick Mahomes look mortal. If the exchanging Ramsey for Fitzpatrick elevates the Steelers defense to that level, sign me up.

But Minkah Fitzpatrick was always class act in Pittsburgh and a leader both on and off the field. It says here that not only is Minkah Fitzpatrick not past his prime, his best days may be yet to come. And if that’s the case, it will be a shame that he ends up not playing them in a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform.

But so be it. Thank you Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Thank you for giving Steelers Nation Hall of Fame caliber play in the secondary not seen since the days when Polamalus and Woodsons wore the Black and Gold.

I wish you the best.

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3 Takeaways as Steelers Trade Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith

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Last week the Pittsburgh Steelers shocked the world by trading Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins for All Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith. The Steelers also sent their 5th round pick from the 2027 NFL Draft to Miami and got the Dolphins’ 7th rounder.

No one apparently told Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin that this was supposed to be the slow spot in the NFL’s off season.

While rumors had tied the Steelers to trades for Ramsey and Smith, trading Minkah Fitzpatrick was unimaginable. But traded he has been.

Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell perhaps summed it up the best by concluding, “…Dolphins made off with the best player in the big trade with the Steelers, but that the Steelers won the trade.”

ON paper, Wexell’s right, we’ll see if what happens on the field vindicates his conclusion. While we wait for that reality to play out, here are three things this trade is telling us now.

Antonio Brown, Jalen Ramsey, Ramon Foster, Steelers vs Jaguars, Antonio Brown vs Jalen Ramsey

Antonio Brown vs Jalen Ramsey. Photo Credit: Karl Rosner, Steelers.com

1. The Steelers Brain Trust Takes 2024’s Meltdown Seriously

The 2024 Steelers closed their season with a 5-game losing streak that got uglier with each week. The piss-poor performance of the defense against the Chiefs at Christmas and in the playoffs against the Ravens called into question the franchise’s fundamental strategy of using defense to keep the team competitive until they can find a franchise QB.

Instead, Patrick Mahomes terrorized the Steelers defense through the air, while Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry ridiculed them on the ground. In simple terms:

  • The Steelers defense got its ass kicked. Twice.
  • The men in Black and Gold didn’t belong on the same field.

No one should think, let alone suggest, that Minkah Fitzpatrick was responsible for these losses or even that he was some sort of “weak link.” That’s both wrong and disrespectful.

But Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan have clearly concluded that Jalen Ramsey can be a bigger part of the solution than Fitzpatrick.

Events may prove them wrong, but no one can say the Steelers took these beatings sitting down.

2. The Steelers Way Evolves Under Omar Khan

While this easily amounts to the biggest trade in franchise history, let’s keep it in context:

But they’ve never exchanged All Pros. Perhaps it’s true that a trade of this magnitude would have been near unthinkable in June of 2015, it hardly spells the death of “Steelers Way.”

  • The “Steelers Way” is simply evolving.

In fact, Omar Khan is building on tendencies that first surfaced under Kevin Colbert. Colbert began making trades more frequently in hopes of “Reloading with Roethlisberger,”  contract restructures became more common, and using voidable years on contracts began to happen and so forth.

Like Kevin Colbert and Tom Donahoe before him, Omar Khan is leaving is own finger prints on the Steelers Way. Donahoe pioneered the strategy of avoiding free agency bidding ways in favor of resigning your own players.

Kevin Colbert, unlike Donahoe, welcomed back players who’d departed via free agency, improved performance in the first round while displaying an uncanny knack for finding undrafted rookie free agent gems (you may have heard of Willie Parker, James Harrison and Ramon Foster.)

Omar Khan, Steelers General Manager, Kevin Colbert

Omar Khan and Kevin Colbert at St. Vincents. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

And while Khan has been more aggressive with trades and free agency, let’s also remember that he has a freedom that Kevin Colbert never enjoyed – roster building without having to manage the salary cap complications of a franchise quarterback.

3. The Steelers are NOT “All In” on Going for a Super Bowl in 2025

Before the smoke even cleared on Fitzpatrick for Ramsey-Smith trade, Everyone and His Brother in football rushed to the same conclusion:

  • The Steelers are All In on a going for a Super Bowl in 2025.

That’s the easy conclusion when you look at the D.K. Metcalf trade, Aaron Rodgers signing and now the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade. But as is so often the case in life, the quick and easy conclusion is the wrong one.

  • Yes, these splash personnel moves have generated a lot of Sound and Fury.

But you know what? The Steelers still have a projected 12 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, they’re only missing a 6th round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, and they’re still league leaders in available salary cap space for 2026 and 2027. They’ll lose a little of that leadership after they resign T.J. Watt, but the Steelers salary cap health will remain strong once that deal is done.

  • That’s the opposite of being “All In.”
  • Going “All In” means you’ve bet everything on the risk you’re taking.

For example, the Steelers were “All In” on Ben Roethlisberger’s recovery after trading for Fitzpatrick in 2019. The trade cost them a shot at a franchise quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft, and impacted the next several drafts.

In contrast, if these moves result in another “muh” season that ends at about .500 but with no playoff success, the franchise will still enter 2026 with all of its options open.

If the Steelers were truly “All In” this would not be the case.

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Smart Move: Steelers Extend DeShon Elliott for 2 More Years

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When it came time to issue the final Steeler Report Card for the 2024 season awarding Unsung Hero honors came down to two players: Elandon Roberts and Deshon Elliott.

  • After a bit of back-and-forth, the honors went to Deshon Elliott.

I’m supremely confident that neither Omar Khan nor Mike Tomlin’s eyes have touched this blog, but when it comes to DeShon Elliott it appears that we think alike, as the Steelers made their first contract extension of the summer, when they resigned DeShon Elliot to a two year extension valued at 15.5 million with 9 million guaranteed.

DeShone Elliott, David Njoku, Steelers vs Browns

DeShone Elliot defends David Njoku. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

DeShon Elliott joined the Steelers last spring after 3 years with Baltimore, one with Detroit, another in Miami.

The question on Steelers fans minds as they watched him during the 2024 season was, “What was it that the Ravens, Lions and Dolphins didn’t see in him?”

DeShon Elliott appeared in 15 games for the Steelers last season and started 14 of those. He logged one interception, deflected 6 passes, forced 2 fumbles, recovered 3 fumbles and logged 108 tackles.

  • Now, as any serious fan understands, tackle totals can be misleading.

And Elliott’s tackle total certainly misleads – because 108 tackles doesn’t do justice to how well he played. Per Pro Football Reference, DeShon Elliott only missed 3 tackles all season. Elliott may not have been a superstar on the Steelers defense, but he was the kind of player who had a knack for finding and stopping the ball carrier.

While doing that, Elliott grew into a leadership role, commenting on the communication problems that plagued the Steelers in Christmas debacle against the Chiefs, “We shouldn’t be having these problems in Week 18. That’s a Week 1 or Week 2 problem.”

The Steelers are wise to ink him to a new deal that will keep in in Pittsburgh, and they’ve done it at a very team-friendly price. Even though Elliott’s extension will give him a significant raise from his previous contract, according to Alan Saunders of Steelers Now he’ll only be the NFL’s 30th highest paid safety.

With Elliott Inked Whose Next?

In his second off season as Steelers General Manager, Omar Khan reverted to form he exhibited during his first off season, when he got deals for Minkah Fitzpatrick and Chris Boswell done early in the summer, as opposed to waiting until shortly before the regular season began, as had been custom of Kevin Colbert.

Last summer, however, extensions for Pat Freiermuth and Cam Heyward came at the end of the summer.

  • With the ink drying on Elliott’s deal, the question is who is next?

Jaylen Warren is playing on a restricted free agent deal and both he, and the Steelers face a choice. The Steelers can lock him for less money now, or risk seeing him cash in on the open market if he has a big year.

Given that the Steelers took Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the smart money says they won’t offer Warren an extension.

  • Calvin Austin is also entering the final year of his rookie contract.

Austin’s overall numbers from 2024 might not impress many Fantasy Football owners, but he showed the ability to step up and make significant plays, and Steelers coaches affirm their belief that Austin can function as a true number 2 alongside D.K. Metcalf.

Calvin Austin, Greg Newsome, Pittsburgh Steelers

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

Signing Austin now could be a win, win for the Steelers, although the franchise seldom gives second contracts to wide receivers not named Hines Ward or Antonio Brown.

  • And of course, there’s T.J. Watt, who missed OTAs and “mandatory” minicamp.

Everyone expects the Steelers and Watt to reach an agreement, but it still must come to pass.

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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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