Pittsburgh Steelers Offseason Grade: A Critical Test for Omar Khan’s Vision
The Pittsburgh Steelers are held up by organizations and ownership groups across the NFL as a pillar of consistent excellence, but, for a franchise that hasn’t experienced a losing record since Mike Tomlin’s arrival as head coach, their offseason has been jarring to watch unfold in real time.
“They don’t have a starting quarterback,” a rival AFC Scouting Director told me recently. “They lose Pickens’ talent, but also his locker room baggage. I’ll say, their defense is better, for sure, but they have not done anywhere near enough to compete.
“With a lesser quarterback, you have to surround him with talent, but they largely spent the offseason losing talent, not gaining it.”
This is a roster built around elite talent that isn’t getting any younger such as Defensive Player of The Year caliber edge rusher T.J. Watt, veteran Cam Heyward, emerging star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. opposite Super Bowl champion Darius Slay, but a franchise that is letting itself be held hostage by a mediocre quarterback after allowing two servicable and ultimately affordable options at the most important position in sports walk out the door.
General manager Omar Khan, in some ways, orchestrated a quintessentially Steelers NFL Draft at a time when Pittsburgh is living through a quarterback crisis.
Hitching postseason hopes to DK Metcalf and potentially Aaron Rodgers returning after guzzling a growler of water from the Fountain of Youth, after what we’ve seen from the 41-year-old the past three years is a very un-Pittsburgh-like proposition.
What I Liked About the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Offseason
Signing Slay adds strong veteran leadership to a young cornerback room, on the heels of him holding opposing quarterbacks to a meager 78.3 passer rating when throwing his direction.
A secondary built around Porter Jr., Slay, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and emergent playmaker Beanie Bishop is a worthy counterpunch to the elite receivers that occupy the AFC North.
Likewise, dropping game-wrecking defensive end Derrick Harmon opposite Heyward and alongside Keanu Benton continues a youth movement while fortifying one of the most vital position groups to success across the roster.
Harmon’s draft stock surged during an electrifying week in Mobile, Ala., leading up to the Senior Bowl, which followed a stellar final season at Oregon. The 6-foot-5 and 310-pound edge rusher was nearly unblockable, posting an elite 17.1 pass-rush win rate and a 91.2 true pass-rush grade while posting five sacks and 50 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
The backbone of the Steelers’ path to any success in 2025 remains playing stifling defense and getting after the quarterback, especially if the expectation is their own quarterback will have a limited ceiling …
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What Worries Me About the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Offseason, 2025 Outlook
The Steelers deserve whatever outcome arrives at the gates of Acrisure Stadium of this waiting game they’re playing with Aaron Rodgers, and how passively they have handled the most vital position in sports.
Sure, Khan and Pittsburgh may have been caught flat-footed by the New York Jets’ strong interest in Justin Fields that began the moment Aaron Glen stepped off the podium of his introductory press conference in Florham Park, according to my league conversations.
But, to allow both Fields and Russell Wilson to skip town with nary a phone call to the Atlanta Falcons about trading for Kirk Cousins, or offering Sam Darnold a bag of cash similar to what he fetched from the Seattle Seahawks, or even taking the chance on Daniel Jones that the Indianapolis Colts are and settling for … Mason Rudolph or Will Howard, or a 41-year old quarterback is complete malpractice.
Rodgers, by the way, was sacked 40 times last season. How will he fare another year older, behind an offensive line that finished last season ranked No. 27 by Pro Football Focus after allowing 49 sacks last season?
It would be one thing if the Steelers were content to write off the 2025 season, take their lumps with the hopes of being rewarded by the chance to take Arch Manning or Drew Allar with a top-five pick next spring. But, Pittsburgh likely remains entrenched in quarterback purgatory, whether Rodgers is leading them out of the tunnel at MetLife Stadium in September or it’s Rudolph in the huddle.
No man’s land is a dreadful place to be, but it’s where the Steelers find themselves, as they continue to wait.
Pittsburgh Steelers Offseason Grade: C+
Drafting Harmon, adding Kaleb Johnson, who has the potential to be a three-down dynamo at running back, and adding intriguing former Ohio State pass rusher Jack Sawyer are all moves that could pay long-term dividends for the Steelers and are chapter and verse from the organization’s playbook that has allowed them to compete for championships since time immorial.
However, beyond the Rodgers fiasco, trading a second-round pick for DK Metcalf when the organization is straddling the line between attempting a rebuild and trying to push for a playoff berth in a hypercompetitive division is a bit of a head-scratcher.
To acquire Metcalf only to turn around and dismantle what had the upside of becoming one of the top receiver duos in the league by trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys only further compounds the confusion around what the Steelers’ identity is going to be on offense and why this front office seems intent on lowering its own ceiling in 2025.
In a league where every move matters, the Steelers seem oddly comfortable spinning their wheels.
In Case You Missed It
Overall I like the draft. It may not be sexy but without a real option at QB, fortifying an aging position of need and adding some pieces who will contribute sooner rather than later is a “win.” I don’t mind the Metcalf move knowing that you were not planning to sign Pickens to a similar contract. However, QB is the most important position on any team and the Steelers quite frankly have not had a plan going back to Ben’s final seasons. Really, they’ve had 4-5 years to come up with a plan and all that produced was a huge reach of Kenny Pickett, a pick that further set the team back.
I’d prefer to forget the Rodgers plan. He’s not worth it on any level. An aging, declining, baggage-toting QB who isn’t sure he even wants to play. Why bring such a player in for one season??? Two at the most?? At this point he is marginally better than Rudolph, and I know that prob isn’t an opinion many agree with. I’d prefer to go with Mason and get Howard some time as the backup. Begin moving forward now rather than wasting another year or two.
Metcalf pairs much better with Rodgers than Pickens. Metcalf has proven he'll track down a defensive back with an interception and a head start. Pickens, on the other hand, would head straight for the bench for a quick pout.
Tomlin is acquiring a Jeff Fisher feel, only one or two games above .500 rather than one or two games below .500. Does anyone expect Tomlin to innovate his way out of this mess? I can't recall watching a Steeler game and thinking hmm, that's interesting. Tomlin is the quintessential press conference coach - strong voice, authoritative tone - and may be a positive locker room presence. His consecutive non-losing season stretch is a boat anchor for Steeler ownership. A 7-10 finish might free the team to move on. Take a hint from the Rams. The Steelers should move on from their Jeff Fisher and find their Sean McVay. Imagine the conundrum of an 8-8-1 finish this year.