Henry McKenna
NFL reporter
In the void, there’s a logical rationalization for every of the out -of -season strikes of the Pittsburgh Steelers. GM Omar Khan has made a sequence of excellent selections.
On the business market, the Steelers sketched by including the receiver DK Metcalf, an elite director who primarily price a alternative of the second spherical. Why the heck proper?
In the free company, they made a number of agreements with the deep gamers, however the spotlight was to signal the veteran of the cornerback Darius Slay. He is a star for his or her protection in a premium place. Once once more, why the heck would not he?
The Steelers drafted DT Derrick Harmon, RB Kaleb Johnson and De Jack Sawyer within the first 4 rounds. Harmon may find yourself being the most effective defensive sort out within the draft class. Johnson needs to be the second coming of Najee Harris, which the Steelers have let the free company enter. Sawyer has had an distinctive worth in Round 4 and can go to that spectacular Pass-Rush pipeline behind Tj Watt and Alex Highsmith. Pittsburgh transmitted Shedeur Sanders 4 occasions (along with all of the others), however the Steelers designed a to style: Will Howard outdoors the State of Ohio. So sure, why the heck proper?
On Wednesday, the Steelers accepted the phrases on a George Pickens sending receiver to the Dallas Cowboys in alternate for a alternative of the third spherical of 2026 and a alternative of the fifth spherical of 2027. According to reviews, Pickens was an enormous headache for Mike Tomlin. And that is saying one thing, as a result of Tomlin has endured Antonio Brown for 9 years. Tomlin offered up on Brown, Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and, maybe, now Pickens. In addition, explains additional why the Steelers exchanged for Metcalf and the receiver enlisted Roman Wilson final yr on day 2. And if the Steelers would have offered on Pickens, it is sensible so as to add to their conflict of 12 decisions in 2026, when they are going to be geared up to get a quarterback.
You already know what I’m about to say, however I’ve to say it one final time: why do you dock proper?
But when you really feel like one thing lacking, it is since you noticed the present of Pittsburgh Depth graphic designer: Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson, Howard.
This is the worst quarterback room of the NFL. Also The Cleveland Browns appear higher than that.
Aaron Rodgers stays on the fence on the place and if it should play subsequent yr. It has lengthy been related to the Steelers. In March, the proprietor of Team Art Rooney mentioned that Rodgers was “directed in our course”. But we now have not seen progress.
Without Rodgers, the Steelers would not have a quarterback plan.
And with no quarterback plan, the Steelers would not have a basic plan in any respect.
Should Steelers should elaborate a QB earlier than whereas ready for Aaron Rodgers?
I can justify all of the strikes they made out of season. But I nonetheless cannot put collectively what the Steelers are attempting to make this yr. If they needed to win with Rodgers, maybe they’d have abdomen selecting for an additional yr. It is a workforce led by Tomlin, so there isn’t a manner that they’re tanking. But if they’re reconstructing, why ought to they alternate for the 27 yr outdated Metcalf? Why ought to they signal the 34 -year -old homicide? Those strikes indicated a workforce that appeared to be a distance quarterback.
It nonetheless appears that Rodgers will finish in Pittsburgh. In reality, there’s information that the Allen Lazard receiver, who performed Rodgers on packaging and jets, may exchange Pickens with the Steelers. But not throughout the group appear to rely on the 4 occasions NFL MVP.
The events of the minority of Steelers Thomas Tull declared in an interview with CNBC That signature of Rodgers is “a extra advanced downside” than the AI additionally, the sphere through which Tull works.
Rodgers appeared in “The Pat McAfee Show” in entrance of the draft to clarify the place he’s with the Steelers. He mentioned he has to do with issues in his private life. He did not resolve to retire. He didn’t exclude the signature with Pittsburgh or one other NFL workforce.
“I mentioned (to the Steelers), pay attention, if it’s a must to go on, in any case,” mentioned Rodgers. “I’m attempting to be open to something and never particularly hooked up to something … I’m not holding anybody hostage.”
Feel, that is the issue With Dalliaces with Rodgers. It is a field of fireworks. You by no means know what you’re going to get. Now, if the Steelers need a field of candies, they will comply with Kirk Cousins on the business market. You by no means actually know what you’re going to get, however at the very least he’s a candy boy – a lot much less explosive than the opposite choice. The Falcons mentioned to not alternate cousins, however they’ll nearly definitely do it.
With the draft, these are the one sensible choices to the quarterback for the Steelers. Rudolph can’t in good consciousness, the most effective to style of their present checklist. Desmond Ridder, Carson Wentz or Teddy Bridgewater (the most effective choices of free agent) can’t signal and count on one among them to be an efficient appetizer.
At this level, they’re Rodgers or Cousins.
Pickens commerce doesn’t change it, neither is it an ideal shock. Long earlier than the draft, he had been rooted in business voices and didn’t comply with the Steelers on social media. It isn’t an alteration of the plan; It is just when the Steelers may lastly obtain it. But in doing so, now they’ve gone from their passing chief (Russell Wilson), chief of Rusher (Harris) and the principle receiver.
This is a off-season of nice strikes for the Steelers. It is just that the large strikes don’t point out a transparent flooring. It will make no sense till the Steelers do their greatest transfer: to discover a quarterback.
Before becoming a member of Fox Sports as a journalist and editorialist of the NFL, Henry McKenna spent seven years to cowl the Patriots for USA Today Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow it on Twitter a @HENRYCMKENNA.
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