Come and join this merry band of Steelers’ faithful for some lively debate about our Steelers, good food, music, and the merits of the odd cold beverage.

Live from Delaware, it’s Saturday Night! I, NAS204PSU, am here to bring you this Saturday Night Open Thread (aka SNOT).

Reddit and weep, Steeler fans! If you’re familiar with Am I The A _ _ H _ _ _? (AITA) and Would I Be The A _ _ H _ _ _? (WIBTA) may I present to you : Would I Be The Jagoff? (WIBTJ). Steelers “posters” are asking for your judgement on their future plans. Decide for each OP (original poster) how you feel about his plan:

YTJ=You’re The Jagoff = the OP is terrible
NTJ=Not The Jagoff = the OP isn’t in the wrong
ESH=Everyone Sucks Here =everyone in the story is terrible
NJH=No Jagofffs Here = no one is in the wrong

This 6 pack of polls is here to get the conversation going is below, also let us know what you’re eating/drinking!
1st question:

2nd question:

3rd question:

4th question:

5th question:

6th question:

Text of questions for comment reposting:

1. My (72 owner) headcoach (52 male) is not winning playoff games. Would I (Art Rooney II) be the Jagoff to keep extending Mike if we have non-losing seasons but don’t win a playoff game in the next 3 years?
2. I (48 GM) am signing free agent Keenan Allen (33WR). Would I (Omar Khan) be the jagoff to give him two year $30million with $10million guaranteed?
3. My (52 headcoach) o-line coach (52tirefire) is still part of my coaching staff. Would I (Mike Tomlin) be the Jagoff for assuming the OL will get better by keeping the coach constant?
4. I (24WR) have to play out the final year of my rookie deal in 2025. Would I (George Pickens) be the Jagoff to holdout for an WR1 level contract extension?
5. I (26QB) am a free agent. This past season, I was winning when I was benched for a much older player (36QB). Would I (Justin Fields) be the Jagoff to sign a cheap deal elsewhere?
6. I (26WR) previously used the Steelers to get a lucrative contract before getting injured. Would I (Brandon Aiyuk) be the Jagoff for bringing my injured Achilles and $30million AAV contract to Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh remains without a solution at quarterback for the 2025 season.

In the week leading up to the NFL free agency period, there was a growing sentiment that the Pittsburgh Steelers were prioritizing re-signing either quarterback Justin Fields or Russell Wilson prior to free agency — both of whom are set to become free agents at the start of the new league year.

It’s looking increasingly unlikely that it happens, though — at least for Fields, Alan Saunders of Steelers Now reported Saturday. Though the team’s preference has appeared to be Fields, who just turned 26, Saunders reports that there’s an increased likelihood that he’d test free agency.

Saunders writes, “The Steelers made an offer to Fields’ representatives sometime over the last week, but the Steelers and Fields are not particularly close together in terms of the compensation that would be necessary for Fields to forgo hitting the open market to re-sign with Pittsburgh, league and team sources told Steelers Now.”

There are several teams in dire need of a quarterback, and there have been frequent reports of strong interest from the New York Jets, who are moving on from Aaron Rodgers after two years with the team (one season of which he missed with a ruptured Achilles). Then, of course, there’s the Seattle Seahawks, newly in need of a quarterback after trading starter Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a third-round pick on Friday evening. There’s also the New York Giants… and Indianapolis Colts, currently seeking some competition for starter Anthony Richardson, who’s struggled in his time in the league with injuries and as a passer.

In short, there should be a fairly active market for Fields, even if he’s considered more of a bridge quarterback than he is a long-term starting option. Once he hits the open market, it seems likely his value jumps beyond a price the Steelers are willing to pay. And if that does end up the case, the options are likely dwindle rather quickly. Aaron Rodgers? Kirk Cousins? The market, not the draft class are plentiful in 2025.

The Steelers have been talking to both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson for weeks, but no signing has taken place. It can naturally be assumed complications have interfered with the team’s rumored plan to retain Fields. Recent reports seem to indicate that is the case.

We heard Friday that Fields has a burgeoning market, and The Athletic’s Dianna Russini points to the young QB reaching free agency to hear offers from other clubs. The Jets will be one of the teams in pursuit, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds. A Jets-Fields connection emerged recently, and with two options on this market not in play for Gang Green (Sam Darnold and Aaron Rodgers, the latter of whom about to be a Jets release), Fields would make sense — as a bridge if nothing else.

Other teams have interest in Fields, too, Rapoport adds. This will drive up the Steeler backup’s price and test the AFC North team’s resolve. As the Steelers have been primarily connected to only Fields and Wilson, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reports the team has not dismissed pursuing an outside free agent to solve its QB issue.

The team has enjoyed plenty of time to both evaluate their in-house options and conduct negotiations, even though it does not talk extensions in-season. Both passers have clashed with the coaching staff, though. Fields was understandably upset when Mike Tomlin overruled player and staffer support to keep him as a starter, but the veteran HC did not turn back to Fields after making the call to bench him for Wilson once the latter recovered from his calf injury. The Steelers’ Wilson path started well but ended badly, with the team losing its final five games.

Wilson also clashed with OC Arthur Smith, with Dulac adding the two disagreed about the state of the offense. Wilson being upset about an offense’s direction would continue a refrain. He had disagreed with Pete Carroll‘s plan in Seattle, at the height of the “Let Russ cook” movement, and received tremendous input into the direction of the Denver offense during Nathaniel Hackett‘s doomed HC stay. Sean Payton and Wilson did not prove a fit, as a messy divorce commenced. Wilson has been expected to leave Pittsburgh, but if Fields is lured away by a strong offer elsewhere, the 36-year-old may need to be a fallback option.

If the Steelers are to look outside for a new QB, they would have options in Darnold, Rodgers, Daniel Jones and perhaps Kirk Cousins. Beyond Darnold, these options would serve as temporary fixes. Rodgers and Cousins, though, would remind of Wilson’s situations, as other teams would be on the hook for the veterans’ salaries. As of now, however, the Falcons are holding firm on Cousins. A release remains a possibility, however.

The Jets not having Rodgers or Darnold as options and sitting behind the Titans, Browns and Giants in the draft would stand to ramp up a Fields push. The former three-year Bears starter could serve as a multiyear option in New York, which as an OC (Tanner Engstrand) who observed Fields closely while on an NFC North staff. Fields going into his age-26 season would appeal to suitors as well. If Darnold is now most likely to be a Seahawk, the Fields domino would be next to fall.

The Steelers have until 11am CT Monday to keep him off the market. As of now, that appears unlikely to happen. Were Fields to remain unsigned by that point, the Steelers could still bring him back. They would just have to bid against other teams to do so.

Think you can figure out which Steelers player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Steelers fans! We’re back for another day of the Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 game

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games

Friday, March 7
Thursday, March 6
Wednesday, March 5

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Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 instructions

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Steelers player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Ohio State has two RBs worth watching in this year’s draft… could one of them be wearing black and gold come April?

Approaching the 2025 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.

If the Steelers do not re-sign RB Najee Harris, the black and gold will be in the market for another ball carrier to pair with Jaylen Warren, who I anticipate returning. In my opinion, the best place to find one will be the draft. The National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes are a good place to start looking.

The basics on Quinshon Judkins

• Position: Running back
• Class: Junior
• Size: 5’11, 221 lbs.
• Age: 21
• Projected draft round: 2nd

Quinshon Judkins stats via Sports Reference

Quinshon Judkins scouting report

Judkins became a household name after his three TD performance to help Ohio State secure a title. He shredded the Notre Dame defense, rushing for 100 yards and two TDs on just 11 carries and catching two passes for 21 yards and another score.

Judkins started his career at Ole Miss and ran for 1,547 yards in his freshman season – the most since the great Herschel Walker in 1980. He followed that up with a 15-TD season in his sophomore campaign, earning first-team SEC honors for the second consecutive year.

He transferred to Ohio State for more exposure and the chance to contend for a title. I’d say both of those boxes are checked.

The three games I watched were Oregon (regular season), Penn State, and Notre Dame.

Here are a few of my takeaways:

Judkins is a power back who frequently seeks contact. He’s a decisive runner with above-average vision and contact balance. He also has a nose for the end zone, as the Buckeyes utilized him exclusively inside the ten-yard line.

With that said, I do have some slight concerns. He’s a below-average pass-catcher, and he did not display significant breakaway speed in games, especially when compared to his counterpart Treyveon Henderson, who should be drafted in a similar range. This assuredly will be picked apart due to the fact that Judkins just had an outstanding combine.

He clocked a 4.48 40-yard dash, a 38.5-inch vertical, and received an overall athleticism score of 92. I didn’t necessarily see that play speed on tape. But the numbers don’t lie. My best guess is he dropped weight. But given his perceived speed and physicality, he is a prospect that teams will be salivating over.

I’d anticipate one of those teams being the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although I’d prefer home run hitters like Henderson or Virginia Tech’s Bhayshal Tuten, Judkins is a complete back and a true workhorse. He’s an in-between-the-tackles guy who can also win on outside-zone runs — something offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will covet.

He’s not going to be a human joystick, and there were times he gave off Najee Harris vibes. That’s not the worst thing, and Harris was slower – so I’d anticipate Judkins would be a stronger, and much cheaper option.

Quinshon Judkins strengths

• Contact balance
• Decisive
• Vision

Weaknesses

• Pass-catching
• Gets a little to juke happy

What others are saying about Quinshon Judkins

Lance Zierlein (NFL.com)

Judkins is a productive runner possessing good size and great contact aggression. His running style is both urgent and a bit chaotic. He runs with good burst inside but is more collision-based than wiggle-oriented when maneuvering through the lane. He’s efficient on runs outside the tackle box, but he has a tough time outracing pursuit to create explosive runs. He is wired and built for a heavier carry count and short-yardage success, but the disparity in yards per carry between Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, despite running behind the same line, is telling. Judkins might need to be paired with a slasher, but he has the ingredients needed to become a three-down RB1.

Alex Kennedy (Pro Football Network)

He is an incredibly energized mover. His linear acceleration enables him to capitalize on fleeting gaps, and his swift, sudden one-cut ability allows him to offset defenders and sustain acceleration through cuts.

Past his mobility profile, Judkins is an exceedingly physical runner who plays beyond his frame and finishes forward with urgent leg churn. Mentally, Judkins has very good vision, which allows him to pick out primary and secondary lanes on zone and gap runs.

He’s not as proficient as a creator in adverse or early contact situations, but on schedule, he’s dangerous. He’s an explosive carving knife with the tools to keep the chains moving.

Quinshon Judkins’ fit with the Steelers

To a large degree, Judkins fits like a glove. He’s a player who would thrive in any offense due to his diverse skill set. Keep in mind when I’m reviewing his speed and burst, it’s relative to other prospects. The dude is still one of the fastest backs in the draft.

He won’t make it out of the second round, and if he’s on the board at 52, I could see the Steelers turning in the card.

What are your thoughts on Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!