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It appears the national scene is starting to get what many Steelers fans have been saying for a while.
The NFL Draft is now behind us, and the countdown to football is officially on, as the Hall of Fame Game is 92 days away. And with the countdown on, post-draft power rankings are beginning to roll in.
In Bleacher Report’s power rankings, the Steelers come in at No. 17. Kristopher Knox isn’t impressed by what the Steelers have done, and questions what their standards really are.
“At some point, being ‘good enough’ won’t be enough for the Rooney family in Pittsburgh,” Knowx writes. “Unfortunately, it feels like the Steelers are staring down another ‘good enough’ season in 2025. I like the addition of DK Metcalf, but I think he’ll ultimately be just a long-term replacement for George Pickens. The Steelers addressed some big needs at the top of the draft, but Derrick Harmon and Kaleb Johnson will pretty much replace Larry Ogunjobi and Najee Harris, who departed in free agency. Aaron Rodgers represents a quarterback plan I don’t like, and we still don’t even know if he’ll play in 2025. Pittsburgh won’t be a Browns-level embarrassment in 2025, but the franchise is probably looking at another 10-win season, mid-first-round pick and no shot at a true franchise quarterback early in the draft. The question is whether that will lead the Steelers to make meaningful changes.”
It’s hard to disagree with some of what Knox says. In terms of the “good enough” seasons, yes, fans are very tired of that – but are the Steelers? Because if they were, you would think actual changes would have been made by now. That’s why we have fans buying billboards telling Art Rooney II to sell the team. It’s the fans who seem far more tired of the mediocrity, while ownership tolerates it.
In terms of the quarterback situation, though, as I’ve said multiple times, the Steelers are going to trade up in 2026. At least that’s what it looks like they are scheming to do. They know that they will all but certainly win at least nine games, which puts them in the middle of the draft at minimum. A playoff appearance sticks them at No. 19 at the very least – they will have to move up for the guy they want. Especially on a quarterback class that is projected to be much better than the 2025 class.
That said, these are conversations that can be had in 2026. Until then, we’ll see if the Steelers can end this playoff-win drought.