The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a roster move, but it’s not the one many have been waiting for as it pertains to Aaron Rodgers. Instead of a signing, Pittsburgh has let a player go.
Pittsburgh released defensive lineman Blake Mangelson. Mangelson was one of the undrafted free agents the Steelers signed after the NFL Draft.
Mangelson spent his college years at BYU, racking up 37 tackles, six tackles for loss, and two sacks in 2024. In his college career, he had 82 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks.
The Steelers added several new pieces to their defensive line this offseason. They drafted Derrick Harmon, Jack Saywer, and Yahya Black were added via the NFL Draft, while Esezi Otomewo and Daniel Ekuale were signed in free agency. Pittsburgh has a ton of depth at the position, so multiple players being let go was expected to happen at some point this offseason.
The Steelers haven’t won anything in eight years – they aren’t above anybody.
The history of the Pittsburgh Steelers will forever be told in a beautiful hardback book composed of the finest leather. The tales of the 1970s read like nostalgic novellas. The teams of the 1990s were an underdog that consistently got to the brink, but never pulled the sword out of the stone. The 2000s were about triumph and becoming one of the NFL’s most feared teams once again.
The last decade of the Steelers’ story, though, reads more like an R.L. Stine Goosebumps book. Scary, but so bad that it’s silly and not even real horror. Which brings me to the point of this column – ENOUGH of this whole notion that the Steelers are above Aaron Rodgers, and that anyone would be lucky to start for the Steelers.
For almost a decade, the Steelers have been the dictionary definition of mediocre and have won nothing. The Jacksonville Jaguars have won a playoff game more recently than the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cleveland Browns have won a playoff game more recently than the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they did so in Pittsburgh with a COVID-riddled team and coaching staff. The Washington Redskins became the Washington Football Team, then the Washington Commanders and made it to the NFC Championship Game in the span since the Steelers’ last playoff win. Their head coach, Dan Quinn, lost the Super Bowl, was fired by the Atlanta Falcons, spent three years as the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, and then was hired by the Commanders before leading them to the NFC Championship Game – all of that took place since the Steelers’ last playoff win.
Dan Quinn has been on a JOURNEY since Mike Tomlin last won a playoff game
The Steelers are above nothing right now and have won nothing in almost a decade to earn any sort of praise that their biggest national defenders give them.
The fact of the matter is that Rodgers will be the best quarterback the Steelers have had since Ben Roethlisberger retired. If they want to end this playoff drought, they are in no position to turn their nose up and act holier than thou – they put themselves in this position. And while I’m optimistic about whatever quarterback they select in the 2026 NFL Draft, it’s hard to put faith in the head coach and team owner to help turn that guy into a star when the results they’ve yielded for almost 10 years have been nonexistent.
The lovely folks reading this have the same number of playoff wins as the Steelers since 2017. All the while, since 2022, they rank 20th in EPA per play and have finished 26th, 28th, and 20th in points per game in the last three seasons, respectively. They are a team that can’t get the offense right and seems hellbent on trying to win games like it’s still 2008. They turn up their nose at any thoughts of evolving and becoming more modern, opting instead to have the NFL’s highest-paid defense while the offense is built from scraps. It’s a formula that constantly loses, and one that Mike Tomlin refuses to stray from.
So, despite being an iconic franchise, there should be no discussions based on the argument of “The Steelers are better than waiting for Aaron Rodgers.” Because right now, that is unequivocally false.
The Steelers continue to look for another wide receiver via trade
The Pittsburgh Steelers are continuing to shop around for another wide receiver to add to their depth chart. Pittsburgh is in a similar spot that it was in last year, as DK Metcalf is their lone star, and the only starting-capable boundary receiver after the Steelers traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys.
Fox Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Steelers had asked multiple teams about potential trades, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Pittsburgh and the Miami Dolphins had discussions about a potential trade for tight end Jonnu Smith. Now, another name has entered the fray.
Zach Smith of Steelers Now reports that the Steelers have inquired about the availability of Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Trey Palmer.
The Steelers have checked in with the Buccaneers regarding WR Trey Palmer
Palmer had a solid rookie season in 2023, catching 39 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns. Last season, he caught just 12 passes for 172 yards and one touchdown.
Palmer really impressed me at the Senior Bowl in 2023 coming out of Nebraska, and his speed is evident. He ran a 4.33 40-yard dash, and that speed is something the Steelers could use at the position. He is currently buried on the Buccaneers depth chart behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, and now Emeka Egbuka. The Steelers bringing him in in exchange for a late Day Three pick would be worth doing, especially for the Buccaneers, who aren’t really using Palmer anyway.
Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images
The Steelers could land a Pro Bowl tight end
The main focus surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason has been the quarterback position. Specifically, the question on when Aaron Rodgers will sign with Pittsburgh. However, the latest report from Adam Schefter of ESPN says the Steelers could acquire a Pro Bowl tight end.
Per Schefter, the Steelers and Miami Dolphins have had discussions about a trade involving tight end Jonnu Smith.
“The Dolphins have had trade discussions with the Pittsburgh Steelers about their lone Pro-Bowl selection last season, tight end Jonnu Smith, per league sources,” Schefter said on X. “Those talks came after Smith expressed an interest in reworking his deal that is scheduled to pay him $4.8 million this season. With Smith seeking a new contract, Miami has sought a trade partner. Last season, Smith set the franchise record for a tight end in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Smith’s preference, per sources, is to stay in Miami under a reworked deal.”
The Dolphins have had trade discussions with the Pittsburgh Steelers about their lone Pro-Bowl selection last season, tight end Jonnu Smith, per league sources. Those talks came after Smith expressed an interest in reworking his deal that is scheduled to pay him $4.8 million this… pic.twitter.com/t4G8DqsF6s
The Steelers signed tight end Pat Freiermuth to a four-year, $48.4 million extension last offseason, so acquiring Smith and then paying him a large chunk of money would be an odd allocation of resources – unless they plan to use Smith purely as a big power-slot receiver, which could make sense.
Smith had 88 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns last season with Miami, all of which were career-highs.
At least one Steelers receiver is comfortable with Rudolph
The seemingly never-ending saga of Aaron Rodgers maybe-he-will-maybe-he-won’t sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers continues as Pittsburgh goes through OTAs. And while everyone’s focus remains on wondering when Rodgers will show up, the Steelers are worried about who is currently there.
Most notably, the Steelers are focused on their current quarterback Mason Rudolph. The veteran backup returned to Pittsburgh after one season with the Tennessee Titans, where he appeared in eight games, throwing nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. The last time Rudolph was in a Steelers uniform, he led the team to three consecutive wins and an improbable playoff berth. And while he has yet to catch an in-game pass from the Oklahoma State product, wide receiver Roman Wilson is on board with his new quarterback.
“He’s an elite quarterback, really locked in and bought in,” Wilson told Jason Mackey. “Everyone likes him a lot. He’s a good dude.”
While it’s still heavily expected that Rodgers will be a Steeler, Rudolph’s teammates seem very comfortable with him being the guy under center.
The Steelers’ edge rusher believes his teammate will get paid
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in an interesting spot with All-Pro edge rusher T.J. Watt. He is due for a new contract, as 2025 is the final year of his current contract. The Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns paid Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett, respectively, with the latter getting the most money for a non-quarterback in NFL history, making $40 million per year with $123.5 million in fully guaranteed money.
Watt is coming off a down year. His 11.5 sacks are his fewest in a full season since his rookie year in 2017. On top of that, he will turn 31 years old in October. Is it really in the Steelers’ best interests to give Watt a $40 million per year deal? It certainly seems like that’s what they are going to do regardless.
Speaking at Steelers OTAs, Watt’s fellow edge rusher Alex Highsmith said he is “very confident” a deal will get done between Watt and the franchise.
“I’ve been catching up with him all offseason. He really wants to be here. I’m very confident they’re going to get a deal done.”
“I’ve been catching up with him all offseason. He really wants to be here. I’m very confident they’re going to get a deal done.” https://t.co/dMDdkxpH9v
Again, it’s fair to ask if paying Watt, whose best days are very likely behind him, would be the right move when, frankly speaking, the Steelers aren’t contenders.
