Mike Tomlin is the NFL Coach of the Year


New York Giants v Pittsburgh Steelers
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

The Steelers’ head coach is doing some of his best work.

So many people wrote off the Pittsburgh Steelers before a regular season snap was played. And to be fair, this happens every year. It’s a cycle at this point. Everyone projects the Steelers to lose more games than they win and miss the playoffs, the Steelers win at least nine games, “Wow, Mike Tomlin does it again,” and then the cycle repeats the following year.

And while I’ve been as loud of a critic of Tomlin as anyone over the last handful of years, it can’t be denied how impressive he has been in 2024. And not just when it comes to winning games – this dates all the way back to his end-of-season press conference where he acknowledged that changes needed to be made to win games and a good number of people (myself included) rolled their eyes and took it as lip service. But as soon as the new league year started, the Steelers began cutting the fat off their steak.

They traded away wide receiver Diontae Johnson in exchange for a Day Three draft pick and cornerback Donte Jackson. How’d that work out? Well, Johnson has since been traded again and Jackson has three interceptions this season. The Steelers also cut bait with long-time poor players Pressley Harvin, Mason Cole, and Mitch Trubisky the second that they could.

Of course, the biggest moves the Steelers made was at the quarterback position. They signed Russell Wilson quite literally in the opening seconds of free agency. Shortly after, they shipped Kenny Pickett across the state to Philadelphia and acquired Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears. Adding the signings of Patrick Queen and DeShon Elliott to bolster the defense all backed up what Tomlin, general manager Omar Khan, and team president Art Rooney II preached – they wanted to get better and win in the playoffs.

The season wouldn’t come without adversity, though. Troy Fautanu and Isaac Seumalo both suffered injuries ahead of the regular season. Seumalo returned after three weeks, but Fautanu suffered another injury that will keep him out for the regular season. Zach Frazier also got hurt, forcing the Steelers to go through several different iterations of linemen combinations before the halfway point of the season. And in spite of all of that, the Steelers started the year 4-2 with Justin Fields under center after Russell Wilson was healing up from a calf injury, and then won their first two games with Wilson under center to get to 6-2 and hold sole possession of the AFC North lead heading into the bye week.

When you look at the Steelers’ numbers this season, they are over-performing on offense, considering the lack of weapons they have behind George Pickens at receiver. Pittsburgh is averaging 23.4 points per game thus far – almost six points more than the 17.9 they averaged in 2023. They are 13th in EPA per play, as well on offense. And if you really want to focus in on how they’ve played since Wilson took over, they have been fantastic. Over the last two weeks, They are averaging 31.5 points per game, 417.5 yards per game, and are seventh in EPA per play – this offense is more than just passable, it is good.

That also circles back to the offseason when the Steelers basically cleaned house on the offensive coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has done a remarkable job getting the offense to put up points and win games with two different quarterbacks who play two different styles of football. Quarterbacks coach Tom Arth and wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni have been very welcome improvements and additions to the coaching staff, as well. All of it comes back around to Mike Tomlin for recognizing the issues at hand. All be it, these changes came a couple years after they should have been made. Regardless, though, Tomlin has done an incredible job with a quarterback situation that almost no one nationally thought would work. And it’s not just working, the Steelers are thriving. There is a very real chance they hold onto the division lead from now until January and host a playoff game for the first time since the 2020 season. And while their goals are bigger than just hosting a playoff game, it would be hard to argue that Tomlin shouldn’t be the Coach of the Year should that be the result of their season. Regardless of how you feel about Tomlin, this season has been some of his finest work.

Texans vs. Jets: Thursday Night Football Open Thread


Houston Texans v New York Jets
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

Let’s chat

The Houston Texans and New York Jets will kick off Week 9 on Thursday Night Football.

The Jets are surprisingly favored by 2.5 here, likely due to the Texans’ several injuries on offense. In spite of that, I’m hitting John Metchie props.

The young receiver will be getting more opportunities with both Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs out of the lineup. If you want to ride a parlay with me, take John Metchie 40+ receiving yards and anytime touchdown scorer at +756 odds.

Final prediction: Jets 22, Texans 20

What are your predictions for tonight’s game? Join your fellow Steelers fans in the comments to close out football Sunday.

Steelers waive OT Dylan Cook, sign OLB to practice squad


Dylan Cook #60 of the Pittsburgh Steelers lines up before a play during an NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 24, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

The Steelers open a roster spot.

The Steelers made a somewhat surprising roster move on Thursday afternoon, waiving offensive tackle Dylan Cook from the 53-man roster and signing outside linebacker Ade Ogundeji to the practice squad, per a team announcement.

Cook was activated off of injured reserve yesterday, but his stay on the roster was short. However, if he clears waivers, he could end up back on the Steelers’ practice squad.

The Steelers also announced the signing of Ogundeji to the practice squad, who was waived two days ago. It’s been a hectic last few weeks for the outside linebacker, who has already been a member of the practice squad and appeared in three games this season.

This year, Ogundeji has yet to record a tackle, but he did record a pass defensed against the Raiders. For the season, he has 25 defensive snaps and six special teams snaps.

Cook has yet to appear in a regular season NFL game.

Following the moves, the Steelers have two spots open on their 53-man roster, although one is expected to be filled by reinstated cornerback Cameron Sutton, who has a roster exemption until Nov. 4.

Steelers snap counts: Week 8 takeaways


Calvin Austin III #19 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter of a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium on December 23, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

You can learn a lot about the 2024 Steelers from the team’s snap counts.

Welcome back to Steelers snap counts.

Snap counts via Next Gen Stats.

Making the most of it award

There’s no great candidates this week, but Calvin Austin III did score both of the Steelers’ touchdowns despite playing just 60% of the offensive snaps and 13% of the special teams snaps. That’s good enough for this week’s award.

Takeaways

  • Both George Pickens and Van Jefferson played 81% of the Steelers’ offensive snaps this week. It’s a slight uptick for both of them with the Steelers playing their receivers less over the last few weeks.
  • Calvin Austin III also saw an increase, from 48% last week to 60% this week. He’s gaining more trust in the Steelers’ offense.
  • Najee Harris solidly out-snapped Jaylen Warren on Monday, 58% to 40%, after they each played 50% of the offensive snaps last week.
  • T.J. Watt (96%) and Alex Highsmith (88%) both played a high number of defensive snaps on Monday. I’m sure they’re looking forward to Nick Herbig returning and a few more breathers during games after the bye.
  • Beanie Bishop Jr. played an unusually high 82% of snaps last week, but the number rose even more against the Giants to 85%. A lot is matchup based, but the Steelers’ confidence in the rookie is rising. It’ll be interesting to see how he splits time with the returning Cam Sutton after the bye week.
  • Patrick Queen played 100% of the defensive snaps once again, but both Payton Wilson and Elandon Roberts were under 50%. The Steelers are playing a lot of nickel.
  • Terrell Edmunds with another game of 20% of defensive snaps or more. He’s quietly becoming a role player in the defense.
  • The Steelers’ offense to defense ratio this week: 63:67.

What are your takeaways from this week’s snap counts? Join the Behind the Steel Curtain community and let us know in the comments!

Steelers Read & React: Trade deadline and midseason awards


Dallas Cowboys v Pittsburgh Steelers
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

This week, Ryan and Ryland give their final thoughts about potential moves ahead of the NFL trade deadline, hand out some midseason awards, and give some predictions about the rest of the season.

The Steelers have made it to their bye week as division leaders. Looking back at the panic surrounding Pittsburgh’s preseason struggles, it’s safe to say few predicted the Steelers would be 6-2. While we here at Read & React were hopeful about the Steelers’ playoff chances, we both foresaw a third-place finish in our preseason predictions. Call us pleasantly surprised as the Steelers remain a reminder that nothing in football is certain until the games are played and the final whistle has blown.

In this week’s edition, we’ll look back at the Steelers’ season so far and give out some midseason awards. But before that, one final look at the Nov. 5 trade deadline.

The Ravens just added former Steeler Diontae Johnson via trade. With all the talk of the Steelers needing to trade for a receiver, what’s your confidence level that the Steelers make a trade for a receiver before the deadline?

RB: On a scale of one to 10 I’m at a very tentative six. The Steelers have seemingly been close to a number of trades throughout the summer and first half of the season, so we know there’s interest. Wide receivers have been getting traded all over the league for the past few weeks, so we know there’s precedent. But the Steelers also haven’t gotten a deal done yet, and the market is getting drier and drier.

Beyond that, Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III both had great games on Monday, which might cause the Steelers’ front office to decide the room is good enough and hold onto their draft capital (They shouldn’t, but they might).

But until the trade deadline passes, I’m leaning towards the Steelers making a move just due to how much effort they’ve put into adding a wide receiver already this season. Maybe they finally get a deal done, albeit not a blockbuster one, in crunch time — even if I’m not the most confident it happens.

RP: Since Ryland introduced a scale, I’ll say I’m a three at the moment. Anything could happen, and I want a trade, but my skepticism about a move being made grows with each passing day. It’s been no secret that the Steelers have made calls around the league as far back as this summer. Over the past three weeks, the Steelers have played the Raiders (Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers), Jets (Mike Williams) and Giants (Darius Slayton). Those teams employ some of the top names rumored to be available. The Steelers had opportunities to speak about a trade in person with each of those front offices, and yet no deals have been made.

We’ve seen a handful of receivers traded already and another potential target lost to injury (Christian Kirk). At this point, it feels like it’ll be Mike Williams — if the Jets lose on Thursday night — or no one at all.

Before the season, the Steelers brass said they were prepared to ride out the season with the guys they had. We have all hoped a trade materializes, but I think the Steelers are being cautious. They’ve seen how bad teams throw around draft picks for temporary solutions. With some of the upcoming contracts — which I’ll discuss near the end of this article — I think they’re wary to trade away picks from the second day of the draft for a guy who could be out the door in three months. They’ve managed to hit on starters with several of those second and third-round picks in recent years and doing so is crucial when dealing with the salary cap. I get the impression general manager Omar Khan isn’t willing to leverage the future unless he’s certain he’s getting a bona fide star or a long-term solution.

Midseason Awards

Best Play

RP: I’ll go with a play from Sunday Night Football, and take Beanie Bishop Jr.’s first career interception.

Several things to like about this play. For starters, this could be the game we look back on as the moment the light turned on for Bishop. He went through some typical rookie struggles earlier in the season, but on this play Bishop impresses both physically and mentally.

On this play, the Jets are up 15-6 and running the two-minute drill. With New York set to receive the kickoff coming out of halftime, they have an opportunity to score twice before the Steelers offense gets back on the field. It’s a big moment.

New York lines up in empty and with running back Breece Hall outside on the left and ultimately had a few different options here. With the coverage the Steelers are playing and the complimentary routes, Rodgers could have made the easy completion to his back running the drag route and seen if Hall could make some defenders miss. He passes on that because it would take a lot of time off the clock and if the defenders tackle soundly, it would have been for a minimal gain.

With the power of hindsight, it’s pretty clear that Davante Adams would have been the right player to target on this play. With the coverage shell the Steelers showed, Adams was wide open for a catch along the sideline after he runs a fade route. At worst he picks up the first down and stops the clock. At best, he creates some yards after the catch with James Pierre trailing and Fitzpatrick having to close the gap from the middle of the field.

But that’s what makes what Bishop did that more impressive and crucial to this play.

New York lines up star receiver Garrett Wilson in the slot. Rodgers and Wilson haven’t always reached the high expectations that were set for them, but there is trust there. Enough trust that when Rodgers sees Bishop start his back pedal with his hips turned towards the sideline, he knows immediately he wants to rip the ball to Wilson running the in-breaking route behind Bishop. He doesn’t even look Adams’ way, despite their long-established chemistry, because the smart thing to do is take the matchup Wilson should easily win.

What he doesn’t take into account is that the undrafted and undersized rookie corner moves better than he expects. As the ball starts to leave Rodgers’ hand, Bishop fluidly flips his hips, closes on the route and makes the one-armed snag for the interception. The Steelers would go on to score before the half, and the rest is history. This is the stuff that should get you fired up.

RB: Recency bias, I know, but Monday night had a couple of great candidates — the one I’ll go with will be the big Russell Wilson/George Pickens connection in the fourth quarter. Yes, the Calvin Austin III punt return was more impressive, but this play means more for the future of the 2024-25 Steelers.

After a somewhat rusty debut against the Jets, Wilson finally showed off a perfect “moon ball” here, placing a flawless pass downfield for Pickens to snatch out of the air. The protection held up and the play-action worked. This is the sort of play Arthur Smith wants to make the Steelers’ bread and butter this season, and they ran it to perfection against the Giants:

Best Offensive Player

New York Giants v Pittsburgh Steelers
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

RB: Dare I say Russell Wilson? It’s been just two games, but with the exception of a rough first half against the Jets, Wilson has clearly upgraded the Pittsburgh offense. The passing game is more consistent and pushing the ball downfield successfully. That, in turn, has helped open up the run game. Wilson is creating big plays, sustaining drives, and still avoiding turnovers for the most part. The Steelers’ group of pass-catchers is more involved.

I think there’s other valid answers to this question, namely George Pickens and Zach Frazier, but I don’t think anyone has had a greater positive impact on offense than Wilson this year.

RP: I think there is a case to be made for Fields, Najee, or even Russ, but ultimately I’m going to go with Zach Frazier. Frazier has missed the past couple weeks due to injury, but I cannot say enough about how he instantly looked like one of the best centers in the game.

The NFL is having a bit of a center renaissance this year with Frazier and fellow rookies Graham Barton and Jackon Powers-Johnson (who debuted last week) all looking impressive early in their careers.

The Steelers’ offensive line has been a rollercoaster, but from the moment he stepped onto the field, Frazier has been both consistent and nasty. With the rest of the line starting to gel over the past month — paving the way for three-straight 100-yard games for Najee Harris — I’m excited to see what heights the team will reach once he returns.

Best Defensive Player

RB: I momentarily considered going with DeShon Elliott here but there’s no real answer other than T.J. Watt. He’s already on pace for another season with double-digit sacks, but he’s also added 10 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two passes defensed — a number of those big plays have come at clutch moments, as well. He demands constant attention from opposing offenses and still finds ways to win games for the Steelers. He’s unquestionably the team’s Defensive Player of the Year.

RP: TJ Watt. All respect to Cam Heyward and the rest of the defense, but it’s unquestionably Watt.

Best Offseason Addition

New York Giants v Pittsburgh Steelers
Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images

RB: Obvious, I know, but the answer here is DeShon Elliott. He’s had 58 total tackles, two tackles for loss, four passes defensed, and an interception, forced fumble, and fumble recovery. He’s been all over the field and one of the Steelers’ best defenders near the line of scrimmage. His physical style of play is tailor-made for AFC North football, and he’s been a top-five player on the Steelers in 2024. Elliott has drawn some well-deserved All-Pro buzz, and he’s on just a two-year, $6 million deal. Just a home run signing.

An honorable mention goes to Russell Wilson, and even Justin Fields for that matter. Quarterback play remains the most important element of winning in the NFL, and the Steelers are 6-2.

RP: As Ryland stated, DeShon Elliott is the obvious answer. Since Bickley already did a good job laying out what Elliott’s brought to the team, I’ll go a different route for the sake of variety. This might be cheating, but I’m going with an in-season addition Corliss Waitman who was signed after Cameron Johnston suffered an unfortunate season-ending injury in September.

Punters aren’t sexy, I get it. But Waitman deserves some flowers for his contributions to this team. The Steelers are a team that’s made it clear they are comfortable playing in close games. Often in those types of games, it’s the finer details that give the winning team the edge. Insert Waitman.

Waitman doesn’t have the longest punt of the season or the highest average per punt, but he has been surgical. He is tied for 10th in the league with 14 different punts downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Among punters who have at least 20 attempts on the season, he is tied for the sixth-fewest attempted returns (11) and has the lowest average return length in the league (3.2 yards per return). A lot of that credit goes to the rest of the Steelers’ special teams, but Waitman sets them up for success. For a team that so often has to win in the margins, Waitman has been an unsung hero.

Midseason MVP

New York Giants v Pittsburgh Steelers
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

RP: How could it be anyone other than TJ Watt? The Steelers’ offense has been up and down all season. Despite a 6-2 record, there hasn’t been a single player on offense you can hang your hat on for this award. There’s an argument for Fields, but it’s tough to give MVP to a player who’ll be sitting the second half of the season if things go to plan. Russ has given a spark to the offense, but I struggle to hand him team MVP after playing in just two games. He might get this award at the end of the season, but he simply didn’t play enough to earn it for the first half.

Therefore you have to give it to Watt. Watt once again leads the teams in sacks and is averaging a forced fumble every other game. He continues to have the knack for making plays that change the game for the Steelers. Cam Heyward deserves an honorable mention here, but Watt takes this fairly easily.

RB: I’ll keep this one short. For the reasons Ryan and I have already pointed out, it’s Watt. More often than not, he’s the reason why the Steelers win games.

But once again, I’ll point out Wilson as a dark horse if the Steelers can keep their offensive trajectory in the right direction. Watt is the better player, to be clear, but quarterback is just that important.

Best Rookie

Dallas Cowboys v Pittsburgh Steelers
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

RP: Sometimes the best ability is availability. For that reason, I’ll go with Payton Wilson. Fellow rookies Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, Roman Wilson, Logan Lee, and Ryan Watts have all missed time due to injury. I give Frazier and Beanie Bishop their love elsewhere in this article — and I considered going with guard Mason McCormick — but linebacker Payton Wilson has contributed on defense and special teams since Week 1.

Raw tackle numbers don’t provide enough context for quality of play, but it is still notable that Wilson is fourth on the team with 39 tackles. He’s settled in as one of the Steelers primary backers in obvious passing downs and as the season has gone on, we’ve watched the Steelers slowly added onto his plate or responsibilities. His best games as a pro have come in the past two weeks.

RB: As good as Wilson has been, it’s hard to go with anyone other than Zach Frazier. The Steelers had a massive hole at center entering the 2024 season, and a second-round pick from West Virginia has not only filled that need, but looked like a franchise cornerstone. He’s drawn a lot of national attention as a Day 2 O-lineman, which is really saying something.

Frazier has looked pro-ready, athletic, and nasty all year, and when he returns to the Steelers’ lineup following the bye, the team’s offense should get a noticeable boost.

Midseason Predictions

Which Steelers skill player finishes with the most touchdowns?

New York Giants v Pittsburgh Steelers
Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

RB: My gut reaction was Najee Harris, but he’s never been a consistent touchdown scorer (never had more than 10 in a year) and has only two at the midpoint of this season. Instead, I’ll go with George Pickens, who has even worse career touchdown averages and just one score on the season. But his connection with Russell Wilson continues to heat up, and he had two almost-scores on Monday that would’ve put him in the skill position touchdown lead.

Pickens has built his stardom off of contested catches, making him an ideal red zone target, and he’s clearly benefited from Wilson throwing him the ball. I expect that connection to continue to improve and Pickens to lead the Steelers in touchdowns in 2024.

No skill position player has more than three touchdowns thus far (two if you don’t count Calvin Austin III’s return touchdown). It’s a wide open race, and I’m willing to bet Pickens is the one who breaks out the most.

RP: Unlike Bickley, I’m going to stick with my first instinct and go with Najee Harris. For a team allegedly designed to reduce the impact of not having an elite quarterback, the Steelers offense has been quarterback-centric when it comes to scoring. No skill player has more than two touchdowns, while Justin Fields has five rushing touchdowns and Wilson has chipped in a rushing touchdown of his own. Najee has been on a heater for the past month and the Steelers will face plenty of defenses that struggle against the run during the final two months of the season. Give me the five-time Angry Runs winner.

Which Steelers defender will lead the team in interceptions?

Pittsburgh Steelers v Las Vegas Raiders
Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images

RP: I’ll ride the hot hand and go with Beanie Bishop. The UDFA rookie is currently tied for the team lead and appears to be coming into his own as a pro. This might be a risky pick on my part with Cam Sutton set to be reinstated from suspension, but if Bishop keeps playing like he has, it will be hard for the Steelers to take him off the field. Sutton has familiarity with the scheme, but he was last seen in the NFL getting routinely toasted in the Lions’ secondary. A two-month layoff is unlikely to have helped him shake off any rust.

If anything, I see Sutton’s return jeopardizing snaps for Damontae Kazee and Terrell Edmunds in three safety sets. Donte Jackson has managed injuries seemingly every week and Cory Trice is only just returning from his own injury. I think Sutton will bounce around as needed and Bishop will still get plenty of opportunities to make an impact.

RB: I respect the Beanie Bishop Jr. pick, but with Cam Sutton returning, it’s highly likely the UDFA will see a decrease in snaps. As a result, I’ll go with Donte Jackson, who also has three picks on the year, currently tied for the team lead. Jackson has been a strong offseason addition and should continue to see plenty of snaps and targets as the Steelers’ CB2. He’s been a playmaker and I see that continuing in the second half of the season.

Final AFC North Standings

RP:

  1. Ravens: 12-5
  2. Steelers: 11-6
  3. Bengals: 9-8
  4. Browns: 6-11

I went through and picked each game in the remaining schedules for the AFC North. I have the Steelers going 4-2 in division play with a sweep of Cleveland. I think they’ll split their remaining NFC East matchups as well; I went with a win against Washington and a loss to Philadelphia during a stretch that sees the Steelers play four games in 20 days.

The Ravens have the Eagles and Texans remaining on their schedule, but the rest of their non-division games aren’t particularly intimidating. The Ravens defense has regressed a ton this year, but their offense remains dangerous and able to adapt to different game scripts thanks to their diverse personnel. They’re a team that might struggle when trailing, but they rarely find themselves in that position. We can criticize their playoff performances, but Baltimore is a team that handles their business in the regular season.

I struggled most with the Bengals. Their offense is so good. Their defense is so bad. You could tell me they finish anywhere from 7-10 to 11-6 and I wouldn’t bat an eye.

As for Cleveland, I’ve had them on Fraud Watch since this summer. If they had started the year with Jameis Winston over the Quarterback Who Shall Not Be Named, they might have had a shot at a wild card berth, but it’s too little too late at this point. I expect them to play the nuisance in division games — the Steelers should not take them lightly — but ultimately they have too big a hole now to dig out from.

RB:

  1. Ravens: 12-5
  2. Steelers: 11-6
  3. Bengals: 8-9
  4. Browns: 6-11

My predictions look eerily similar to Ryan’s, and that’s with me going through each team’s schedule game-by-game, not just going with a number that sounded good. Ultimately, our one difference is the Bengals, which I have losing one more game. My initial guess was 9-8 as well, but Cincinnati just keeps underperforming expectations this season so I figured I’d account for that by flipping one expected win into a loss.

On the Pittsburgh side of things, I have them going 4-2 in the division. The Ravens are one of the best teams in football. The Bengals have enough talent to put up a good fight. And the Browns are suddenly competitive with Winston at quarterback. Still, I think the Steelers split two series and then sweep one of the Bengals or Browns. But every game will be competitive.

The non-division games are Commanders, Eagles, and Chiefs. I have the Steelers going 1-2 in these matchups, as all three teams are going to be major challenges.

It’s a tough stretch of games, but Pittsburgh has been winning more than expected all year and should still come out of Weeks 10-18 as a playoff team with a winning record.

Which of these upcoming free agents will be back in 2025 because of their play?

New York Jets v Pittsburgh Steelers
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

Notable Steelers 2025 UFAs: James Daniels, Dan Moore Jr., Najee Harris, Donte Jackson, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, Corliss Waitman, Elandon Roberts, Damontae Kazee, Jeremiah Moon

RB: I think one of Justin Fields or Russell Wilson will be back next season. It’ll be too expensive to keep both, but I have a hard time seeing Pittsburgh completely upending its quarterback room for a second straight year. If the Steelers keep winning this season, I think Wilson will be the one extended, likely to a one or two-year deal with a developmental quarterback added in the draft.

If Wilson falters in the second half of 2024, I could see the Steelers deciding to gamble with Justin Fields as next year’s starter. The 2025 quarterback class does not look great, making Fields, with a year of development under Wilson, as good an option as any.

As for the other positions, I’d like to see James Daniels, Najee Harris, and Elandon Roberts return, but I’m not confident they will. The team hasn’t shown interest in signing Daniels or Harris to extensions, and Payton Wilson’s rising playing time feels like writing on the wall for Roberts, although I bet he’ll be back if it’s cheap enough.

I’m gaining confidence that Dan Moore Jr. and Donte Jackson will return in 2025. Neither will be cheap, but if you have a serviceable left tackle and CB2, you keep them around.

Broderick Jones doesn’t look like he’ll turn it around in 2024, meaning the Steelers can let him develop while he’s still on his rookie contract while keeping Moore and Troy Fautanu as the starting tackles moving forward. As for Jackson, the Steelers can afford a higher-end cornerback duo while Joey Porter Jr. is still on his rookie contract. No need to break up what’s been working well this season — and the Steelers have plenty of cap space in 2025.

As for Waitman, Moon, Kazee, MyCole Pruitt, James Pierre, and other special teams and depth players, they’ll likely be back if the price is right. Again, the Steelers have nearly $75 million in cap space in 2025. They’ll be able to bring back a lot of free agents, even if they’ll be spending a lot more on a quarterback than in 2024.

RP: I’d like to see both of the running backs return, but I’m fully prepared to see at least one, if not both, of them go. At this point, I’m not sure how anyone could be anything other than open to all possibilities with both of these quarterbacks.

Jackson has played well this season but the Steelers and Omar Khan have operated shrewdly while managing the cap. He might deem Jackson’s age too risky of an investment, especially if his free agent market sees his value exceed the $6 million ($4.75 guaranteed) they paid him this year. With contract decisions for T.J. Watt, George Pickens, Isaac Seuamlo and DeShon Elliott in 2025 — as well as Minkah Fitzpatrick, Joey Porter Jr, Keeanu Benton and Patrick Queen in 2026 — the Steelers might decide a rookie or a more cost-effective veteran makes the most financial sense for the rest of their team building.

Dan Moore is the most fascinating name on this list. What the Steelers choose to do with Moore could be quite telling. Moore went through his struggles early in his career — you won’t mistake him for an All-Pro — but he’s taken another step forward in his consistency this season. With Broderick Jones hitting a snag in his development and rookie Troy Fautanu struggling with injuries early in his career, do the Steelers feel like they can afford to let him hit the market? And with the constant need around the league for competent tackle play, does it even matter if the Steelers would like him back? All it takes is one needy team to offer a number the Steelers are unwilling or unable to match.

Join in on Steelers R&R by sharing your takes on this week’s topics. Do you think the Steelers will make a trade before the deadline? Who won YOUR midseason awards? Let us know in the comments! Feel free to pitch future questions in the comment section or on Twitter/X: tag @_Ryland_B or @RyanParishMedia.

NFL insider names three receivers Steelers are monitoring ahead of trade deadline


Denver Broncos v New Orleans Saints
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

The Steelers have less than a week to make a move.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have long been rumored to add a receiver this season, but have continued to come away empty-handed. From Brandon Aiyuk to Davante Adams to Cooper Kupp, the Steelers have swung for the fences but struck out every time when it comes to acquiring a big-name receiver.

With that in mind, the NFL trade deadline is just five days away, and the Steelers are running out of time and players to potentially bring in via trade. NFL insider Tony Pauline says they have their eye on three receivers in particular ahead of the deadline.

“Sources have attached the names of three receivers the team will look to trade for,” Pauline writes. “They include Darius Slayton of the New York Giants, Mike Williams of the New York Jets and Courtland Sutton of the Denver Broncos.”

Back in April, a source told Behind The Steel Curtain that the Steelers called the Broncos both before and during the draft inquiring about Sutton, but were told no both times. And with the Broncos currently holding a playoff spot in the AFC playoff picture, I wouldn’t see why that would change unless the Steelers offered a second-round pick or a package the Broncos just couldn’t say no to.

Steelers’ CB Beanie Bishop, K Chris Boswell named Players of the Month


Pittsburgh Steelers v Las Vegas Raiders
Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images

The Steelers have had some star performances this month.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a load of great performances this season, especially this past week where T.J. Watt and Calvin Austin were named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week, respectively, in a win over the Giants that took them to 6-2 on the year – and the accolades aren’t done coming.

Rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop has been named the NFL Rookie of the Month and kicker Chris Boswell was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month.

Bishop has picked off three passes over the last two weeks to help the Steelers win both primetime games against both New York teams. Boswell has been automatic all season long, with his only missed kick being north of 60 yards and hooking just wide against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3.

Courtland Sutton, Darius Slayton On Steelers’ Radar?

As the Steelers have climbed to 6-2, they have seen Russell Wilson deliver two promising starts in wins over the Jets and Giants. Those conquests still do not appear to have moved the AFC North leaders out of a wide receiver market they have populated for months.

The Steelers have been tied to Davante Adams, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Mike Williams at points this year. Pittsburgh’s interest in Williams remains, with the team joining the Chargers and Saints (and probably others) as clubs looking into a player the Jets continue to shop. Considering Pittsburgh’s need, it also should not surprise the team is being linked to two trade-block regulars.

Courtland Sutton and Darius Slayton are believed to join Williams on the Steelers’ radar, according to Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline, who indicates a hierarchy exists here. The Steelers are believed to have plenty of interest in prying Sutton from Denver, though Pauline adds the Broncos — as they have for years — are setting a high asking price on one of this NFL period’s trade-rumor mainstays.

Sutton’s name, despite the Broncos’ 5-3 record, came up recently — yet again. Sutton, 29, has been mentioned at just about every NFL trade window since the 2022 deadline. The Broncos then set a second-round asking price on the 6-foot-4 wideout during the 2023 offseason, seeing him usurp Jerry Jeudy as Wilson’s top target. Wilson and Sutton formed a rapport, one that produced a few acrobatic catches from the former second-round pick, last season. As a result, it would not surprise if the Steelers were one of the teams in on Sutton this offseason.

Sean Payton confirmed several clubs called about Sutton this year, doing so after the Broncos unloaded Jeudy for fifth- and sixth-round picks. The most notable 2024 Sutton “what if?” came in August, when the 49ers offered a third-round pick to the Broncos in what would have been a three-team deal that sent Sutton to Denver and Aiyuk to Pittsburgh. The Steelers’ trade framework with the 49ers for Aiyuk did not turn out to be enough, as the now-high-priced veteran recommitted to San Francisco — weeks before sustaining a season-ending injury.

It would represent odd timing for the Broncos to finally part with Sutton, as their WR corps is thin — especially after Josh Reynolds landed on IR and then suffered injuries in a recent shooting — beyond the seventh-year vet. Second-rounder Marvin Mims has not developed as the Broncos hoped, and the team is otherwise reliant on fourth- and seventh-round rookies (Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele). Trading Sutton now would stand to affect Bo Nix‘s development, hence the high price the Broncos are again setting.

As Sutton is tied to a four-year, $60MM deal that features no guarantees in 2025 — the contract’s final year — Slayton is winding down a two-year, $12MM accord. The Giants wide receiver has started strong this season, becoming a nice complementary piece alongside fast-emerging rookie Malik Nabers. The latter is New York’s future at the position, with Slayton — a Dave Gettleman-era draftee who has come up in trade rumors at multiple points — a player the Giants will undoubtedly consider moving before the Nov. 5 deadline.

The Giants are also setting a notable price on their WR trade chip, as both Slayton and Azeez Ojulari have drawn interest but are not locks to move. Though, the Giants’ 2-6 record — ahead of a Commanders matchup — may carry the day. Slayton appears a Sutton backup plan, per Pauline, but probably will be easier to obtain at this point.

The Steelers have sought a George Pickens complement for months, having traded Diontae Johnson during the legal tampering period in March. Slot player Calvin Austin has become Pittsburgh’s de facto WR2, with 257 yards, but given their hot start, the Steelers figure to make a final push to help Wilson before the deadline.

Steelers activate OT Dylan Cook from IR


Dylan Cook #60 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action during the preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium on August 17, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

The Steelers get some offensive line help.

The Steelers will be getting some offensive line help over the bye, with Pittsburgh activating offensive lineman Dylan Cook from injured reserve on Wednesday, per NFL insider Aaron Wilson via the NFL’s transaction sheet.

Cook was placed on injured reserve on cutdown day ahead of the 2024 regular season. He made the Steelers’ 53-man roster in 2023, although he has yet to appear in a regular season NFL game.

Cook went undrafted in 2022 out of Montana State, originally signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as UDFA. He’s an athletic, 6’6, 305-pound tackle who transitioned from quarterback to offensive line while in college. He played on the right side at Montana State.

With Cook off of IR and Cam Sutton set to count towards the 53-man roster on Nov. 4, the Steelers have filled their two open 53-man roster spots entering their bye week. Two open spots remain on the team’s practice squad.

Steelers’ Art Rooney Jr. named contributor semifinalist for 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame


New Orleans Saints v Pittsburgh Steelers

Rooney Jr. is one of four Steelers with a shot at Canton in 2025.

Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Contributor Blue-Ribbon Committee participated in a reduction vote to choose the semifinalists for the 2025 Hall of Fame class contributor category, and the results were announced Wednesday. The Steelers’ Art Rooney Jr. is one of the nine remaining candidates.

Rooney Jr., not to be confused with Steelers owner Art Rooney II, is currently the Steelers’ vice president and a member of the board of directors. He worked as the Steelers’ personnel director from 1965-86, and is currently a member of the Steelers Hall of Honor.

Only one of the nine remaining contributor candidates will make the final ballot for this year’s Hall of Fame class. The other semifinalists are:

  • K.S. “Bud” Adams
  • Ralph Hay
  • Frank “Bucko” Kilroy
  • Robert Kraft
  • Art Modell
  • Seymour Siwoff
  • Doug Williams
  • John Wooten

You can read bios on the names above on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website.

Other former Steelers still eligible for this year’s Hall of Fame class are wide receiver Hines Ward, linebacker James Harrison, and kicker Gary Anderson in the modern era category.

The lone contributor finalist will be decided on Nov. 12.