OKC is at the top of the oddsboard as the favorite to win it all, but the Celtics are close behind. Check out the latest odds.
Re-evaluation: One Steeler stood out on defensive line
Steel City Underground presents a post-2024 NFL season re-evaluation of each positional group on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster in this series, highlighting the standout player or players among each group.
The Steelers placed greater emphasis on the effectiveness of their defensive front, especially in being more dominant in stopping the run of late. They didn’t make major personnel changes prior to the season, adding just two new players to the positional group. They did extend a contract to the senior-most team captain.
2024 Roster: Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Larry Ogunjobi, Dean Lowry, Montravius Adams, Isaiahh Loudermilk, DeMarvin Leal, Logan Lee
Heyward takes top D-line honors
2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year Cameron Heyward was given a contract extension ahead of the season despite a 2023 regular season that saw him deal with injuries. At 35, many expected Heyward to merely be a placeholder. Instead, he was the most dominant player on the defensive line.
In fact, Heyward proved he had more than enough gas left in the tank as he led all defensive linemen in the NFL and earned his fourth first-team All-Pro award by putting together 71 tackles (12 for a loss of yardage), 20 quarterback hits, 8.0 sacks, and 11 pass defenses.
One could argue that Heyward was the soul of the Pittsburgh defense in 2024. Last season was one of the best of his career. When Heyward was in the game (71 percent of all defensive snaps), the Steelers limited opponents to a 3.7 yards per carry average compared to 5.1 when he was not.
If we were handing out grades, Heyward would easily earn an “A” for his performance and value.
Rounding out the rest of the D-line
Although all but Logan Lee – a sixth round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft that sat the entirety of the season due to a calf injury – saw play, Keeanu Benton – in his second season – was most complimentary to Heyward’s play. With a slightly increased snap count, Benton was able to apply pressure from the nose tackle position.
Benton wasn’t a sack machine – earning just 1.0 for the season – but his ability to get off of blocks and record 11 pressures and 8 quarterback hits created opportunities for a Steelers defense that wanted to disrupt, take advantage of turnovers, and dominate possible.
Ogunjobi missed two games due to injury. Due to Benton’s play, Ogunjobi was on the field less in 2024, and recorded just 1.5 sacks, 41 combined tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, and 7 QB hits.
Lowry, a free agent addition for 2024, made a couple splash plays for Pittsburgh, but played just 21 percent of defensive snaps. He was overshadowed by Montravius Adams and Loudermilk, with Adams having the best season of the trio. Adams had 14 tackles (two for a loss of yardage) in 11 games, and 1.0 sacks.
Because Leal split time between the line and outside linebacker, his numbers took a hit. That was especially true after he sustained a neck injury early in the season that kept him sidelined after Week 5.
Overall re-evaluation
The defensive line has depth concerns following a season that wasn’t exactly exceptional. In fact, outside of Heyward, the line was middle of the pack when compared to other NFL teams. When games needed to be won in the trenches, the Steelers saw themselves bullied by bigger offensive lines.
Loudermilk is a free agent and may be on his way out the door in order to free up a spot for the Steelers to either add a draft selection in 2025 or younger, bolder free agent acquisition. He may not be the only player who exits if Pittsburgh is serious about building a defensive line for their future.
Re-evaluation: One Steeler stood out on defensive line appeared first on Steel City Underground.
SCU Week in Review – February 16th
In case you missed it (or anything) the SCU Week in Review recaps all articles, videos, posts and more, shared via Steel City Underground’s various platforms throughout the week.
How wide is the gap between the Steelers and this year’s Super Bowl teams?
Joe and Brian discuss the aftermath of Super Bowl LIX. The Philadelphia Eagles made the Kansas City Chiefs look normal, which begs the question: how far away are the Steelers from either team?
Depending on the position, Pittsburgh may have a championship foundation in place. The hosts discuss where the deficiencies lie and how the Eagles built a team that has a chance of dominating over the next few seasons. Can the Steelers replicate their success?
Also, the hosts discuss the Steelers playing in Ireland, rumors about Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, Aaron Rodgers not being a fit, why not draft Jalen Hurts was the right move at the right time, and much more.
View the video below on YouTube or visit our podcast page to find it on all popular audio platforms.
SCU’s favorite Super Bowl LIX TV commercials
Steelers’ Irish roots deepen with historic game in Dublin
What positions will the Steelers prioritize in the 2025 NFL Draft?
What positions will the Steelers prioritize in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Aaron Rodgers is not the answer for the Steelers
The Steelers we’re most in love with right now (and why) (2025 edition)
The Steelers we’re most in love with right now (and why) (2025 edition)
Quick Hits
SCU Week in Review – February 16th appeared first on Steel City Underground.
2025 NFL Cap Space, By Team
Free agency is roughly one month away, and teams are preparing for the first major roster-building checkpoint on the offseason calendar. In several cases, of course, the lead-in to the start of the new league year will require cost-cutting measures.
Teams expect the 2025 cap ceiling to check in somewhere between $265MM and $275MM, providing a general target to aim for before the final figure is unveiled by the NFL. Using a projected cap of $272.5MM, here is a look at where all 32 teams currently stand (courtesy of Over the Cap):
- New England Patriots: $119.8MM
- Las Vegas Raiders: $92.53MM
- Washington Commanders: $75.21MM
- Arizona Cardinals: $71.33MM
- Los Angeles Chargers: $63.41MM
- Chicago Bears: $62.97MM
- Minnesota Vikings: $58.01MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $53.26MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $46.26MM
- Detroit Lions: $45.69MM
- San Francisco 49ers: $44.26MM
- Tennessee Titans: $44.08MM
- New York Giants: $43.38MM
- Green Bay Packers: $42.14MM
- Los Angeles Rams: $38.33MM
- Denver Broncos: $34.78MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $32.27MM
- Indianapolis Colts: $28.25MM
- Carolina Panthers: $20.33MM
- Philadelphia Eagles: $18.08MM
- New York Jets: $16.86MM
- Baltimore Ravens: $5.96MM
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $2.24MM
- Houston Texans: $99K over the cap
- Kansas City Chiefs: $916K over
- Dallas Cowboys: $2.85MM over
- Miami Dolphins: $5.44MM over
- Atlanta Falcons: $11.15MM over
- Seattle Seahawks: $13.46MM over
- Buffalo Bills: $14.18MM over
- Cleveland Browns: $30.17MM over
- New Orleans Saints: $54.11MM over
These figures will of course change based on where the final cap ceiling winds up for the year, but they take into 
account each team’s carryover amount for 2025. Even with those savings in play, more than one quarter of the league finds itself in need of cost-shedding moves to simply achieve cap compliance by mid-March.
With the Patriots leading the way in terms of spending power, they will be a team to watch closely once free agency begins. The team’s willingness (or lack thereof) to make major free agent additions last year was a talking point, and it will be interesting to see if the regime featuring de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and new head coach Mike Vrabel takes a different approach in 2025. A serious push for Tee Higgins – by far the most sought-after wideout set to hit the market – can be expected.
Aside from Higgins, the Bengals have a number of financial priorities. Working out a monster extension for fellow receiver Ja’Marr Chase and a new deal (and accompanying raise) for edge rusher Trey Hendrickson are key goals for the franchise. Quarterback Joe Burrow is prepared to restructure his own pact to create cap space for this offseason, but the team will no doubt need to break with tradition in terms of contract structure and guarantees to keep its core intact.
The Colts’ offseason has been defined in large part by a focus on retaining in-house players during recent years. That approach has not paid off as hoped, and general manager Chris Ballard said last month he plans to oversee a shift in roster-building philosophy this year. With the finances to make at least a modest addition or two on the open market, Indianapolis could be a suitor for some of the middle-class free agent options.
Over the coming weeks, many teams will proceed with extensions and restructures to free up cap space; the Seahawks recently took the latter route with defensive lineman Leonard Williams. Teams like the Steelers (in the case of edge rusher Preston Smith) and Dolphins (with running back Raheem Mostert as well as corner Kendall Fuller and tight end Durham Smythe) have already begin cutting veterans to free up cap space. That will increasingly continue in the near future with respect to the teams currently slated to be over the cap in particular.
Plays of the Year: Cam Heyward passes James Harrison for second-most sacks in Steelers history
Steel City Underground will pick an exceptional play of the game as a highlight each week of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 NFL regular season. Stay tuned as we hand-select the very best from the Black and Gold!
The 2-0 Pittsburgh Steelers would open their home schedule of the 2024 NFL regular season by hosting the 2-0 Los Angeles Chargers in a Week 3 matchup of evenly matched teams who focused on strong run games and stout defenses.
The Steelers would start to pull away in the fourth quarter of the game. Following a big play from QB Justin Fields to WR Calvin Austin that put Pittsburgh up 20-10, the Steelers’ defense would take the field.
Chargers backup QB Taylor Heinicke, who entered the game in the second half for injured starter Justin Herbert, started to feel the pressure from his opponents. Heinicke would be backed up to his own 26-yard-line following a sack by Steelers LB Nick Herbig. This set the stage for a 3rd-and-16, where long-time Steelers defensive captain Cameron Heyward would swoop in for a sack, forcing a three-and-out by LA’s offense.
Captain Cam gets to the QB
@CamHeyward
Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/COxKRnr6Mc pic.twitter.com/dbpr8mWyWg
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 22, 2024
The solo sack would be a special moment for Heyward, as he surpassed Steelers legend James Harrison for the franchise’s second-most sacks all-time.
Cam Heyward (81.5) surpassed James Harrison (80.5) for 2nd most sacks in #SteelersHistory. pic.twitter.com/uxo7ZANTN0
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 22, 2024
The Steelers would close out the game with a 20-10 win, improving to 3-0 for the season.
Plays of the Year: Cam Heyward passes James Harrison for second-most sacks in Steelers history appeared first on Steel City Underground.
Steelers Release Edge Rusher Preston Smith
The Steelers have released veteran outside linebacker Preston Smith, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, clearing $13.4MM in 2025 cap space and $14.1MM in 2026. Pittsburgh will not have to account for any dead money from the move since they acquired Smith at the trade deadline in 2024. He had no guaranteed money left on his deal, and the Packers were already responsible for the remaining prorations of his signing bonus. 
It was reported just over two weeks ago that the team was expected to release the veteran pass rusher. Smith played in eight games, registering just two sacks and two quarterback hits, but he was not active for Pittsburgh’s playoff elimination in Baltimore. Joining a group of outside linebackers that already included the likes of T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig, Smith didn’t end up contributing much as a trade acquisition.
The Steelers had Smith working on a four-year, $52.5MM contract, the deal Green Bay awarded him in 2022 upon moving on from Za’Darius Smith. Staying in Green Bay for five and a half seasons, Preston Smith racked up 44.0 sacks with the team. This included four seasons with at least eight sacks; a 12.0-sack 2019 — when the Packers returned to the NFC championship game — headlined this successful stay. As the Packers wanted to free up more playing time for Lukas Van Ness, they moved on from Smith for a mere seventh-round pick.
Smith, 32, had requested a trade months after the Packers had shifted to a 4-3 scheme. Smith had played in 3-4 looks in Washington and during his first five seasons in Green Bay. While he slid into a second-string role in Pittsburgh’s long-held alignment (after starting nine games with the Packers last season), no major impact occurred to justify the Steelers signing off on a $12MM 2025 salary. While the Steelers could have tried to dangle Smith in trades, his seventh-round trade value midseason probably didn’t improve with his lack of a role in Pittsburgh.
As a free agent, Smith likely won’t fetch a contract similar to what he recently held, but as an experienced veteran, he’s likely to get some looks. As he approaches retiring age, Smith may consider how close a team is to contending for a Lombardi Trophy. Otherwise, he may search exclusively for a 3-4 scheme in which he can once again thrive.
Russell Wilson ‘Focused On The Steelers,’ Fields Re-Signing Still Possible
The Steelers acquired Russell Wilson and Justin Fields last offseason in the hopes that one would emerge as their franchise quarterback.
Things didn’t work out as planned. A calf injury to Wilson gave Fields the chance to open the regular season as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback. He led the team to a 4-2 record before a resurgent Wilson returned to the field and ripped off seven wins in eight starts. It looked like the offseason strategy had paid off: the Steelers were leading the AFC North and Wilson was publicly stating his desire to stay in Pittsburgh. Then, the Steelers lost their last four regular season games and bowed out in the first round of the playoffs, leaving them with more questions than answers about their future under center.
Wilson has downplayed rumors of a reunion with Pete Carroll in Las Vegas, saying he’s “focused on the Steelers,” per ProFootballTalk’s Josh Alper. The veteran quarterback remains in “ongoing conversations” with the team, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Wilson’s reported tensions with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith are not expected to be enough of an issue to prevent a re-signing, either, per Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show.
Fields, meanwhile, is expected to have a market beyond the Steelers, per Schefter. Pittsburgh is still interested in re-signing him, but he would likely see competition for playing time, either from a rookie or another free agent signing, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
Ultimately, neither player established himself as a clear-cut franchise quarterback in 2024, forcing Pittsburgh to consider all of their options. With the 21st overall pick in the draft, a costly trade would likely be the only way to acquire their top prospect. The Steelers also have enough cap space to offer competitive contracts to Sam Darnold or even Aaron Rodgers, though the latter’s personality could clash with Mike Tomlin.
The Steelers we’re most in love with right now (and why) (2025 edition)
With Valentine’s Day conveniently falling right after the Super Bowl, we thought it would be a good time to revisit one of our favorite annual collaborations: our favorite Steelers!
Below, the SCU team gives their thoughts on their current crushes, often picking players who are crushing it on the field.
Here are our contributor picks for this year’s virtual Valentine’s cards.
Cameron Heyward
The long-time defensive captain Heyward is the longest-tenured player on the team and continues to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.
Following an injury-plagued 2023 season that saw many believing his best days were behind him, the 35-year-old likely jettisoned into the position of the NFL’s top defensive lineman with Rams future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald having retired.
Heyward had eight sacks in 2024. He added a career-high eleven passes defensed, 12 tackles-for-loss, and 20 quarterback hits in a return to Pro Bowl honors.
Heyward is an easy player to get behind as a fan favorite too, epitomizing a blue-collar work ethic that reminds Steelers Nation of the rough and tumble of past great defenders.
Minkah Fitzpatrick
While other players are have a lot to say while heading into the offseason (including DeShon Elliott’s comments about Aaron Rodgers) the mild-mannered and quiet Fitzpatrick is a breath of fresh air.
Fitzpatrick was named to his fifth Pro Bowl this season, fourth with the Steelers. He could be seen paling around with other NFL superstars, many of whom were casually dressed in shorts, gold chains, and Oakley sunglasses, completing the attraction with one of our favorite players. (Seeing Fitzpatrick roam the sideline with their helmet visors as part of his game day look has only added to his appeal over the years.)
Fitzpatrick ended his 2024 campaign with with an interception, forced fumble, and four passes defensed while ranking third on the team in both combined and solo tackles. His numbers may have appeared to be down, but his intimidating demeanor to change a game at any moment is why opposing offenses avoided him as much as possible throughout the season.
Beanie Bishop
Rarely do undrafted rookie free agents find themselves not only sticking on an NFL roster but endearing themselves to the fanbase of the team they’re playing for so quickly, yet that is exactly what Bishop did in 2024. Bishop joined fellow former-UDFA Jaylen Warren as the two fan-favorite players in recent years for Pittsburgh on the roster and earned his “Beanie Baby” nickname after intercepting Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets, twice, in Week 7 on Sunday Night Football – both takeaways set up Steelers touchdowns as they cruised to a 37-15 win.
In Week 8, Bishop grabbed a game-ending interception against New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones. Pittsburgh won, 26-18. The NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for October 2024 went on to add another interception when he stole a pass from Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17.
Bishop finalized his season with seven pass defenses, a fumble recovery, 0.5 sacks, 45 total tackles, two tackles for a loss, and one QB hit in 17 regular season games (six starts). Bishop’s contributions helped the Steelers defense in creating a favorable, positive turnover margin for the majority of the 2024 season.
Chris Boswell
Always a fan favorite, Boswell’s popularity grew by leaps and bounds during the 2024 season, which saw to separate games where the Steelers kicker nailed six field goals each for victories.
Going back-and-forth with Ravens kicker Justin Tucker as one of the best not only in the league, but league history, Tucker’s performance fell off this past season allowing Boswell to slide past his counterpart in a number of categories.
This also saw Chris get named to his second Pro Bowl after closing in on David Akers’ single season record of 44 field goals. “The Wizard of Boz” would end the year with 41 field goals, with two misses coming from 50+ yards. He converted all 35 of his extra point attempts and led the NFL in scoring.
Now fans, go out there and get your kicker jerseys! (You know you want to!)
Joey Porter Jr.
Exhibiting the same swagger as his father, and Steelers legend, Joey Porter Sr., Joey Jr. was an instant favorite we all fell in love with during his rookie season.
With a good portion of Steelers Nation also supporters of the Penn State Nittany Lions, Joey’s college team, it was a smooth transition. However, he still had big shoes to fill in many ways: not only holding up to his namesake, but also filling a lockdown corner role which had been absent with departure of veteran Joe Haden.
Joey has lived up to the billing, even if his swagger does see some penalty flags fly from time to time. Despite that, he has made all of us, including his dad, proud. (What’s not to love about that?)
The Steelers we’re most in love with right now (and why) (2025 edition) appeared first on Steel City Underground.
Aaron Rodgers is not the answer for the Steelers
We’re officially into the offseason as the NFL rumors start to swirl roughly one month away from the beginning of the free agency period. The Pittsburgh Steelers and their starting quarterback for the next season are an ongoing topic each offseason. The yearly topic surfaces as the Steelers enter the offseason with questions as the position for a fourth-consecutive year following the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger after the 2021 season.
Last offseason the Steelers were embroiled in finding Big Ben’s eventual heir after moving on from all three of the 2023 seasons’ starting quarterbacks: Mitchell Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, and Mason Rudolph. They were replaced with Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kyle Allen, none of whom are under contract as the new league year approaches next month.
That means the Steelers are again at the center of quarterback speculation, this time linked to future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. While some fans and sportsbooks place the Steelers as favorites to land the veteran QB, many in Pittsburgh—including team members—seem uninterested in the idea.
Steelers safety DeShon Elliott made waves when he publicly dismissed the possibility of Rodgers joining the team. In a now-deleted post on Instagram, Elliott responded to rumors about the Steelers acquiring Rodgers with a blunt statement:
https://www.twitter.com/NFL_DovKleiman/status/1889472919920619802
Elliott’s comment reflects a sentiment shared by man in Steelers Nation, including those here at SCU: Rodgers isn’t the answer for Pittsburgh’s quarterback problems.
Rodgers isn’t the future
One of those problems is the Steelers failure to win a postseason game since the conclusion of the 2016 season. Russell Wilson came to town with a promise to turn that tide. While at 36 years of age, Wilson isn’t a long-term solution but taking on a 41-year-old quarterback is a bigger risk. Rodgers appeared in every game for the Jets this season, but famously played four snaps in his first year with the team before going on season-ending injured reserve in 2023.
Now pair that risk with whatever Rodgers’ contract demands could be and a bad situation could potentially come worse.
Most expect Rodgers to be released from the third year of his current three-year $112.5 million contract, which had $75 million of it guaranteed. Running some totals, Rodgers could be in a similar “bargain” situation as Wilson, who signed for near the league’s minimum, depending on his contract language.
If that isn’t the case, then Rodgers becomes a higher-dollar gamble with question marks as to his durability and longevity as his career comes to a close.
Drama
Steelers fans are not in the mood for distractions: something Aaron Rodgers seems to bring with him on a weekly basis.
Rodgers famously headlined numerous spats with his previous organization, the Green Bay Packers, before getting traded to the New York Jets. Among those famous storylines were talks about public health, teammates, and even several days in a dark chamber to decide his future.
At a time when Steelers management is prioritizing long-term success, distractions like the quarterback speculation can take attention away from pressing football matters.
Drama was already a debate with Roethlisberger during the twilight of his career. Big Ben sparked several changes within the organization, including a feud that saw Antonio Brown traded and Todd Haley fired and replaced with Roethlisberger friend Randy Fichtner.
Elliott’s remarks has sparked debates about how Rodgers would be received in the Steelers’ locker room. With a roster built around younger talent, adding a veteran like Rodgers could create similar issues, especially with strong personalities like Elliott voicing concerns.
Breaking: The Jets have informed Aaron Rodgers that the team will be moving in a different direction at quarterback. pic.twitter.com/vDOAFjOTp9
— ESPN (@espn) February 13, 2025
Rodgers’ future remains uncertain
The New York Jets have informed Rodgers that they are moving on from him, leaving him without a team for 2025.
Rodgers, is expected to be released soon, but it remains unclear where he will land. While the Steelers have popped up as odds-on favorites, and the QB has publicly flirted with playing for head coach Mike Tomlin, other teams such as the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans have been linked to the veteran quarterback.
There’s also a chance he doesn’t play at all in 2025, as Rodgers himself has not ruled out retirement too.
What’s Next for the Steelers?
For now, Pittsburgh does not appear interested in Rodgers, but the Steelers have a history of keeping all options open. Perhaps if Rodgers significantly lowers his contract demands, or if the team has serious concerns about re-signing Wilson or Fields, they may reconsider.
However, based on Elliott’s comments and the team’s current stance, Rodgers in Pittsburgh seems unlikely.
Aaron Rodgers is not the answer for the Steelers appeared first on Steel City Underground.
What positions will the Steelers prioritize in the 2025 NFL Draft?
As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for the 2025 NFL Draft, their strategy is beginning to take shape. With a mix of immediate needs and long-term goals, the team is expected to focus on key positions to strengthen their roster. Here’s a breakdown of the Steelers’ potential draft strategy for 2025.
Strengthening the lines
The offensive and defensive lines remain a top priority for the Steelers heading into the offseason. In recent years, the team has faced challenges with consistency in the trenches, making the 2025 draft a crucial opportunity to address this issue.
On offense, two starters (left tackle Dan Moore Jr. and right guard James Daniels, who finished the season on injured reserve) are scheduled to become free agents.
After targeting offensive tackle with their first-round picks in the last two drafts (Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu) the team could look at adding another guard as a priority, or a tackle if they feel Jones or Fautanu aren’t the answers. Regardless, they will likely look elsewhere to add depth with Moore all but certain to be leaving.
While the NFL is about balancing offense and defense, the most accurate NFL predictions have shown that, more often than not, users who back the team with the stronger offense tend to fare better. Adding a dominant lineman would not only improve pass protection but also create more opportunities for the running game, a cornerstone of getting back to the Steelers offensive identity of previous years.
Pairing young blood with veterans Cameron Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi could prove to be crucial in patterning their defensive success in schemes similar to how the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Adding dynamic wide receivers
The Steelers have a storied history with explosive wide receivers, and 2025 could see them add another playmaker to their roster. This is especially true after pursuing, but failing to pair another big play receiver with George Pickens in 2024.
Several receivers on the current depth chart are not expected to return, leaving one of the weaker receiver rooms in the NFL at a greater deficit. While Pickens should rejoin Calvin Austin, the only other receiver under contract will be Roman Wilson – a rookie who saw no substantial playing time after battling injuries all season.
With the need for a true number one option, Pittsburgh may look to draft a game-changing pass-catcher. A young, talented receiver paired with their quarterback of the future could elevate the Steelers’ offense to new heights. Whether it’s a deep threat or a reliable possession receiver, adding a dynamic wideout would provide a significant boost to their passing game.
Evaluating the quarterback position
The quarterback position is always a focal point for any team, and the Steelers are no exception. After moving on from all three of their quarterbacks last offseason (Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph) Pittsburgh could wipe the slate clean once again as none of their three replacements (Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kyle Allen) were under one-year deals that are expiring next month.
The 2025 draft could present an opportunity to secure a high-upside quarterback prospect. While it may be difficult to secure a franchise signal caller with the 21st overall pick, the team could opt to bring back Wilson or Fields while developing a middle round selection.
Regardless, the quarterback position will be a key area of focus as they plan for the future.
Bolstering the secondary
The Steelers’ defense has long been a strength, but the secondary could use some reinforcements. With the NFL becoming increasingly pass-heavy, having a reliable group of cornerbacks and safeties is essential.
Minkah Fitzpatrick and Joey Porter Jr. are credible, high profile players. Safety DeShon Elliott proved to be a solid addition in free agency last season too. However, cornerback Donte Jackson, acquired from a trade with Carolina, is scheduled to be a free agent and unlikely to return.
The team also rolled with embattled veteran Cameron Sutton and undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop at slot corner, a position that was the most glaring eyesore other than wide receiver depth.
The team could target a cornerback with strong coverage skills and the ability to contribute immediately. A young, athletic secondary would help the team compete against the league’s top passing attacks, similar to Eagles winning with rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean as boundary and slot corners respectively.
Conclusion
Drafting a versatile player from the best available would be a valuable addition. This approach aligns with the Steelers’ philosophy of building a well-rounded roster that excels in all phases of the game.
The Steelers’ 2025 draft strategy will likely focus on addressing key needs while also planning for the future. By targeting linemen, playmaking wide receivers, and a potential franchise quarterback, the team can build a strong foundation for sustained success.
As the draft approaches, the Steelers’ front office will have tough decisions to make. However, with a clear strategy and a focus on versatility, the team is well-positioned to make the most of their draft capital and continue their tradition of excellence. Steelers fans can look forward to an exciting draft that could shape the future of the franchise.
What positions will the Steelers prioritize in the 2025 NFL Draft? appeared first on Steel City Underground.