The Steelers plan moving forward is clear, and now they have to stick to it
If you’ve been listening to my podcasts for any duration of time over the past month of the new NFL league year, you know how nothing has made sense to me with the moves that have been made.
The compensatory formula, which went from theory to reality when Omar Khan said just that in Florida last week, has always been on the forefront, but other moves which were made just didn’t make sense. With the focus on 2026, it seemed as if 2025 was nothing more than a year which was a set up for 2026.
For the Pittsburgh Pirates fans out there, dare I say “bridge year”?
The Steelers signed several players this offseason to one-year contracts, and, again, at first it didn’t make much sense to me as to why they would make these moves. Why would they sign Darius Slay at age 34 to a one-year deal? Why would they do the same with players like Juan Thornill and even Isaiahh Loudermilk.
The answer can be found in the grand plan which seems to be coming into focus.
You build up your draft capital via compensatory draft picks so you can move up in the 2026 NFL Draft, if you want to go get a quarterback you feel is the future at the position. Likewise, the one-year contracts will be off the books in 2026, meaning you’ll get all the salary cap space back without any dead money left on the books.
It’s starting to make sense, but that isn’t the main crux of my concern. The concern is can the Steelers stick to the plan?
Clearly the aforementioned criteria would suggest planning on making a bold move, or moves, in 2026, via the draft and free agency, to help build a championship roster. But will they stick to those guns in the 2025 NFL Draft? What could go wrong?
What could go wrong is if the Steelers go against common thought and take a quarterback at pick No. 21. Doing so would make all the moves and transactions which have been carefully procured this offseason a moot point. I’m not suggesting a Jaxson Dart or Jalen Milroe couldn’t become quality NFL starters, but at this juncture it would seem they are more projects than proven commodities. You’d be taking a gamble with your top pick in the draft, a pick which could go towards drafting a player, like a defensive lineman, who could provide an unbelievable amount of value for not just 2025, and beyond.
The detractors to this sentiment would suggest a quarterback could also provide value in 2025 and beyond, but it would certainly have people like me questioning the entire premise which was built around the moves made this offseason.
Why collect compensatory draft picks if you are going to take a quarterback in the 1st Round of the 2025 draft?
I’d like to make it known I’m fine with the Steelers drafting a quarterback during this year’s NFL Draft, just not at pick No. 21. To me, the Steelers taking a Day 3 flier on a quarterback like Quinn Ewers or Tyler Shough would be a fine selection. The team needs a longer term back-up as much as they need a starting quarterback.
The plan is in place, but will the Steelers be able to execute said plan? That’s the ultimate question on the table heading into the draft in just a few short weeks. If Omar Khan, Andy Weidl and Mike Tomlin avoid the draft day blunder, the plan will be in place for the team to still be competitive in 2025, but they’ll have the proverbial ammunition at the ready to move up in the 2026 draft if they see a prospect worth moving up to select.
Never in this article did I suggest the plan was fool-proof, but it is at least a plan. When I lay it out for myself, it at least gives me a reason for the decisions which have been made. The wheels have been put in motion, now it’s time to continue the execution when the draft begins.
To hear the latest “Let’s Ride” podcast with Chris Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette talking about this very subject, check out the player below:
I much prefer this plan to taking any QB that’s likely to be available to us at #21. IMO, the only 2 QBs in this draft that aren’t a reach in the first round are Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. No way Ward falls to us. And Sanders being worth a first round pick is debatable to me, because of the accompanying circus he most likely brings with him. Is he going to be good enough to be worth all that?
If this plan works, mainly the compensatory pick collection, it will be a genius move. Of course, execution of the plan is key, but it would answer the question everyone always has around the Steelers finding their next QB.
How are you going to draft high enough to get that QB?
Well, we garner a ton of picks and package them together to move up. We don’t have to suck to get the QB we desire.
I’m not even looking at the 2026 QB crop yet, but I can’t imagine it is worse than 2025…only 2022 was worse IMO.
It’s not likely, but what if Sanders falls to 21? I think he’s a punk, and I don’t want him or the circus that comes with him but he might actually be a value at 21. Khan would be free to move around for other key positions in 26. You’re always better off when you don’t need a QB.
If Sanders is the QB of the future, I’d be fine with the pick. I just am not sold on him as that type of QB, so I’d pass even if he’s available. Solidify the other positions of need.
My problem with Sanders is he’s going to have to be exceptional to be worth all the side drama.
He’s looked good at times, but he hasn’t been dominant enough to make me certain he will be worth the hassle.
Not for nothing but Shadeur Sanders displayed zero drama at Colorado. Might Deion be a tool bag on behalf of his son somehow? Maybe. I don’t know if that maybe is a good enough reason to shy away from a player that they like, though. Just my 2 cents
A trade up doesn’t have to be just for a QB so drafting one this year doesn’t mean that they aren’t sticking to the plan, They can trade up next year for a stud DL or WR or something else. I guess my point is that if they have a guy at 21 that they, in their hearts, think is the QB of the future, then go ahead and take him and use the picks next year for something else.
To me, it seems counter-intuitive to pass up on a QB that the team really likes this year in the hopes of getting a better one next year.
When the Steelers signed Mason Rudolph, I was hoping he might be the bridge quarterback, and that his performance might set him up to be the veteran backup to a top pick in 2026, much like Charlie Batch was for the first half of Ben Roethlisberger’s playing career. Aaron Rodgers being here for a year doesn’t have to change that long term plan. Mason’s a solid QB, a great team guy and, ask Charlie, I’m talking about a pretty nice gig. I’d prefer that to a mid-round choice this year leading to passing up a better opportunity in next year’s draft or a QB room built around two guys who haven’t played.
Pointed this out in another post a while back. The Steelers have drafted seven quarterbacks in the first round. The two drafted late in the round, Mark Malone and Kenny Pickett, are what they are. But when Ben is elected in Canton, four of five drafted in the top half of the round will have made the hall. Ted Marchibroda (#5 in 1953) did not.
Bradshaw (#1 in 1970) and Roethlisberger (#11 in 2004) are easy. The other two?
Bobby Layne (#3 in 1948) and Len Dawson (#5 in 1957). The Steelers were famous back then for not hanging onto good quarterbacks; they also had John Unitas, Jack Kemp and Earl Morrall during that stretch and didn’t hang onto any of them, though Layne returned late in his career when the Steelers traded Morrall to the Lions for him.
My point is that there are never guarantees with young quarterbacks or first round draft picks, but I’d pass on another era of looking for diamonds in the rough among middling draft picks, reaches and retreads. I’d tolerate a bridge year in the plan (even if denying it publicly) and point toward a high pick in the richer 2026 draft. The Steelers don’t need to draft a backup; they already have a very good one. They need to take careful aim on the next franchise guy, commit to him and support him when he gets here.
I like the way you’re thinking and putting this idea together here Ernie!
I am not even sure that the comp picks are part of getting a QB, it is just about being in the best position. As to the one-year deals look around the league. The only guys getting long deals are guys staying with their teams. The CAP is such that the best guys aren’t even hitting the market now they just resign and get paid at home. Buffalo signed Bosa for 1-year $12.6M deal but extend Rousseau on a 4-year $80M deal. That seems to be the new norm. The Steelers are doing just that.
Maybe they will use all that capital to work for a 2026 QB or maybe they will just keep building the nest for when it is time right for a QB.
I know we all want the QB situation to be solved but it will likely take time.
Of course, the difference being that the Pirates “bridge year” is far closer to “bridge decade PLUS”.
It certainly does appear that something like this is exactly what they are laying plans for. Part of me is like, “Hmmmm, okay, I can live with that…” Another part is far more averse to it. Even though I would understand the thinking. It would be the only way — short of sucking — to get up high enough to get a guy at QB that MIGHT be “the guy” moving forward!
When it comes to the Pirates, I tend to think “bridge year” means the year the most die-hard fans take a leap off the Clemente Bridge. Because that team’s going nowhere unless and until MLB implements a Salary Cap (and floor) and/or Bob Nutting sells it.
I keep hoping the other owners will make him sell, but that would mean they’d lose their top farm team, sooo why would they do that….F. U. Bob Nutting.
MLB economics and NFL economics are far different.
Well, any plan at this point is better than the “let’s draft pretty well, sign a few vets, and go for it, boys” plan that we’ve been watching since Jacksonville stole our lunch money over seven years ago. The status quo is not going to push this team into the elite club of AFC teams, so Khan, et al., need to work smarter, not harder.