2025 Offseason

[thedddd]

Well they had yet another good pick! Who knew they would pick properly in the draft so far.

 

[Pure Steel]

Well they had yet another good pick! Who knew they would pick properly in the draft so far.

Solid picks for needs and no Sanders…..not bad so far…..

 

[DJ Fieri]

Harmon was a great pick and should be a stud next to Watt once he is healthy.

Sawyer should be a good fit for Steelers defense.

Johnson gives you another RB to plug and play.

Howard? Compete with Rudolph for the backup spot once AR commits or competes with Rudolph for the starting job?

 

[thedddd]

Howard? Compete with Rudolph for the backup spot once AR commits or competes with Rudolph for the starting job?

The better option would be the later but we all know the organization thinks they can compete with AR. So it will be for the backup position.

 

[thedddd]

Steelers sign first batch of undrafted free agents

After the Steelers completed their draft with seven selections over the weekend, Omar Khan’s front office quickly got to work to sign their initial...

www.post-gazette.com

 

[thedddd]

Steelers Release Ryan Watts; DB's Career Likely Over

After missing his rookie season due to a neck injury, Ryan Watts has been released by the Steelers. His playing days appear to be over.

www.profootballrumors.com

Hopefully he lives a healthy life outside of football.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Steelers signed WR Robert Woods

Not the vet I was hoping for. But I guess he’s still a serviceable blocker

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Some thoughts on the draft picks... if anyone cares

Rd1. DT Harmon... Surprised they made the smart decision here. I'm stoked to have this kid. Hope he can learn a lot from Cam before he retires.

Rd3. RB Johnson... Probably the best fit out of this RB class for the Steelers' outside zone scheme. This kid is a downhill 1 or 2 cut runner. He is not the jitterbug that Najee was, so hopefully we see some better results.

Rd4. DE/EDGE Jack Sawyer... Luxury pick. But hard to fault them for taking a swing on a high character guy like him. He'll likely be a ST ace, but that's his floor. If they can mold him into the current Edge room then he could become a decent contributor.

Rd5. DT Yahya Black... Feels like a Dan McCullers type pick. Big man to fill a void. Hope he can anchor in big packages but I doubt he will see the field very much.

Rd6. QB Will Howard... Honestly this pick brings me the most intrigue from this class. I said before the draft I wouldn't mind if they took a swing on this kid on day 2 or 3. He slid a lot further than I thought he would. I know its hard to get excited about a 6th Rd prospect in a weak QB class, but he's got some upside. At worst, he's just another Mason Rudolph. Capable backup with a big arm.

Rd7. LB Carson Bruener... No surprises here. This staff covets lineage. Very crowded ILB room though so I'm not sure where he fits just yet. Queen, Holcomb, Wilson, Harrison... Likely ends up on the PS.

Rd7. CB Donte Kent... Led the FBS in PBUs, but also almost led the FBS in most explosive plays allowed lol... True wild card here. Has some PR experience so may make his way onto the 53 through ST.

 

[Bridgeburner]

My favorite picks from a value standpoint are the Sawyer and Howard picks. I think Sawyer is an absolute steal. You just can't pass that up in the 4th round. Not sure where he fits in long term but kids got game. Howard, like you said, at worst he's Mason Rudolph. I think he gives that room some stability with him and the reindeer both under contract for two years too. My only concern is that he plays this year and just well enough that the Steelers pass on trying to get their franchise guy next year. I think that's the danger.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

My favorite picks from a value standpoint are the Sawyer and Howard picks. I think Sawyer is an absolute steal. You just can't pass that up in the 4th round. Not sure where he fits in long term but kids got game. Howard, like you said, at worst he's Mason Rudolph. I think he gives that room some stability with him and the reindeer both under contract for two years too. My only concern is that he plays this year and just well enough that the Steelers pass on trying to get their franchise guy next year. I think that's the danger.

I'll say this... If they're ever going to get a locker room culture change, they need more guys like these 2. Guys that have that desire to win & help the team. Not guys that are mostly after accolades & fame.

For far too long they've been plagued by the latter. We're constantly hearing post-game interviews where leaders are calling out the team for not taking things more serious. Practice & pre-game prep are constantly being called out.

 

[Superbelt]

What exactly are the knocks on Will Howard that pushed him down that far?

He won a National Championship, 73% completion, 4000 yards, 35/10 TD/INT. Good mobility, strong arm, can read and dissect opposing defenses.

Are there injury concerns I don't know about? What the hell is there not to like about him? Is it that he only had one year playing this well at this level for OSU after being at Kansas for most of his college career?

 

[Bridgeburner]

Slow release and only really reads half the field.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

What exactly are the knocks on Will Howard that pushed him down that far?

He won a National Championship, 73% completion, 4000 yards, 35/10 TD/INT. Good mobility, strong arm, can read and dissect opposing defenses.

Are there injury concerns I don't know about? What the hell is there not to like about him? Is it that he only had one year playing this well at this level for OSU after being at Kansas for most of his college career?

Point blank... He has accuracy issues.

Pat McAfee was asking a lot of draft pundits this same question... Mixed answers, but most had him pegged as a day 2 pick, that could move up or down depending on his combine & pro day. And he ended up having a terrible combine... Overthrowing a lot of receivers while playing in shorts & not having pressure in his face... Not a good look at all

NFL prospect savaged over 'worst combine performance of all time'

Quarterback Will Howard won the national championship with Ohio State less than two months ago, but he went viral for the wrong reasons over the weekend.

www.dailymail.co.uk

And a lot people compare his years prior to his 5th year when he finally broke out, thanks in large part to transferring to OSU & having a cast full of NFL WRs to help him. Prior years at KSU they believe he was "just ok". KSU is a run-first offense, and he boasted a 140 QB rating on the year & won the Big 12 Championship so I'm not sure what more he could have done to impress people.

Great video here:

 

[Superbelt]

Ok, so he does have some issues. And he was helped by NFL-caliber cast at OSU.... which he will also be helped by in the NFL.

Anyway, so temper expectations for the kid, and if he turns out to be somebody, cool.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Main takeaways from Dulac:

• DL was always the priority in Rd1. RB was plan B. They are all-in on fixing the defense.
• Shadeur Sanders was never high on their radar.
• The team fully expects Aaron Rodgers to sign. They just don't know when. Still a slight chance he decides not to play. In that case their options are extremely limited in signing/acquiring a veteran QB to backup Mason.
• Doesn't seem like the team is interested in keeping GP long term. Could move him closer to the trade deadline in November if they can find a good return.

 

[Superbelt]

Main takeaways from Dulac:

• DL was always the priority in Rd1. RB was plan B. They are all-in on fixing the defense.
• Shadeur Sanders was never high on their radar.
• The team fully expects Aaron Rodgers to sign. They just don't know when. Still a slight chance he decides not to play. In that case their options are extremely limited in signing/acquiring a veteran QB to backup Mason.
• Doesn't seem like the team is interested in keeping GP long term. Could move him closer to the trade deadline in November if they can find a good return.

Hate the bold. Hate taking RB's so high, when you can find lots of good RB's later. It's a waste of a premium pick, so of course they considered taking one in the 1st...