Two weeks into free company, the Pittsburgh Steelers nonetheless don’t have a beginning quarterback (until you consider they need Mason Rudolph to start out). Given this and the dearth of massive names the Steelers have signed in free company to this point, it’s truthful to label this free company as disappointing. Garrett Podell of CBS Sports activities went additional, calling them free-agent losers.
“The one quarterbacks at the moment on the Steelers’ roster are Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson,” wrote Podell. “That’s positively a strategy to have each Metcalf and George Pickens upset when the season begins. Pittsburgh continues to be probably awaiting the results of the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes, one thing seven-time Professional Bowl defensive sort out Cameron Heyward is shedding his tolerance and persistence with the longer it drags on. There’s a superb probability they will nonetheless land Russell Wilson if Rodgers falls by means of, nevertheless it was clear in 2024 that there’s a ceiling on the offense with Wilson on the controls.”
Pittsburgh’s splash at broad receiver by buying and selling for DK Metcalf entails a long-term imaginative and prescient, as they signed him to a five-year extension. Nevertheless, the dearth of a high quality quarterback signed to throw Metcalf the ball is regarding. The Steelers ought to wish to maximize their window with Metcalf. With WR George Pickens solely beneath contract for yet another season, Pittsburgh’s elite broad receiver duo could not have a lot time to play collectively if Pickens isn’t re-signed.
Whereas Pittsburgh has been attempting and failing to reply its quarterback place, they’ve didn’t adequately tackle different positions of want. The Steelers’ failure to signal a starting-caliber quarterback has induced a domino impact, resulting in a really mediocre line of defense group and an offensive line with little depth. The quarterback place stays the most important query mark for Pittsburgh. However even when they signal Rodgers, the free agent market now not gives many interesting choices.
The Steelers must fill out lots of their wants within the draft. This 12 months’s draft gives expertise at positions of want, nevertheless it requires Pittsburgh to hit on them. If the Steelers had re-signed Fields earlier than free company began or early on, they may have addressed their wants with out requiring rookies to turn into Yr One contributors. However now, early-round rookie draft picks should contribute extensively in Yr One for Pittsburgh. Now, the Steelers are their second choice in Rodgers, who’s in no rush to decide, whereas different free-agent quarterbacks signal with different groups.