Blown Deals, Blowing it all up or Complete Chaos?

[Lonbull]

If this weren't the Pittsburgh Steelers AND we hadn't signed DK Metcalf - I would say we're a TJ Watt trade away from nearly a full rebuild (aka Blowing it all up).

As a reminder Omar Khan took over in 2021 - the Pickens Draft - My bad, he took over after the Draft (thanks for the reminder gents).

So I'm writing this out as a timeline as I saw it.

March 12th - We TRADE for DK Metcalf
(at this point I'm fairly certain we'll keep Russell Wilson, be more competitive with better weapons, Draft a QB).

March 13th - Jets signed Justin Fields
(1st Blown Deal? Did we actually, maybe expect Fields to be benched in 2024 and stay in Pittsburgh? Maybe as the Starter?? Probably not - but I'm listing him as the first possible blown deal).

March 13th - Resign Mason Rudolph
(usually the back-up has similar qualities to the starter -- seems an odd back up to Russell Wilson - but maybe NOT to Cousins / Rodgers).

March 13th - Jets cut Aaron Rodgers
(2nd Blown Deal? Did the Steelers think they could land Rodgers and/or keep Wilson waiting -- or were the Steelers All-in on Rodgers from the beginning?)

March 17th - Davonte Adams signs with Rams
(3rd Blown Deal? Okay maybe not - but if you "want" Rodgers and Adams is available for a two year deal, AND you plan on trading Pickens - what happened here?)

March 17th - Kirk Cousins NOT cut by the Falcons
(The Falcons were in a similar position as the Broncos in 2024 with Russell Wilson - was Cousins the hope/target all along for a one year deal?)

March 21st - Aaron Rodgers visits Steelers

March 25th - Russell Wilson signs with the Giants
(4th Blown Deal - Was Wilson the back-up plan, on the other hand MAYBE Russell Wilson changed his mind even after we signed DK -- or did he not really fit in the Burg? But then WHY trade for DK Metcalf or Why not sign Wilson immediately??)

April 28th - NFL Draft - we draft zero WR's and a QB late.

May 7th - Trade George Pickens (for less than we got for DK Metcalf).

May 8th - as I'm writing this - Aaron Rodgers has still not signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

I've read we're in Trade talks with the Jets about Allen Lazard -- which to me is Rodgers holding us hostage already -- which is why I didn't wnat Rodgers to be in play at all.

From my perspective - I would have preferred the Steelers keep Russell Wilson for another run than taking flyers on Head-Case Rodgers and Kirk Cousins. However I'll trust the Steelers that (for whatever reason) Wilson wasn't what they were looking for or he should have been immediately re-signed and retired in Pittsburgh.

In conclusion - Omar Khan has shown himself to be a gambler and sometimes when you gamble big, you lose!

There's also a chance that the plan all along this year is to.....for lack of a better word "Tank" ....or Blow it all Up!

I'm definitely not a Cap Guy - but if TJ Watt is on the last year of his contract - and you're blowing it all up -- I wouldn't be surprised to see the Steelers trade him - maybe that's the reason for the OLB Depth in Captain Jack?

The 2025 season could resemble the 2003 Tommy Maddox 6-10 season --- Mason Rudolph is the "Tommy Maddox", and the Steelers have rolled the dice on Will Howard (who we ALL hope will be much better than Brian St. Pierre....there's a name I didn't think I'd write about again).

I'd love to see Cam Heyward and TJ Watt have a well deserved shot at a Championship -- but if the Rodgers plan fails (which would just be Rodgers being "Rodgers") and Cousins doesn't become available. Then unfortunately the Smart / Bold move would be to do what the Texans and Dolphins have done and trade your assets for draft picks - and a complete rebuild.

L.B.

[LPMAN]

Maybe we are tanking for a high QB draft pick next year? Going 10-7 every season surely isn't improving this team one bit.

[NorthCoast]

Sounds like the Steelers could easily have gotten a 2nd round pick for Pickens.... LOL:



The Steelers were fortunate they found an owner that suffers from dementia and talked him into giving up a 3rd rounder for Pickens.

I dunno, is that preying on the elderly?

[Oviedo]

Sounds like the Steelers could easily have gotten a 2nd round pick for Pickens.... LOL:



The Steelers were fortunate they found an owner that suffers from dementia and talked him into giving up a 3rd rounder for Pickens.

I dunno, is that preying on the elderly?

Anyone who thinks that someone was going to give a 2d Round pick for a WR with an attitude problem, who has never made a Pro Bowl, has 12 TDs in three seasons is a stupid as the Chicago Bears GM who gave up a 2d round pick for Claypool.

[Chucktownsteeler]

The Pickens draft was on Colbert.

[The Standard]

They don't want to admit they need to rebuild, and they act like they are contenders when everyone in the world knows they are not.

Or put more succinctly, it's a cluster ****.

This season will most likely not end well. Which may be good in the long term.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Good post overall. I agree and disagree with a few of your points here. My thoughts in red

If this weren't the Pittsburgh Steelers AND we hadn't signed DK Metcalf - I would say we're a TJ Watt trade away from nearly a full rebuild (aka Blowing it all up).

As a reminder Omar Khan took over in 2021 - the Pickens Draft. Khan took over in '22, but after the draft. This draft was Colbert's and he called Pickett his parting gift.

So I'm writing this out as a timeline as I saw it.

March 12th - We TRADE for DK Metcalf
(at this point I'm fairly certain we'll keep Russell Wilson, be more competitive with better weapons, Draft a QB).

March 13th - Jets signed Justin Fields
(1st Blown Deal? Did we actually, maybe expect Fields to be benched in 2024 and stay in Pittsburgh? Maybe as the Starter?? Probably not - but I'm listing him as the first possible blown deal). I agree. I think the team wanted him back but underestimated his demand and value on the market. I also agree that while he didn't complain about being benched he wasn't going to run back.

March 13th - Resign Mason Rudolph
(usually the back-up has similar qualities to the starter -- seems an odd back up to Russell Wilson - but maybe NOT to Cousins / Rodgers). Rudolph is a typical Colbert era signing. A guy on the cheap who earns backup money, but could also be pressed into being a starter. Only more interesting because of his history in Pittsburgh.

March 13th - Jets cut Aaron Rodgers
(2nd Blown Deal? Did the Steelers think they could land Rodgers and/or keep Wilson waiting -- or were the Steelers All-in on Rodgers from the beginning?) I don't think this is a miss or really anything. He was cut and they made contact. After that it's on its own timeline. In what seems to be a very Khan approach, he makes his pitch and it is either accepted or not. He does not chase.

March 17th - Davonte Adams signs with Rams
(3rd Blown Deal? Okay maybe not - but if you "want" Rodgers and Adams is available for a two year deal, AND you plan on trading Pickens - what happened here?) To me this is a non-story. The Steelers are not going out and spending money and hoping that Rodgers will then sign. If that signing (or a similar move) happens then I think it is done with all understandings already in place.

March 17th - Kirk Cousins NOT cut by the Falcons
(The Falcons were in a similar position as the Broncos in 2024 with Russell Wilson - was Cousins the hope/target all along for a one year deal?) I truly hope the entire Steeler plan is not hope that a broken down QB may come available. Cousins hasn't had a decent year since '22 and a good year since '21.

March 21st - Aaron Rodgers visits Steelers

March 25th - Russell Wilson signs with the Giants
(4th Blown Deal - Was Wilson the back-up plan, on the other hand MAYBE Russell Wilson changed his mind even after we signed DK -- or did he not really fit in the Burg? But then WHY trade for DK Metcalf or Why not sign Wilson immediately??) Everything looked like the Steelers had no interest in Wilson returning.

April 28th - NFL Draft - we draft zero WR's and a QB late.

May 7th - Trade George Pickens (for less than we got for DK Metcalf). Irrelevant the costs between the two, they are two different people. I think the one thing that we can all agree on is that if the Steelers went out to get Metcalf and pay him a lot of money, and I think we can all agree that the Steelers were never going to pay both the big bucks, then the Steelers value Metcalf above Pickens and would therefore be willing to pay more.

May 8th - as I'm writing this - Aaron Rodgers has still not signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

I've read we're in Trade talks with the Jets about Allen Lazard -- which to me is Rodgers holding us hostage already -- which is why I didn't wnat Rodgers to be in play at all. Disagree with any idea that Rodgers is holding the team hostage. Either a deal is already done and not announced or it isn't. If the deal is done then no big deal, it's already done and the team is getting his input on his experience with potential WR2 candidates. If a Rodgers deal isn't done then the Steelers can easily walk away. As we have seen in deals with SF/Aiyuk and Tyler Boyd etc is that the team doesn't get pushed. If anything they set their line in the sand and refuse to cross.

From my perspective - I would have preferred the Steelers keep Russell Wilson for another run than taking flyers on Head-Case Rodgers and Kirk Cousins. However I'll trust the Steelers that (for whatever reason) Wilson wasn't what they were looking for or he should have been immediately re-signed and retired in Pittsburgh. I would have been fine with Wilson but there was something there for sure that soured the Steelers on him. Much like the Pickens situation, I think we only know a fraction of the stories.

In conclusion - Omar Khan has shown himself to be a gambler and sometimes when you gamble big, you lose! I agree, but so far I prefer what I see out of Khan/Weidl that the last years of Colbert. The last couple of drafts has has as much bad luck with lijuries as it's had misses.

There's also a chance that the plan all along this year is to.....for lack of a better word "Tank" ....or Blow it all Up!

I'm definitely not a Cap Guy - but if TJ Watt is on the last year of his contract - and you're blowing it all up -- I wouldn't be surprised to see the Steelers trade him - maybe that's the reason for the OLB Depth in Captain Jack? This is where I think the Steelers' philosophy of loyalty is often to their disadvantage. Other teams would look to move guys like Heyward and Watt - players who are way past their prime but still young enough to contribute somewhere and bring back a return. They'd prefer not to and will not without the player giving his full blessing to go.

The 2025 season could resemble the 2003 Tommy Maddox 6-10 season --- Mason Rudolph is the "Tommy Maddox", and the Steelers have rolled the dice on Will Howard (who we ALL hope will be much better than Brian St. Pierre....there's a name I didn't think I'd write about again).

I'd love to see Cam Heyward and TJ Watt have a well deserved shot at a Championship -- but if the Rodgers plan fails (which would just be Rodgers being "Rodgers") and Cousins doesn't become available. Then unfortunately the Smart / Bold move would be to do what the Texans and Dolphins have done and trade your assets for draft picks - and a complete rebuild.

L.B.

[NorthCoast]

Good post overall. I agree and disagree with a few of your points here. My thoughts in red

Nice post sfto.

My only added comment regards the draft. While no WRs were drafted the reality is that any WR would have had lesser impact with the team this season than the ones already on the roster. It was a subpar year for WRs, and anyone they would have drafted outside of Rd1 would have ended up as a WR 3/4. The Steelers already have several of those, so again, little impact on the offense.

[Northern_Blitz]

If this weren't the Pittsburgh Steelers AND we hadn't signed DK Metcalf - I would say we're a TJ Watt trade away from nearly a full rebuild (aka Blowing it all up).

As a reminder Omar Khan took over in 2021 - the Pickens Draft.

So I'm writing this out as a timeline as I saw it.

March 12th - We TRADE for DK Metcalf
(at this point I'm fairly certain we'll keep Russell Wilson, be more competitive with better weapons, Draft a QB).

March 13th - Jets signed Justin Fields
(1st Blown Deal? Did we actually, maybe expect Fields to be benched in 2024 and stay in Pittsburgh? Maybe as the Starter?? Probably not - but I'm listing him as the first possible blown deal).

March 13th - Resign Mason Rudolph
(usually the back-up has similar qualities to the starter -- seems an odd back up to Russell Wilson - but maybe NOT to Cousins / Rodgers).

March 13th - Jets cut Aaron Rodgers
(2nd Blown Deal? Did the Steelers think they could land Rodgers and/or keep Wilson waiting -- or were the Steelers All-in on Rodgers from the beginning?)

March 17th - Davonte Adams signs with Rams
(3rd Blown Deal? Okay maybe not - but if you "want" Rodgers and Adams is available for a two year deal, AND you plan on trading Pickens - what happened here?)

March 17th - Kirk Cousins NOT cut by the Falcons
(The Falcons were in a similar position as the Broncos in 2024 with Russell Wilson - was Cousins the hope/target all along for a one year deal?)

March 21st - Aaron Rodgers visits Steelers

March 25th - Russell Wilson signs with the Giants
(4th Blown Deal - Was Wilson the back-up plan, on the other hand MAYBE Russell Wilson changed his mind even after we signed DK -- or did he not really fit in the Burg? But then WHY trade for DK Metcalf or Why not sign Wilson immediately??)

April 28th - NFL Draft - we draft zero WR's and a QB late.

May 7th - Trade George Pickens (for less than we got for DK Metcalf).

May 8th - as I'm writing this - Aaron Rodgers has still not signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

I've read we're in Trade talks with the Jets about Allen Lazard -- which to me is Rodgers holding us hostage already -- which is why I didn't wnat Rodgers to be in play at all.

From my perspective - I would have preferred the Steelers keep Russell Wilson for another run than taking flyers on Head-Case Rodgers and Kirk Cousins. However I'll trust the Steelers that (for whatever reason) Wilson wasn't what they were looking for or he should have been immediately re-signed and retired in Pittsburgh.

In conclusion - Omar Khan has shown himself to be a gambler and sometimes when you gamble big, you lose!

There's also a chance that the plan all along this year is to.....for lack of a better word "Tank" ....or Blow it all Up!

I'm definitely not a Cap Guy - but if TJ Watt is on the last year of his contract - and you're blowing it all up -- I wouldn't be surprised to see the Steelers trade him - maybe that's the reason for the OLB Depth in Captain Jack?

The 2025 season could resemble the 2003 Tommy Maddox 6-10 season --- Mason Rudolph is the "Tommy Maddox", and the Steelers have rolled the dice on Will Howard (who we ALL hope will be much better than Brian St. Pierre....there's a name I didn't think I'd write about again).

I'd love to see Cam Heyward and TJ Watt have a well deserved shot at a Championship -- but if the Rodgers plan fails (which would just be Rodgers being "Rodgers") and Cousins doesn't become available. Then unfortunately the Smart / Bold move would be to do what the Texans and Dolphins have done and trade your assets for draft picks - and a complete rebuild.

L.B.

Nice post...and follow up by TO.

FWIW, I don't think we "missed" the deal with Fields.

I think we wanted him @ a similar AAV that he signed with the Jets.

But the Jets deal is essentially a $30MM / 1 year deal because of the guaranteed money.

If he plays well, he'll get a big extension.

If he doesn't, he gets cut or kind of gets "demoted" so that they're really only paying him the $10MM non guaranteed money in year 2.

This is the option that I wanted because there's still at least some possibility that he can start in the medium term.

But the Steelers hate guaranteed money after year 1.

And IMO, the most surprising thing about this off-season so far are the guarantees they gave to DK. Previously they'd only done that for Ben and All Pro players (Watt and Minkah).

I think the Pickens trade kind of shows that they were just done with him. Talent wise, the best play would be to have him play it out and take the 3rd of 4th round comp pick you got (one year after the picks we'll get from Dallas).

Historically, WRs that we gave up on like this haven't worked out...he says sheepishly after being disappointed last year that we couldn't trade for DJ (only after the first team that gave up on him last year...).

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I think the Pickens trade kind of shows that they were just done with him. Talent wise, the best play would be to have him play it out and take the 3rd of 4th round comp pick you got (one year after the picks we'll get from Dallas).

Realistically, the only question was whether we would see one year of a Metcalf Pickens duo or not. It's not reasonable to believe that the team was paying both long-term, especially without a QB in place. What the Pickens trade told me is that DK was always brought in as the replacement WR1 and the Steelers always planned on moving Pickens once in place. I'm sure they've been desperately working on moving him ever since, not just "taking calls" as was reported.

[WindyCitySteel]

The Pickens draft was on Colbert.

And it was 2022, other that that, OP was spot on.

[feltdizz]

I wanted to trade TJ before the last contract but I knew it wouldn’t happen.

IMO that is too much money for one guy on defense who can easily be neutralized with quick passes.

if we had everything else in place I would consider another contract for Watt but its like Myles Garrett in Cleveland. Nothing will be won with these big contracts if you have a ton of holes on your roster.

[Lonbull]

The Pickens draft was on Colbert.

Appreciate the correction Chucktown - Khan took over shortly after the draft.

[papillon]

I wanted to trade TJ before the last contract but I knew it wouldn’t happen.

IMO that is too much money for one guy on defense who can easily be neutralized with quick passes or a rookie tackle, just sayin.

if we had everything else in place I would consider another contract for Watt but its like Myles Garrett in Cleveland. Nothing will be won with these big contracts if you have a ton of holes on your roster.

10 char
Pappy

[Lonbull]

Maybe we are tanking for a high QB draft pick next year? Going 10-7 every season surely isn't improving this team one bit.

LPMan - this is exactly what I believe the Steelers could be doing -- especially if they try to trade TJ Watt.

What I don't understand is why you'd give up a 2nd round pick for DK Metcalf if your intention is to completely rebuild -- **unless the Steelers really believe that they have the next Jayden Daniels coming up in next year's draft.

OR the Steelers believe after the June 1st cuts they can take advantage of acquiring a few players.....if we're not completely rebuilding it's like Moneyball in the NFL.

L.B.