With the NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror, the Steelers have done the bulk of the work to improve the roster for the 2025 season and beyond.
Now that most of the heavy lifting has been done, we can dive into the state of the offense, position by position. Who's in line to start? Who else can/will contribute? Are there any remaining holes to fill? And, most important, has the offense actually been upgraded?
QUARTERBACK
• Starter: Aaron Rodgers (or other veteran acquisition) • Backups: Mason Rudolph, Will Howard
Compared to 2024? TBD.
For the second offseason in a row, the Steelers are having to completely overhaul the quarterback room. And, it's still the only position on this side of the ball with an obvious hole.
The team lost Justin Fields and Russell Wilson in free agency, with Fields being their primary option to be their quarterback in 2025. That didn't pan out as the Jets were willing to pay him more total and guaranteed money. That led the Steelers to immediately pivot to Rodgers during the negotiating window of free agency, which still has not reached a conclusion more than seven weeks later. The team reunited with Rudolph as a safety net to go on this weekslong wait for Rodgers, then added to the room in the NFL Draft by taking Howard in the sixth round, fresh off a national championship with Ohio State.
Despite both Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan being forthright with how much faith they have in Rudolph, the word "starter" has never been spoken in the same sentence with Rudolph. Tomlin, Khan and Art Rooney II have also been very open about their pursuit of Rodgers in free agency, and they very rarely openly talk about players who aren't on the roster.
It doesn't take an expert to read the tea leaves on this one. That's why, whenever anyone asks me about Rodgers, I tell them it's most likely a matter of when, not if. And it's not like he has other playing options. It's either play for the Steelers or retire.
Even if that does fall through, the Steelers will undoubtedly look for another veteran quarterback. Khan has said that on the record, and I've had that reinforced by sources on the inside. Yes, that includes a potential trade for Kirk Cousins. And Howard isn't a starting option. The Steelers plan to start him as a developmental piece, not a legitimate option for playing time this season.
The Steelers have faith in Rudolph if he has to start games for them. But, they're aiming higher in 2025. That's why they continue to wait on Rodgers. And until he's put pen to paper, I have to leave this as TBD instead of saying whether the position is better or worse than last season.
Running back hasn't had the same type of turnover, but the Steelers did move on from Najee Harris, who signed with the Chargers in free agency. Just ahead of free agency, they put the second-round tender on Warren, keeping his rights as a restricted free agent. Warren signed his tender when he arrived in Pittsburgh for voluntary workouts on April 21, securing his salary and spot on the roster as first in line for touches at running back.
However, Warren will have two others competing for touches, as well. The Steelers signed Gainwell to a very affordable one-year, $1.79 million contract, and he has the opportunity to earn snaps on all three downs plus in the kick return game. Gainwell is a good receiving option out of the backfield and is an accomplished blocker in pass protection.
The Steelers secured any need at the position when they selected Johnson out of Iowa in the third round of the NFL Draft. Tomlin himself called Johnson a "high-volume and capable runner," suggesting that he's going to compete for touches right away. Johnson's not unfamiliar with a heavy load as he was pretty much the entirety of the Hawkeyes' offense, and still put up big numbers (240 carries, 1,537 yards, 21 touchdowns) despite facing more loaded boxes than any other running back in the FBS.
It's not easy to move on from a first-round running back that posted 1,000-yard performances in each of his first four seasons. But, the trio the Steelers now have has a higher collective upside. Specifically looking at Warren and Johnson, the Steelers have two running backs that are scheme versatile, but are better fits for the way Arthur Smith prefers to run the ball. That's mainly why I have this listed as better than last season.
WIDE RECEIVER
• Starters: DK Metcalf, George Pickens • Backups: Calvin Austin III, Robert Woods, Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek • In the mix: Scotty Miller
Compared to 2024? Better. Way better.
Every player that's moved on from the 2024 squad was easily forgotten the second the Steelers acquired Metcalf from the Seahawks and gave him a five-year, $150 million contract. Pairing Metcalf with Pickens atop the depth chart gave the Steelers something they desperately lacked in 2024: Actual firepower at wide receiver.
With Metcalf now in the fold, the rest of the room fills out quite nicely. Austin can slide into an appropriate No. 3 role, playing either outside or in the slot. Woods comes in as another grown up in the room and can do a number of things, including block in the running game. Plus, it never hurts having a Super Bowl winner on the roster. Wilson can now work his way back from missing virtually all of his rookie season due to injury and the Steelers aren't forced to play him too many snaps. If he snatches them based on his performance, then it's a win-win.
Should the Steelers carry a sixth wide receiver, which they have in the past, I believe Skowronek has the upper hand over Miller. In fact, I have a hard time believing Skowronek won't be on the 53-man roster come September. He signed a two-year contract, and the team loves the physicality he brings and he's a phenomenal special teams player. You don't earn the nickname "Dirtbag" from Smith for no reason.
No, I don't believe the Steelers are looking to trade Pickens. Maybe that changes if a contract situation becomes a huge distraction during training camp. However, the Steelers absolutely want to have a dangerous duo at receiver. In keeping Pickens, they'll have exactly that.
TIGHT END
• Starters: Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington • Backups: Connor Heyward, Donald Parham
Compared to 2024? Status quo.
Tight end is expectedly the position with the least significant turnover as MyCole Pruitt is no longer in Pittsburgh. The team went out and signed Parham to be the lead candidate for the fourth tight end position, though Heyward is more of a tight end/fullback combo.
The Steelers expect Freiermuth to still be their main guy here, with Washington as a No. 2 that can be either an extension of the offensive line or catch the occasional pass on third down or in the red zone. Heyward will continue to play in the role he's had since he was drafted in 2022.
OFFENSIVE LINE
• Starters (left to right): Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Troy Fautanu • Backups: Calvin Anderson, Spencer Anderson, Ryan McCollum, Aiden Williams
Compared to 2024? Work in progress.
There hasn't been much change on the offensive line. The only notable move was Dan Moore Jr. moving on in free agency, signing a four-year, $82 million contract with the Titans. The former fourth-round pick will likely net the Steelers a compensatory third-round pick because of it, so he gives the team a return on the investment and then some.
Moore moving on paves the way for both of the Steelers' first-round tackles an opportunity to be the offense's bookends up front. Jones will slide over to the left side, which he played at Georgia and insert Fautanu at right tackle. There, of course, is cause for concern regarding both players. Jones regressed in his second season, making 2025 a make-or-break year for the team's 2023 first-round pick. Fautanu, last year's first-round pick, is coming off a dislocated knee cap that limited him to just one game and 55 snaps in his rookie season. Fautanu is now healthy, but it's a big year for both tackles.
On the other hand, Frazier and McCormick are coming off strong rookie seasons. Frazier immediately became an anchor up front, earning praise from site such as Pro Football Focus, which gave him the fifth-highest grade among all qualifying centers last season. McCormick, a fourth-round pick out of South Dakota State, was not supposed to start any games as a rookie. But, after James Daniels went down for the season with an Achilles injury, McCormick stepped in and started 14 games. All things considered, he turned in a promising performance.
As for the reserves, it's a lot of the same cast. The Steelers brought back Calvin Anderson to be the swing tackle, Spencer Anderson will be the versatile piece that can play guard or tackle and McCollum proved his worth as a backup center while filling in for Frazier for a couple games last season. Williams, an uber-athletic interior lineman, is an interesting undrafted free agent that could earn a roster spot.
The bottom line regarding this unit: This is a young group that has to develop. They'll have three second-year starters, one third-year starter and a tested veteran in Seumalo. They need to grow, no matter what happens. The upside is there, but it's difficult to project performance with such a young group.
FINAL THOUGHTS
On the whole, Metcalf alone already makes the offense better on paper than last season. Running back looks to be better in the short and long term. The offensive line has to develop. There are no two ways around that. Given the quality of players that have been drafted on the offensive line, you'd like to think they'd improve this season. Adding Rodgers to the mix, yes even at 41 years old, would raise the ceiling of the group. There's still some magic in that arm.
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THE ASYLUM
Chris Halicke
10:14 pm - 05.01.2025South SideOffense primed for improvement after NFL Draft
With the NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror, the Steelers have done the bulk of the work to improve the roster for the 2025 season and beyond.
Now that most of the heavy lifting has been done, we can dive into the state of the offense, position by position. Who's in line to start? Who else can/will contribute? Are there any remaining holes to fill? And, most important, has the offense actually been upgraded?
QUARTERBACK
• Starter: Aaron Rodgers (or other veteran acquisition)
• Backups: Mason Rudolph, Will Howard
Compared to 2024? TBD.
For the second offseason in a row, the Steelers are having to completely overhaul the quarterback room. And, it's still the only position on this side of the ball with an obvious hole.
The team lost Justin Fields and Russell Wilson in free agency, with Fields being their primary option to be their quarterback in 2025. That didn't pan out as the Jets were willing to pay him more total and guaranteed money. That led the Steelers to immediately pivot to Rodgers during the negotiating window of free agency, which still has not reached a conclusion more than seven weeks later. The team reunited with Rudolph as a safety net to go on this weekslong wait for Rodgers, then added to the room in the NFL Draft by taking Howard in the sixth round, fresh off a national championship with Ohio State.
Despite both Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan being forthright with how much faith they have in Rudolph, the word "starter" has never been spoken in the same sentence with Rudolph. Tomlin, Khan and Art Rooney II have also been very open about their pursuit of Rodgers in free agency, and they very rarely openly talk about players who aren't on the roster.
It doesn't take an expert to read the tea leaves on this one. That's why, whenever anyone asks me about Rodgers, I tell them it's most likely a matter of when, not if. And it's not like he has other playing options. It's either play for the Steelers or retire.
Even if that does fall through, the Steelers will undoubtedly look for another veteran quarterback. Khan has said that on the record, and I've had that reinforced by sources on the inside. Yes, that includes a potential trade for Kirk Cousins. And Howard isn't a starting option. The Steelers plan to start him as a developmental piece, not a legitimate option for playing time this season.
The Steelers have faith in Rudolph if he has to start games for them. But, they're aiming higher in 2025. That's why they continue to wait on Rodgers. And until he's put pen to paper, I have to leave this as TBD instead of saying whether the position is better or worse than last season.
RUNNING BACK
• Starter: Jaylen Warren
• Backups: Kaleb Johnson, Kenneth Gainwell
Compared to 2024? Better, and with higher upside.
Running back hasn't had the same type of turnover, but the Steelers did move on from Najee Harris, who signed with the Chargers in free agency. Just ahead of free agency, they put the second-round tender on Warren, keeping his rights as a restricted free agent. Warren signed his tender when he arrived in Pittsburgh for voluntary workouts on April 21, securing his salary and spot on the roster as first in line for touches at running back.
However, Warren will have two others competing for touches, as well. The Steelers signed Gainwell to a very affordable one-year, $1.79 million contract, and he has the opportunity to earn snaps on all three downs plus in the kick return game. Gainwell is a good receiving option out of the backfield and is an accomplished blocker in pass protection.
The Steelers secured any need at the position when they selected Johnson out of Iowa in the third round of the NFL Draft. Tomlin himself called Johnson a "high-volume and capable runner," suggesting that he's going to compete for touches right away. Johnson's not unfamiliar with a heavy load as he was pretty much the entirety of the Hawkeyes' offense, and still put up big numbers (240 carries, 1,537 yards, 21 touchdowns) despite facing more loaded boxes than any other running back in the FBS.
It's not easy to move on from a first-round running back that posted 1,000-yard performances in each of his first four seasons. But, the trio the Steelers now have has a higher collective upside. Specifically looking at Warren and Johnson, the Steelers have two running backs that are scheme versatile, but are better fits for the way Arthur Smith prefers to run the ball. That's mainly why I have this listed as better than last season.
WIDE RECEIVER
• Starters: DK Metcalf, George Pickens
• Backups: Calvin Austin III, Robert Woods, Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek
• In the mix: Scotty Miller
Compared to 2024? Better. Way better.
Every player that's moved on from the 2024 squad was easily forgotten the second the Steelers acquired Metcalf from the Seahawks and gave him a five-year, $150 million contract. Pairing Metcalf with Pickens atop the depth chart gave the Steelers something they desperately lacked in 2024: Actual firepower at wide receiver.
With Metcalf now in the fold, the rest of the room fills out quite nicely. Austin can slide into an appropriate No. 3 role, playing either outside or in the slot. Woods comes in as another grown up in the room and can do a number of things, including block in the running game. Plus, it never hurts having a Super Bowl winner on the roster. Wilson can now work his way back from missing virtually all of his rookie season due to injury and the Steelers aren't forced to play him too many snaps. If he snatches them based on his performance, then it's a win-win.
Should the Steelers carry a sixth wide receiver, which they have in the past, I believe Skowronek has the upper hand over Miller. In fact, I have a hard time believing Skowronek won't be on the 53-man roster come September. He signed a two-year contract, and the team loves the physicality he brings and he's a phenomenal special teams player. You don't earn the nickname "Dirtbag" from Smith for no reason.
No, I don't believe the Steelers are looking to trade Pickens. Maybe that changes if a contract situation becomes a huge distraction during training camp. However, the Steelers absolutely want to have a dangerous duo at receiver. In keeping Pickens, they'll have exactly that.
TIGHT END
• Starters: Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington
• Backups: Connor Heyward, Donald Parham
Compared to 2024? Status quo.
Tight end is expectedly the position with the least significant turnover as MyCole Pruitt is no longer in Pittsburgh. The team went out and signed Parham to be the lead candidate for the fourth tight end position, though Heyward is more of a tight end/fullback combo.
The Steelers expect Freiermuth to still be their main guy here, with Washington as a No. 2 that can be either an extension of the offensive line or catch the occasional pass on third down or in the red zone. Heyward will continue to play in the role he's had since he was drafted in 2022.
OFFENSIVE LINE
• Starters (left to right): Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Troy Fautanu
• Backups: Calvin Anderson, Spencer Anderson, Ryan McCollum, Aiden Williams
Compared to 2024? Work in progress.
There hasn't been much change on the offensive line. The only notable move was Dan Moore Jr. moving on in free agency, signing a four-year, $82 million contract with the Titans. The former fourth-round pick will likely net the Steelers a compensatory third-round pick because of it, so he gives the team a return on the investment and then some.
Moore moving on paves the way for both of the Steelers' first-round tackles an opportunity to be the offense's bookends up front. Jones will slide over to the left side, which he played at Georgia and insert Fautanu at right tackle. There, of course, is cause for concern regarding both players. Jones regressed in his second season, making 2025 a make-or-break year for the team's 2023 first-round pick. Fautanu, last year's first-round pick, is coming off a dislocated knee cap that limited him to just one game and 55 snaps in his rookie season. Fautanu is now healthy, but it's a big year for both tackles.
On the other hand, Frazier and McCormick are coming off strong rookie seasons. Frazier immediately became an anchor up front, earning praise from site such as Pro Football Focus, which gave him the fifth-highest grade among all qualifying centers last season. McCormick, a fourth-round pick out of South Dakota State, was not supposed to start any games as a rookie. But, after James Daniels went down for the season with an Achilles injury, McCormick stepped in and started 14 games. All things considered, he turned in a promising performance.
As for the reserves, it's a lot of the same cast. The Steelers brought back Calvin Anderson to be the swing tackle, Spencer Anderson will be the versatile piece that can play guard or tackle and McCollum proved his worth as a backup center while filling in for Frazier for a couple games last season. Williams, an uber-athletic interior lineman, is an interesting undrafted free agent that could earn a roster spot.
The bottom line regarding this unit: This is a young group that has to develop. They'll have three second-year starters, one third-year starter and a tested veteran in Seumalo. They need to grow, no matter what happens. The upside is there, but it's difficult to project performance with such a young group.
FINAL THOUGHTS
On the whole, Metcalf alone already makes the offense better on paper than last season. Running back looks to be better in the short and long term. The offensive line has to develop. There are no two ways around that. Given the quality of players that have been drafted on the offensive line, you'd like to think they'd improve this season. Adding Rodgers to the mix, yes even at 41 years old, would raise the ceiling of the group. There's still some magic in that arm.
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