Steelers Now
Some feel the Pittsburgh Steelers are patently charting their course with the additions of Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey this offseason. If you ask Colin Cowherd, Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin are trying to find their way with a broken compass.
On Monday’s episode of “The Colin Cowherd Podcast,” the Fox Sports radio personality and former NFL scout John Middlekauff discussed the uncharacteristic Steelers offseason. The most puzzling move Khan made, Middlekauff said, was his trade for Metcalf, who brings with him seven seasons’ worth of mileage.
“In what world are the Pittsburgh Steelers in the DK Metcalf market?” Middlekauff said. “And giving him a third contract. I get Aaron Rodgers. They don’t have any other choice. But the DK Metcalf (trade)? That’s who you’re gonna give an enormous contract to? Battling injuries and had some personal foul issues with Pete Carroll.”
Cowherd furthered Middlekauff’s point, saying, “They move off a high-maintenance, sideline receiver with a big personality — and they acquire one. … I don’t get a pattern. If you move off one, that’s good. If I go get another receiver, it wouldn’t have been DK Metcalf. Then they move off a guy who’s a little past his prime, good player, Minkah Fitzpatrick, getting expensive. And then they bring in another defensive back who’s more expensive, past his prime.
“So I don’t see a plan. I feel like they’re just making moves to make moves.”
Cowherd also likened the Steelers to the Dallas Cowboys with a better roster, describing both as being insular.
“I can respect the brand, I can respect Tomlin, but when you lead the NFL — as it’s pivoted clearly to offense — if you lead the NFL for four straight years in defensive spending, that means Tomlin’s not getting enough pushback in that building,” Cowherd said. “He’s not getting enough in that building because you can’t spend money like that and win Super Bowls in 2025.”
Middlekauff also ripped the Steelers for what the situation surrounding T.J. Watt’s wait for a new deal has devolved into. Despite whispers, Pittsburgh reportedly isn’t interested in shipping away the 2021 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year.
Middlekauff stressed that, if a team is going to entertain trading a player of Watt’s caliber, such a move has to happen before the draft. He pointed to former Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden trading Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears shortly before the season began. The Raiders then lost their first three games en route to a 4-12 showing.
“Those two first-round picks that the Bears gave don’t give you any help (during) those 16, 17 games,” Middlekauff said. “So it feels like, ‘What are we doing?’”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Analysts Bash Steelers for Lack of Direction: ‘I Don’t See a Plan’
