Steelers Daily News & Links: Your daily stop for all of the news and links.
đ Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report thinks the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most interesting teams entering the 2025 season.
âWhether itâs because youâre rooting for Aaron Rodgers to pull a late-career rabbit out of his hat or hate-watching Rodgers and the oft-inflammatory Steelers, thereâs little doubt that one of Americaâs most polarizing sports teams will draw plenty of attention while it is quarterbacked by one of the nationâs most polarizing stars,â Gagnon wrote.
âIf the whole Rodgers experiment blows up, itâs intriguing. If Rodgers somehow gets back on track and helps the Steelers contend in a jacked division, itâs intriguing.
âAnd even if the 41-year-old fails to captivate audiences with extreme good or extreme bad, the Steelers are likely to be a factor if not a potential spoiler while battling their hyped AFC North rivals as well as the entire NFC North, the Bills, the Dolphins, and each of Rodgersâ previous two teams. Altogether, itâs worthy of several popcorn-eating gifs.â
đ Fox Sportsâ David Helman thinks the idea of the Steelers sending T.J. Watt to the Washington Commanders is highly unlikely, but Washingtonâs desperate need for a pass rush could make them pull off a deal. Helman has the Commanders trading star wide receiver Terry McLaurin, so theyâll have some extra cap spaxe.
âAgain, Iâm not buying that the Steelers would do this. Watt is an iconic piece of that franchise â and that word carries weight in Pittsburgh. Furthermore, even with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, the Steelersâ hopes of accomplishing anything this season will still rest on their defense,â Helman wrote.
âWhy not indulge one delusional fantasy with another? If Washington were to trade Terry McLaurin, theyâd be opening some financial wiggle room to add another lucrative player. They could get at least two, if not three, years of play out of Watt before they have to worry about extending Jayden Daniels. They definitely need the pass rush help. Watt would give Dan Quinn a blue chip player, which he doesnât really have right now, on his Commandersâ defense. Adding him to a pass rush that currently includes Frankie Luvu, Dorance Armstrong, Deatrich Wise and Clelin Ferrell would upgrade the Washington pass rush from âso-soâ to outright dangerous.
âSure, maybe itâs a mixed message to hinder the offense by trading McLaurin only to add T.J. Watt. But, with all due respect to Scary Terry, I think itâs a bit harder to find a DPOY-level edge rusher than an All-Pro caliber receiver in todayâs NFL.
đ On the flip side, Helman has the Steelers trading for Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith.
âIt didnât make much sense when the rumors about this trade leaked out in recent months. Now, with Aaron Rodgers on board, Iâm firmly in favor,â Helman wrote.
âIâm guessing the Dolphins would prefer to pay Smith, but the reality of their salary cap might make that easier said than done....