Daily News & Links: Steelers Among Most Interesting Teams in 2025; Should Pittsburgh Trade for Jonnu Smith?

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🏈 Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report thinks the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most interesting teams entering the 2025 season.

“Whether it’s because you’re rooting for Aaron Rodgers to pull a late-career rabbit out of his hat or hate-watching Rodgers and the oft-inflammatory Steelers, there’s little doubt that one of America’s most polarizing sports teams will draw plenty of attention while it is quarterbacked by one of the nation’s most polarizing stars,” Gagnon wrote.

“If the whole Rodgers experiment blows up, it’s intriguing. If Rodgers somehow gets back on track and helps the Steelers contend in a jacked division, it’s intriguing.

“And 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 Rodgers’ previous two teams. Altogether, it’s worthy of several popcorn-eating gifs.”

🏈 Fox Sports’ David Helman thinks the idea of the Steelers sending T.J. Watt to the Washington Commanders is highly unlikely, but Washington’s desperate need for a pass rush could make them pull off a deal. Helman has the Commanders trading star wide receiver Terry McLaurin, so they’ll have some extra cap spaxe.

“Again, I’m not buying that the Steelers would do this. Watt is an iconic piece of that franchise — and that word carries weight in Pittsburgh. Furthermore, even with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, the Steelers’ hopes of accomplishing anything this season will still rest on their defense,” Helman wrote.

“Why not indulge one delusional fantasy with another? If Washington were to trade Terry McLaurin, they’d 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 doesn’t really have right now, on his Commanders’ 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 “so-so” to outright dangerous.

“Sure, maybe it’s 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 it’s a bit harder to find a DPOY-level edge rusher than an All-Pro caliber receiver in today’s NFL.

🏈 On the flip side, Helman has the Steelers trading for Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith.

“It didn’t make much sense when the rumors about this trade leaked out in recent months. Now, with Aaron Rodgers on board, I’m firmly in favor,” Helman wrote.

“I’m guessing the Dolphins would prefer to pay Smith, but the reality of their salary cap might make that easier said than done....