Behind the Steel Curtain
The Steelers might not be done yet, but there has already been lots of change in Pittsburgh over the last few months.
As training camp inches closer, and this awkward quiet period of the NFL season comes to a close, it is a perfect time to look back on what has been an unpredictable couple of months for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After falling short in the wild-card round of the playoffs yet again, most people (myself included) didn’t expect many inspiring moves. However, it is safe to say that is not at all what we got from the Steelers. They have certainly tried to build a team that can go out and compete in the AFC, for better or for worse. Whether or not they actually can is a completely different topic and discussion for another time, but the narrative that the Steelers tend to stay on the complacent side of roster construction has been put to rest, at least for this offseason.
Keep in mind that these grades are just my thoughts; I will probably end up being wrong about some of these moves by the time it’s all set and done. With all of this in mind, here are my grades for every Steelers offseason move, in what has been one of the more memorable offseasons in recent memory.
Before the legal tampering period even began, the Steelers made one of the most aggressive moves in franchise history by acquiring DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks. The move cost the Steelers a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the contract Metcalf was given is what stole the show. A whopping 5-year, $150 million dollar contract is the most money that the Steelers organization has ever given to an outside addition.
This move was phenomenal for the Steelers. To only give up a second-round pick for a player of Metcalf’s caliber was a steal. Although 150 million is a jarring number to look at for some, I would argue we have not come even close to seeing Metcalf’s full potential in the league. Much of the time in Seattle, Metcalf was fighting with Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba for targets. With fewer mouths to feed in a Pittsburgh offense with some of the best contract insulation in the entire league, he will have a chance to prove himself as a truly elite wide receiver in Pittsburgh for years to come.
Grade: A
Free agency as a whole was about what we expected from the Steelers. The team got better in some key areas and didn’t have to break the bank to make any of the moves that they did. They were able to take some swings on veterans, which was sort of the theme of the offseason. Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan have made it very clear that they want to add more veteran presence to this team through all of the moves they have made since March.
Aaron Rodgers...
