Pro Football Rumors
With Alex Smith the opposing quarterback in the Steelers’ most recent playoff win, the team had set up camp as perhaps the NFL’s lead middle-class resident. The Steelers spun their wheels at quarterback following Ben Roethlisberger‘s retirement, missing on Kenny Pickett and seeing its bargain-basement Russell Wilson/Justin Fields setup deliver predictably modest returns. The franchise’s long-held hesitancy about splashy outside acquisitions also persisted during Omar Khan‘s first years at the helm; that changed noticeably this offseason.
The Steelers operated aggressively on the trade front, extending D.K. Metcalf and Jonnu Smith upon acquiring them and taking on nearly $20MM in Jalen Ramsey money. While another T.J. Watt megadeal transpired weeks after the Dolphins swap, the team’s early-June agreement with Aaron Rodgers — after months of stalling on the future Hall of Fame QB’s part — represents the most important move for the 2025 team’s outlook. Will the high-action offseason finally move the needle for a franchise that continues to end seasons in the wild-card round?
A draft-and-develop receiver factory, the Steelers showed signs of a stripe change last year when they inquired about several pass catchers — most notably Brandon Aiyuk — via trade. The team had trade parameters worked out with the 49ers on Aiyuk, who was interested throughout the saga despite the Steelers not reaching the $30MM-per-year price point the Patriots had. Aiyuk recommitting to San Francisco changed Pittsburgh’s plan, and after Mike Williams did not accomplish much in what turned out to be his final season, the Steelers dedicated the early part of their offseason to a legitimate upgrade.
While a Deebo Samuel rumor circulated, the Steelers aimed higher. Samuel has an All-Pro season on his resume, but Metcalf has been the steadier option. The Steelers’ monthslong WR trade quest included checking in on Metcalf with the Seahawks before the 2024 deadline; Seattle balked then. Months later, Metcalf requested a trade. In the same week, Seattle unloaded 2020s pillars Metcalf and Geno Smith. The Chargers and Texans came up as preferred Metcalf destinations. The Steelers including a second-round pick in their offer sealed the deal.
Rather than renting Metcalf and evaluating his fit in Arthur Smith‘s offense, the team paid up by giving the two-time Pro Bowler an extension that ranked third among wide receivers at the time. Months later, Metcalf is the NFL’s fourth-highest-paid wideout.
He had sought a $30MM-plus-AAV deal upon requesting a trade, and a Steelers team not known for big investments in its own receivers — let alone other teams’ — stepped up. Metcalf received nearly a $10MM-per-year raise, following A.J. Brown (and now Terry McLaurin) as 2019 WR draftees to land a lucrative third contract.
Metcalf’s $60MM fully guaranteed also ranks fourth among receivers. The Steelers kept...
