Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a massive hole to fill after trading All-Pro free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins in a blockbuster trade earlier this month.
Maybe Juan Thornhill will step up into a starting role or Jalen Ramsey will move to safety. They could also go the free agent route, All-Pro Justin Simmons is still available.
In an a recent interview, Simmons revealed what he’s looking for in his next team.
“I think Atlanta I would still pick 10 out of 10 times if I was in the spot last year,” Simmons said, via Sean Keeler of the Denver Post. “But in terms of where I’m at now, being a little bit more picky where we want to go and where we want to call home next . . . the next two years, a year, whatever it is . . . but a contender is No. 1 on the list right now.”
Simmons, who has four second-team All-Pro selections and two Pro Bowls under his belt, is coming off his worst year statistically since 2017. He tied Minkah Fitzpatrick for the most interceptions (6) in 2022, so he’s not far off from being a high caliber player. His one-year tenure with Atlanta was a massive disappointment, however.
If he’s looking to play for a contender, the Steelers are probably not the best option. But, it could be his only choice depending on the market.
Despite the major turnover, the Steelers are favored in only six of their 17 games in 2025. The oddsmakers are apparently not too impressed with the additions of Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Darius Slay, Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith.
The Steelers are listed as favorites in Week 1 at the Jets (-3), Week 2 vs. the Seahawks (-1.5), Week 6 vs. the Browns (-6.5), Week 9 vs. the Colts (-3.5), Week 15 vs. the Dolphins (-2.5), and Week 17 at the Browns (-2.5).
The over/under for the Steelers’ total wins in the 2025 is still set at 8.5 wins.
The Steelers’ Super Bowl odds at FanDuel sportsbook increased after landing Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith, but it was nothing drastic. The Steelers’ odds to win the Super Bowl before the trade were at +4700. They are now at +4400, which was tied with the Chicago Bears for 16th-best odds. The Bears have since moved to +4300.
At DraftKings sportsbook, Pittsburgh (+3500) and Miami’s (+8000) Super Bowl odds did not change at all after the blockbuster trade.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Potential Steelers Safety Target Reveals What He’s Looking For
