The Pittsburgh Steelers had the best quarterback in the AFC North for nearly two decades. Ben Roethlisberger was 71-24-1 against divisional opponents and won eight division titles in 18 seasons. The Steelers have moved on with his retirement to Kenny Pickett and the rookie started 2-2 in the division. Pickett only threw one pass against the Baltimore Ravens in their first meeting so if you don’t count that game, he is 2-1.
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Ben Roethlisberger before his last home game for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Prior to last season, the Cleveland Browns guaranteed Deshaun Watson $230 million dollars over five seasons and in the process may have gifted Pittsburgh a route back to the top of the division. The Watson contract has pushed the Ravens to the brink with Lamar Jackson and he could hold out on the franchise tag or be traded.
It is hard to know who to believe in this story because several reputable personalities are reporting contradictory accounts of the negotiation. Stephen A. Smith, Adam Schefter, and Mike Florio to name just a few, are all giving conflicting reports on how the Jackson talks are proceeding. It is most likely that the team and those close to Jackson are waging a proxy campaign through media personalities, but one thing is certain, the Browns are the root cause of the issue between Jackson and the Ravens.
Joe Burrow is eligible for an extension this summer and the Cincinnati Bengals are probably chomping at the bit to get him locked up on a long-term deal. The question is, does Burrow follow the model of Patrick Mahomes, and sign a long-term team-friendly deal? Mahomes is guaranteed $141 million dollars, but barring injury, he is likely to earn every bit of the $450 million dollars he is due over the life of his contract. What if Burrow demands a contract like Watson?
Burrow is a media darling, and some members of the media prefer Burrow to Mahomes. If he demands to be the highest-paid player in the NFL, how will the normally frugal Bengals react? The Bengals have been involved in some of the ugliest contract disputes in NFL history. Carson Palmer, Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, and Corey Dillon were all high-profile contract disputes that ultimately ended in all of them being shipped off. Would they dare play chicken with Burrow? History says yes.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Kenny Pickett (8) throws a pass against the Baltimore Ravens.
Pickett is three years away from a contract extension and if Jackson and Burrow end up in acrimonious negotiations that see them leave the AFC North or cause the Ravens and Bengals to sacrifice personnel to pay their quarterback large amounts of money, that puts the Steelers in a strong position over the next three seasons. It gives them the ability to build the best roster in the division around a rookie quarterback and find their way to the top of the division. They should send a thank you note to Jimmy Haslam and the Browns if it happens, because they made it possible.
Tom Brady is the only quarterback in recent history who has won a Super Bowl later than his ninth season in the league. Second contracts for quarterbacks have been the death knell for serious contention over the last 15 seasons and it is likely to get worse. Quarterbacks that command 25 percent or more of a team’s salary cap have to be scrutinized carefully. A quarterback like Mahomes is a sound investment, but for every one of him, there is a Dak Prescott or Kirk Cousins.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett Has Flung Open The Super Bowl Window And He Is Focused On Taking Advantage
The quickest route to mediocrity is paying a good quarterback like a great one. Pickett appears to be the franchise quarterback for Pittsburgh and if he is, the Steelers have three seasons to win a Super Bowl before they have to make a decision. The Steelers paid a hefty salary to Roethlisberger and the second half of his career was marked by playoff futility as the team went 3-6 in his last nine playoff games.
Steelers.com
Kenny Pickett (8) scores against the New York Jets in a Week 4 regular season game in 2022 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
It is not the Steeler Way to go all in for short-term success, but they can’t ignore the reality of the salary cap era forever. If Kenny Pickett wants to be a legend and bring a Super Bowl to Pittsburgh, the time is now and thanks to the Cleveland Browns, the salary cap clock is ticking.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Do the Steelers need to go all in now to make a run, or wait to see how Pickett plays this year? Please comment below, or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
