The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2025 offseason has been an emotional roller coaster. Much of the discourse has surrounded the team's struggles to sign quarterback Aaron Rodgers. However, Pittsburgh has made several other major moves thus far, mainly on offense. The most notable addition to the Steelers this offseason has been wide receiver DK Metcalf. Metcalf, paired with George Pickens, gives Pittsburgh one of the scariest wide receiver rooms in the NFL. The only drawback is that the Steelers have yet to nail down a starting signal-caller who can throw Metcalf and Pickens the ball consistently and effectively. Despite the Steelers landing Metcalf in what was arguably a bombshell trade, Steelers insider Mike DeFabo was critical of the team's offseason moves thus far.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on during a loss to the Bengals in the 2024 NFL season.
On Thursday, DeFabo wrote an article for The Athletic giving every team in the AFC North an offseason grade. He gave the Steelers a "D." DeFabo pointed largely towards the organization's inability to land a starting quarterback as his reason for giving Pittsburgh such a low grade. The Steelers' long wait for Rodgers, which has ultimately resulted in nothing so far, has frustrated many and dominated the conversation around the Steelers for the entirety of free agency.
"The ongoing Aaron Rodgers saga has made it hard to praise anything the Steelers' decision-makers have done," wrote DeFabo. "They have failed repeatedly to find a long-term solution at the most important position in football. The ongoing indecision is an apt metaphor for how Pittsburgh has continued to spin its wheels."
It's an uncomfortable but true criticism of the team's quarterback situation. Ever since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers have struggled to find a reliable long-term solution to lead the team. DeFabo says that even if the Steelers were to sign Rodgers, the 41-year-old veteran would do little to help the team. DeFabo argues that, given Rodgers' performance with the New York Jets last year, any contract the Steelers sign with the quarterback will only be for one or two years, then Pittsburgh will be right back where they started.
UPI
Steelers' DK Metcalf makes a one-handed grab during his time with the Seattle Seahawks.
DeFabo gives the Steelers props for their signing of Metcalf. Just before the free agency period started, General Manager Omar Khan came out swinging and landed the wide receiver in a major deal.
"A Steelers team that will lead the league in defensive spending for the fourth consecutive year looked like it was finally putting the same effort into the offense," wrote DeFabo. "Pittsburgh also filled a key hole in the secondary by signing veteran corner Darius Slay."
The Steelers' defense is arguably their biggest issue outside of the quarterback. It is widely projected that the team takes a defensive lineman with the 21st overall pick of the upcoming draft. The team's needs have evolved as the offseason has gone on however, and the Steelers' desperation for a signal-caller has become more dire in the media's eyes.
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Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan, and Art Rooney II at training camp.
Due to Pittsburgh's quarterback situation going from bad to worse, it's becoming increasingly likely that Pittsburgh will use their first-round pick to draft a signal-caller.
Steelers' Offseason Moves Won't Be Maximized Without Competent QB Play
Along with Metcalf, another one of the Steelers' big offensive additions was running back Kenneth Gainwell. The glaring problem with these offensive signings is that, however stacked the offense is with weapons, they all need a quarterback to get them the ball.
"In the last two years, the Steelers have completely remade the entire QB room," said DeFabo. "Even if Rodgers signs, his age and underwhelming 2024 season will be cause for concern."
There are no easy solutions to the Steelers' predicament. For now, Pittsburgh will look to the draft to hopefully find its signal-caller of the future.
Do you think the Steelers have had a successful offseason so far? What position do you want the Steelers to take with the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft? Let us know in the comments.
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