The AFC North is a puzzling division that features four questionable teams, with the Pittsburgh Steelers having more questions than the others. Here are the five biggest questions.
1. Do The Steelers Really Have A Trustworthy Option At QB?
Before the Steelers signed Aaron Rodgers, a case could be made that they had the worst QB room in the NFL, not named the New York Jets or Arizona Cardinals. It’s stunning to see Mason Rudolph still has an NFL job, because he hasn’t been any good in his career. Drew Allar was an intriguing pick in Round 3, but he was terrible at Penn State last year, and that game against Oregon exposed his inaccuracy & field vision. To make things worse, Allar also had a brutal leg injury that lowered his draft stock. Will Howard is also on the roster, but he is a scrub NFL QB. It’s head-scratching why fans and analysts love him.
The Steelers are lucky that Rodgers decided to come back, but why the heck did they pay him a $25 million contract? Rodgers is turning 43 in December and is a shell of his former self. It also doesn’t help that the guy has been a cancer in the locker room and has been a tremendous distraction this offseason. It’s hard to really trust him and any other QB on this team.
2. Will This Team Adapt & Adjust To Mike McCarthy System’s Quickly
It’s clear that the Steelers still find themselves as contenders. That’s why they hired the NFL version of Doc Rivers to replace Mike Tomlin as the head coach. It will be intriguing to see how this team adapts and adjusts to McCarthy’s system and culture changes. His relationship with Rodgers is intriguing, considering both had left on bad terms in Green Bay.
Now, Rodgers did claim that the “hate” narrative between them is overblown. The problem is that Rodgers is the one saying it, and everyone needs to be skeptical of everything he says. This is the same man who once stated that Jimmy Kimmel’s name would appear in the Epstein Files, without even having seen them. It’s irresponsible to make accusations of that nature without a shred of evidence. Along with other conspiracy theories Rodgers has subscribed to in the past, it’s best to take everything he says with a gigantic fistful of salt.
The former Packers are reunited in Pittsburgh, and it will be interesting to see if both will be able to maintain this working relationship or if it will blow up in their faces.
3. Is Broderick Jones Career In Jeopardy?
One of the more interesting decisions the Steelers made in the draft was to use yet another 1st round pick on an offensive tackle (Max Iheanachor). They have now used a 1st round pick on an offensive tackle in 3 of the last 4 drafts. They went in this direction for two reasons.
First, they panicked. The original plan was to draft WR Makai Lemon, and the organization called him, saying they were drafting him. Then the Eagles traded up and drafted Lemon while he was still on the phone with Pittsburgh. Another example of the Steelers’ incompetence. They don’t get bad press for it, though, because the product on the field is good. On a side note, that footage of the Steelers behind the scenes on draft day has been conveniently lost, but hopefully it resurfaces someday.
The second reason Pittsburgh went offensive line again involves Broderick Jones, who has been a disappointing 1st-round pick. A tremendous issue now is the neck injury he suffered last season, which is no joke, and the selection of Iheanachor could signal the team’s intention to move Jones inside to guard. It’s hard to say, because he wasn’t the greatest guard in college. It’s also not a good sign that the Steelers both declined his 5th-year option and are already looking at the future.
4. So, What’s The Plan With Jalen Ramsay?
On paper, this defense is still a good unit. There is one player with a ton of question marks: Jalen Ramsey. Last season, he was used as a Swiss Army Knife player lining up at nickelback, cornerback, and safety. Ramsey was solid, but he clearly has lost a step and has noticeably declined. The Steelers made some signings to improve the secondary with Jamal Dean, Darnell Savage, and Jaquan Brisker. So how will they use Ramsey? Will he strictly play one position or continue to be a Swiss Army Knife type player? Only time will tell.
5. Why Is This Franchise So Delusional?
This is a question that has been asked for 8 years now. This franchise, for a long time, should have purged big pieces in order to start a rebuild. For some reason, though, they have been deluded into thinking that they are still a contender. Whether it’s giving a declining Ben Roethlisberger a 2-year deal, keeping Mike Tomlin employed even after being outcoached constantly, hiring Mike McCarthy, being willing to wait for a 42-year-old cancerous QB on his decision, or any other number of questionable moves.
When will the Steelers realize it’s all over and start to rebuild? This franchise needs a bad season to break their delusions because a majority of their decisions make zero sense. For example, why the heck did this organization give a 3rd string tight end, Darnell Washington, a 4-year, $42 million contract? Yes, he’s a great blocker, but it’s a gross overpayment with how terrible he is in every other aspect of the game.
Steelers Have Plenty More Questions To Answer
This franchise can’t be trusted anymore because it hasn’t been the same since the Days of Our Steelers season in 2018. They have managed to BS their way to wins like never before, and it’s raised many questions about this team.
