Whereas Harmon fills an enormous want on the line of defense, it doesn’t deal with the largest want for the group on a short-term or long-term foundation. That want, clearly, is quarterback.
As of Thursday night time the Steelers’ quarterback room consists of solely Mason Rudolph and Skyler Thompson.
They didn’t retain Russell Wilson or Justin Fields from final 12 months’s group, missed out on nearly each different free agent or commerce possibility, and for the second offseason in a row are taking a look at an entire overhaul of their quarterback room.
On a short-term foundation, they proceed to play the ready recreation with free agent Aaron Rodgers. However even when he decides to play this season — and play in Pittsburgh — he’s on the unsuitable facet of 40, is probably not any good anymore and can be a big distraction as a result of his off-field presence and character.
On a long-term foundation, they don’t have any actual quarterback prospects on the horizon and don’t also have a second-round decide this season to attempt to safe one of many quarterbacks that has slid down the draft board after buying and selling it for vast receiver DK Metcalf.
Do they nonetheless consider in Rodgers as a one-year stop-gap? Are they setting their sights on a probably deeper 2026 quarterback class, with the draft being held in Pittsburgh?
These are all very sensible prospects.
Sanders is way from a certain factor, and there’s a purpose he has fallen down the draft board. He doesn’t possess an elite arm or athleticism, and his greatest strengths are extra intangible (toughness, good, accuracy) than game-changing traits. He may not pan out, but when he does, he would have raised the Steelers’ season greater than another place would have.
The Steelers haven’t gained a playoff recreation in eight years regardless of often being there, and the dearth of even an above-average quarterback is the largest purpose why. Till they repair that place it doesn’t matter what their line of defense, offensive line or vast receiver positions appear like.
