My Draft Plan to win a Championship

To build a Championship roster I'm taking a page from the Eagles and how they built their roster. They've cornered the market on the Georgia players during their Championship runs and drafted a bunch of them. Well this year the Steelers have the chance to do the exact, same thing.
Steelers have a legit chance to draft the Ohio St Championship offense. Rd 1. WR Ebuka, Rd 2. RB Henderson and Rd. 3 QB Howard.
That offense dominated college this season and Steelers have a chance to get all of it except Jeremiah Smith. This plan should heavily be looked at and considered by Khan and company. Draft an offense of winners. Look at the Bengals offense with Burrows and Chase from LSU. Steelers need to adopt this type of thinking when drafting this year. With that type of offensive fire power and creative thinking the Steelers won't simply rely on drafting a DT to get us over the hump.

Plus the Eagles were the first team to get all the defensive players from a collegiate National Championship Team.

The Steelers could be the first to draft all the offensive players from a collegiate National Championship Team.

Time for the Steelers to think outside the box and get ahead of the league in attempts to hoisting their 7th Lombardi Trophy

 

While this strategy sounds good on paper, in practice, it wouldn't work I am afraid. For one, Lewis Cine and Trayvon Walker, members of the 2021 Bulldogs Championship Team, are not currently present with the Eagles. For two, the best players from that legendary Georgia Defense were from the Front Seven; namely the likes of Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and, to lesser extents, Nolan Smith and Nakobe Dean; all four who the Eagles do have. That said, just because you have such pedigree doesn't mean that will transfer to the field instantly. Never mind having the players develop on their own, the correct system is necessary to facilitate that level of talent to take hold. Including all of this doesn't account for the third point though; Philadelphia was a pretty loaded team heading into 2023 before adding in players like Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Tyler Steen (an Alabama product), Sydney Brown and Kelee Ringo; to name a few. Those pieces (the big gift in Jalen Carter no pun intended) is what accelerated Philadelphia to return to Championship form in 2024. All the team was missing was a young CB.


A talent like Quinyon Mitchell and another dynamic talent in Cooper DeJean, two Top 15 Prospects later and boom; Philly is back in the Super Bowl. Again, prior to 2024, Philly was already loaded but the downfall of the 2023 Eagles has nothing to do with talent but Coaching; Nick Sirianni not being able to get out of his own way. An entire Coaching Staff Overhaul a season later?! Super Bowl Contenders.



Pittsburgh cannot emulate this strategy to the T as in order to do so, quite a bit would have to happen in terms of not just the draft but Free Agency and Coaching Changes; two core aspects I indirectly mentioned previously. Even if Pittsburgh manages to have a great Coaching Staff along with a great Free Agency Class, the next step is to essentially hit on every draft pick... again. As far as I am concerned, Omar has a good batting average overall but not seeing what either Troy Fautanu and Roman Wilson can do really makes the projection of nabbing the Ohio State Champ Prospects extremely difficult. Compare that to having the likes of DeVonta Smith and Jordan Davis prior to nabbing Jalen Carter; the A.J. Brown trade no less. For that matter, Philly's 2021 and 2022 Classes are contributing in a big way; more so of 2022's as 2021's is hard carried by the likes of Smith, Landon Dickerson (injured) and Milton Williams. Pittsburgh's 2023 and 2024 classes have been rock solid overall but the misses of 2022 and 2021 are what severely letting the Steelers down.



The biggest reason why though such a strategy cannot be employed by the Steelers is one of simple consequence that many other NFL Teams currently face; no Franchise QB. Now, Jalen Hurts isn't a Franchise QB in the traditional sense. However, due to Philly's structural setup from both a Front Office and Coaching standpoint along with a massive cache of talent available to him, Hurts simply needs a good Offensive Coordinator for him to get the job done. Kellen Moore is that Offensive Coordinator. The acquisition of SaQuan Barkley though is what pushes the Eagles way above and beyond the Steelers for Barkley has always been a HOF Talent the day he arrived at Happy Valley. His massive issue was never his talent nor latent ability but the ineptitude of the New York Football Giants. Now with a more well run Organization, people are beginning to see more and more why Barkley was the Generational Prodigy so many billed him to be; myself included. Pittsburgh has no such type of talent anywhere on that side of the Football. However, don't mistake the importance of Hurts is in the Offense. He doesn't put up numbers like Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert or even this year's Sam Darnold but Hurts is the ideal QB to run Kellen Moore's Offense and, as such, a QB that Philly cannot afford to lose.




In short?! Pittsburgh does not have the Franchise QB needed to perform any of the feats that Philly has done since 2021. Until the Steelers do find one or learn how to develop one, no matter how closely the likes of Omar and Andy emulate the Eagles strategy, it will never work. For that matter, Pittsburgh needs to first figure out its issues in the Front Office before tackling anything draft related as the kinks in the Model Franchise are now showing in a way that has not been seen in quite some time in the Steel City.

 

I would LOVE a draft that sees us snag Egbuka, Henderson, and Howard. Absolutely LOVE.

 

Howard is a waste in 3rd round

Backup at BEST, IMO. Won't move the needle n a lot of quality players to be had at that spot

Steelers have a ton of needs, from owner on down LOL

Get quality players, build a very solid team. Then in 2026 go get the qb like when Ben arrived in 04

Quality team AROUND a promising n talented young qb will help him excel like Daniels in DC this year

IMO

 

How do we know that it won't work if it's never been tried? The Eagles did it using defense. I'm saying the Steelers should try it using offensive players. There aren't many drafts where you're able to draft most of the players responsible for winning a Natty. THIS IS THE STEELERS ONE AND ONLY OPPORTUNITY!. We've tried drafting Chase Claypool didn't work. Kenny Pickett didn't work. Kendrick Green didn't work. Devin Bush didn't work. So why should I trust the Steelers strategy over mine? At least the players I'm drafting HAVE won a Championship and understand what it takes to lock in to win one.

 

Focus on skill positions while the trenches are crumbling around them....Not the way to build championships.

 

i mentioned this in the draft section. they could scout two teams and fill their draft needs. texas and ohio state this year. egbuke, judkins, howard, are more in my scenario. i think judkins is the better back overall. texas has some good DL talent and so does OSU as well as some OL talent and DB talent. easily could go with these two teams and fill needs.

 

The trenches are fine. We'll get Fautanu back healthy, plus the speed of Roman Wilson, an outside WR and a quick RB and the offense will be fine. The problem with the line is that the Steelers offensive players suck so bad that they don't help the line out whatsoever, even when the Oline is blocking great.

 

Who's saying you have to trust the Steelers ability to scout players?!


All I am stating is that emulating the Eagles will be quite difficult to accomplish; impossible as of now for again, there is no Franchise QB on the Roster that can permit the Steelers to orchestrate either the same or similar results from a multi year standpoint. Not only player acquisition but also coaching. Pittsburghs Coaching is no where near Phillys.

 

Steelers may not have coaching but right now the Steelers have Russ. And I know Russ doesn't sound sexy going 6-5 (with no weapons). But Russ last season beat: Jayden Daniels, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrows. And the year before he beat Pat Mahommes, Josh Allen and Jordan Love. So clearly the QB department isn't our biggest issue even though many may think so. I think we need to get those Ohio St Champions, add to this roster and Steelers would shock people much like the Eagles have. And this coaching staff was 1 win away from winning the division this season and potentially getting a 2 or 3 seed. And that's with no offense at all and a make shift Oline. All while missing their 2 stud offensive draft picks who were also in the Natty. Steelers really can corner the market with 5 players on offense who were in the College National Championship game the past 2 seasons.(Fautanu, R. Wilson, Ebuka, Trevyon Henderson and Will Howard) that would be unprecedented. I hope Omar Khan is reading.

 

I agree with you.

The Steelers need to take a little bit of a longer view than they have for the past 10 years. The Steelers are trying to compete every year for the super bowl. That sounds good, but the reality is that I think it holds us back from actually winning a super bowl because we're always plugging holes so that we have a shot. Reality is that we don't have a shot because we've got too many holes. Take a longer view and build the team right with the intention of creating a dynasty rather than a patchwork of players hoping to win a super bowl through some fluke.

As I said, I agree with you......but ...... Another thing that hamstrings the Steelers is that there has never been any effort to build a team around the strengths of a player or a couple of players. That means we can't just get a good quarterback and plug and play him. We're going to have to find a quarterback that fits into the Steelers offensive play style....... You know, the one we've used for the last 20 years.

 

Joe Burrows
Chris Collingsworth
Chuck Knoll
Mike Tomlinson
Bill Cowherd

 

Joe Boroughs

.... gotta love the offseason.

 

Maybe Joe could change his number to 00, like the old Houston Oiler WR Ken Burrough.

 

That's a nice plan. Let's do what we did in 2004. Draft a QB in first round, from Ohio State. Also around that time we got Palomalu and Randle El. So let get some mean safeties, and a receiver.
Meaning, we are close like we were under Cowher before Ben, but need that QB, and some playmakers in the defensive backfield.

 

Roethisberger attended college at Miami of Ohio. Not the Ohio State. Big difference.

Steelers are not close like they were in 2004. That is delusional thinking. Steelers were only 2 years removed from a playoff win and 3 years removed from AFC Championship with a good core of players already in place. Our best DL is 35 years old and our pro bowl free safety is in decline.

 

Heinz Wards

 

W

Great comment. We also don't have the key component to make the Eagle's strategy work, notably Howie Roseman and Jeffrey Lurie. The Eagles way isn't just about building the offensive and defensive lines, it is also about strategic free agency and cap management.

They not only stack their roster, but structure the contracts strategically. They just signed Jalen Hurts to a new deal, but his cap hit for 2025 is only $21 million. They deferred $97 million until 2029, which they likely can just restructure to spread that out further, as the overall cap increases.

This will enable them to compete now and keep Barkley a couple more years, sign Jalen Carter, etc.

If they win this Superbowl, they are going to get the discounted free agency perks of guys wanting a ring like the Chiefs and Patriots before them.

The most important part is making tough decisions, such as ditching a Superbowl winning Head Coach and Quarterback because you know they were one year wonders and aren't good enough to sustain long term.

You hit the nail on the head, coaching. The Steelers don't ditch coaches who are not good enough. Nick Siriani is constantly coaching for his job, because the Eagles will dump him on his ass if he underperforms.

The Eagles have a competing for championships attitude. The Steelers are competing for participation trophies.

 

College: Miami (OH)(2000–2003)

 

I'm not even going to imagine how a team's scouting dept. works, there (at times) seems to be an emphasis on regions and even teams when the draft comes around. Hell we have drafted MAC players quite a bit, Wisconsin and GA more recently. But to focus your efforts on one team, hoping they will all be there, when there are a thousand other guys out there is a bit problematic, no? I can't even keep up with you when you get started, lol.

To those saying wait until 2026 to get a QB, that's not how the process works. We did not go after Ben, he fell, was available and even then apparently was not Cowher's choice. You either have to suck bad enough to get into the top of the draft for a real chance at 'your guy', be in the top 10, or hope 'your guy' drops and you have the moxie, balls. and draft capitol to move up and grab him (as Reid did with Mahomes). Right now I really do not know or trust that this team's ownership and management has the vision to adapt this team to current standards. It looks like some core players are drafted and they play well, but they have trouble filling the holes that have brought problems for years.

Keep a QB from last year, draft one to set a year and develop, or wait till 26, quit thinking we are a player away and build the team.

 

I listen to sports radio while traveling for work, one of the shows (Arrington or Patrick) had a commentator on and was looking at what might be interesting developments in the offseason. He mentioned the Rams moving on from Stafford and said it would be interesting for the Steelers to make that deal because they feel they are close and just need a QB. Then went on to say Kupp could be had in the=at deal as well.


Choking back my coffee I thought 'are you nuts', lol. The 04 Steelers were that close, the 24 team was and is not.

 

Yep. The '01 AFC Championship team consisted of: Casey Hampton, Aaron Smith, Kimo Von Oelhoffen, Joey Porter, Kendrell Bell, Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress, Deshea Townsend, Alan Faneca (HOF), Jerome Bettis (HOF), Marvel Smith, Jeff Hartings.... most of which were on the Super Bowl Champion XL 2005 team.

Ike Taylor, Troy Polamalu (HOF), Antwaan Randle El, Heath Miller, Chris Hope, Brett Kiesel, Darren McFadden and Ben Roethlisberger put that team over the top.

 

Didn't know there is more than one Burrow.... where is the other hiding?

 

We would need to spend the next 2-3 drafts focusing on the DL and OL to build a roster like this. I'm all for it. Build a bully and then go do something drastic to get that QB. We're not likely getting to the Superbowl the next 3 years anyway with the QB's that are in our conference in their primes at the same time.

The thing I loved about the players you listed is that when the opposing team saw them get off the bus, they were intimidated. Heck, they were afraid Joey Porter might get on their bus and finish a fight. That team was full of alpha's.