Team Building moving forward

I'm bored and I'm sure some of this will change between now and April, but would rather look ahead than continously vent on the present.

We're getting closer to 5th year option decisions for Broderick and Fautanu as well as 2nd contract decisions for the likes of Herbig, JPJ, Benton, McCormick and Frazier.

Then vets like Queen has an expiring deal in 26, whom they'll probably want to bring back, but wouldn't surprise me if they offloaded him for being underwhelming.

This means that the days of relying on stopgaps on defense are coming to an end; we probably got one, maybe two more, offseasons that we can afford to go this route so positions like S and CB are going to have to be internal options via the draft very soon.

Also a decision between Highsmith and Herbig likely gets made come March. I know that Ramsey is signed through 2027, I just don't think he'll be on the team through then. Even in 26 he doesn't carry a dead cap so he's an easy piece of cap space worth shedding, albeit it probably makes more sense trading him. It's not financially feasible to trade TJ until after June 1st 2027, so he's going nowhere, unless he retires. But I'd view Edge as a midround need soon, but not immediate.

My team needs via draft, fa or trade: ZWR, LG (perhaps Anderson is an internal option), TE, T (depth), DT, Edge (depth), ILB (starter or depth), CB, Box Safety, Free Safety, #3 safety/slot CB (assuming Ramsey moves on).

With all of this said, I'm anticipating a pretty dominant draft on the defensive side of the ball these next two years. I think we'll get our QB in 26 or 27, but as pressing as it is, I definitely can see them waiting until 27.

 

Well- we don't have to decide on the 5th year options for starting tackle who have played a little better as of late until the end of their 4th year

CUT Highsmith. And only bring Queen back if he will take 1/3 if his cap #

And find a new head coach.

 

Yep. Kinda why I snuck this thread in the draft forum as decisions on Broderick effect the draft strategy moving forward.

 

I outlined this since the 2024 Offseason given how the Steelers were not selecting a QB in Round One in 2025. Broderick performing well will bode well overall for everybody involved.. should he be able to do it. That was my message for over a year.


It is now halfway into the 2025 Season. After a brutal first three weeks, Broderick began to settle in. Despite the results of the past two weeks, the past two weeks have been some of the best Football Broderick Jones has played in his young career. That said, I anticipated myself that the young Offensive Line would need time to gel.


I predicted that the young Offensive Line would endure growing pains, some more severe than others until at least week 8; week 6 being my most optimistic take at the time. I am personally happy I ended up being right regarding the optimistic take as the first three weeks were a bit more brutal than I thought.


Overall, Broderick Jones has had more ups than downs as of the past two weeks. Will that change against Indy?! It very well could?! It may not. I hope it doesnt.


As I outlined before and will again; Broderick Jones panning out does wonders for Pittsburghs 2026 Draft Plans. Doesnt mean they should not elect to take a developmental tackle with some good promise. It just means that addressing the more dire needs will be more efficient to solve.

 

How I stand rn is I'd draft, at the bare minimum, 3 of the first 5 picks on defense, and I'm not even looking at QB until 2027. I'm not opposed to selecting defense on all 5 picks of the first two days of the draft. They won't do that obviously as a WR is likely picked somewhere in there. I'd be using excess picks to trade up for DL.

This is going to be one interesting Spring.

 

I personally wouldn't be shocked if the Steelers deploy the same strategy that was used in 2024 to fix the Offensive Line; go heavy in the Secondary. Ideally, two Corners and one Safety. Could target the Corner on Day One and, if not?! Oh most definitely a double dip in Day three perceeded by nabbing one on Day Two.

 

I hear you. Elliot and JPJ will probably be the only returning starters on the back end out of 5. This defense is a 2-3 draft rebuild. I definitely consider trading Highsmith for picks and platoon right edge with Herbig and Sawyer, which means at some point they need more edge depth. This is an absolute mess.

 

I'm not opposed to going DL day 1, CB 2nd and a S, MLB and CB in the 3rd, and unfortunately due to these circumstances, all 5 will start day 1 (barring injuries).