2026 Draft and free agency with new start.

Well, this could and should be the most exciting spring time in Steeler Nation history. This draft should be an absolute party for the fans. 2026 should be the biggest restart of any NFL franchise in decades.

 

I agree 100%!


Khan and Weidl (assuming he stays) can both spearhead the operation. Hopefully Weidl can convince AR II and the Rooneys that today's NFL is an Offensive League and Offense is the best way to win games given how many rules are in place of it. Klint Kubiak is still my number one but I am not opposed to other options.

 

https://thesteelersfans.com/forums/threads/regime-change.36123/

 

I'm all for promoting Weidl to GM and getting rid of Khan. Khan really blew it by trading Pickens and not even getting a WR2 to replace him. I don't know enough about Klint Kubiak, but he seems like an up and comer.

 

Well we currently sit at $39 million in cap space. The following cuts could really help free up some money...

Cam Heyward - $14,250,000
Jalen Ramsey - $19,500,000
Jonnu Smith - $7,000,000
Malik Harrison - $4,750,000 - TOTAL: $45.5 million added ($84.5 million overall)

Highsmith, Watt, and DK could all be restructured... We could legitimately go into the FA period with around $100 million dollars to improve this team. We would need to keep money available for Porter Jr. (or simply just extend him after the season is over). But we could be in a GREAT situation. Get ourselves a really good looking young HC, hire some actual coordinators, and spend some freaking money in FA to better this team.

 

And what would the dead cap be for cutting those four players?

 

Cam Heyward - $14,250,000 $4.9M Dead
Jalen Ramsey - $19,500,000 $0 Dead
Jonnu Smith - $7,000,000 $3.8725M Dead
Malik Harrison - $4,750,000 $2.04M Dead

All savings listed are net after dead money.

 

I want youth, not free agents past their prime. Bring back days of letting Woodson, Lake, Merriweather go before their declines. Build and maintain through the draft

 

We need to blow it up. No more aging vets on rediculous contracts past their prime. I think the above cuts are no brainers. I would also consider trading Watt. He is no longer the same player and his contract doesn’t warrant keeping him around. Give him a chance to go somewhere like a Philadelphia and win some playoff games. I don’t know what we can get him for him maybe a 3rd or 2nd at best.

I would extend Herbig, Porter Jr. and maybe sign a Malik Willis to compete with Howard. Queen is another one that was a bad signing along with Metcalf. They aren’t instinctual and they play without heart. They are both more athlete than football player. If we can trade them for 2nd round picks I would.

I would then hire the Kubiak and bring in Cleveland’s DC to be our DC. Go get the best oline coach you can find and finish building out the trenches on both sides of the ball in the draft and free agencey.

I would not reach on a QB in the draft. Sampson will probably be there. Is he worth it at pick 21 or is he another Kenny Pickett. Maybe you trade picks and accumulate for next year so you can be sure to be in a top three position to draft your QB.

‘they also need to draft and use free agencey in wr, cb, and safety. ILB and Edge too if we trade away the high priced under achieving vets.

‘we also need a legitimate NT that can actually occupy multiple blockers and keep our inside linebackers clean, Benton has been miscast.

I still love Watt but his better days are behind him and to be fair to him does he really want to be part of a rebuild?

 

I think they all should be cut and a few more as well. It was borderline criminal playing Jonnu Smith and leaving Muth on the bench.

 

We made some bad signings including the Queen, Metcalf and the Watt extension. It’s going to be hard to get out from all of these.

 

Any offensive coordinator that is good will always get a shot at being a head coach, which is why the Steelers need their top coach to be a offensive mind, especially for a rookie QB. It is where the league has gone with the rules.

That doesn't mean stop running the ball and go all passing, but more creative with formations, better O-Line coaching, use of slants, and seam routes.

 

I agree but I doubt we get much for Watt. Simpson is not better than Howard, especially drafting that high.

 

The most important thing in a Watt trade is a team willing to take on $64M in guaranteed salary the next two years while the Steelers swallow $30M in deferred SB money. The alternative is to continue being on the hook for $94M. As a Steeler fan I'll take a third day pick just to get out from under that guarantee.

 

I actually think bringing a new coach will make it less likely we reach on a QB in the first round. I think had Tomlin stayed we probably would have reached on Simpson out of Tomlins desperation.

we need to get a QB guru as HC and then bring in a tenured aggressive DC like Cleveland’s DC. Perhaps they could rejuvenate Watt and learn how to use Queen and Wilson better. I do think with small fast ilb’s you need to scheme it right to protect them. We don’t do that.

watch Rooney just promote Arthur Smith to HC. That would be a disaster.

 

Thank you for this. Should have included it. The dead money would be less than $11 million total and the savings would be $45.5 million

 

Well the Queen signing expires after 2026. It isn't going to be difficult to get out of. Just let him walk for free after next season if we want to. The Watt extension is the one that hurts. Metcalf is still a quality enough player, and will be worth close to his money (especially if he gets to statistically improve with a better offensive scheme/QB play and and another WR weapon to keep all the doubles off of him). TJ is pretty much looking like he's going to be an 8-10 sack a year guy getting 15+ sack a year guy money... That isn't good. We have him for 3 more years, and if any more deterioration in play occurs, then we're going to regret that contract big time. This is unfortunately the cost of hanging onto Tomlin and trying to win with him for as long as we did. We make this decision a year ago and we aren't having this conversation.

 

It depends on what type of coach we get. If we go for someone like Kubiak, I could see him wanting a QB (and I'd be fine drafting him one, as the Shanahan system seems to be good for young QB's to be successful. Any of the 3 QB's in the first round would be good fits in the system).

If we want a tenured and aggressive DC, I could assume that Matt Patricia could be an option. He might want back into the NFL after a quality season at Ohio State. He is a base 3-4, but is highly diverse and adaptive in his looks, wants his team to play fast and aggressive, and tends to prioritize players that can be position flexible. Could be a good place to start looking.

I think we hire a young first time coach, as that seems to be the Steeler MO... However, I wouldn't be surprised to see Brian Flores and Kevin Stefanski get a look. Either of those guys could be good additions.

 

I don’t want a retread. I want a young innovative guy someone from the Rams or SF.

 

Exactly. Well said. Had we dine this past year we could have had a chance the guy Chicago got, probably not though because we didn’t have a QB to entice him with. When you look at the openings out there I think we are number three maybe number two with the ravens opening being more appealing because of Lamar. I think the Giants are probably more appealing right now as well.

 

I agree mostly, but Stefanski at least hires good coordinators and helped rebuild Cleveland from zero. His philosophy would be well received by the city.

 

Our opening will likely be 1B to the Ravens' 1A. Too much history and stability with the org to see it otherwise. This isn't like we have the Jets' roster... We have some young talent and a good bit of cap space. Ownership doesn't give up on coaches easily either... It's going to be a highly sought after job (even more so than the NYG job, even with Dart).