AFCN QB Cap Hits

2026 Cap hits for AFCN QBs:

• D. Watson - $80.7M (last year of his contract, 3 more years of void, yoi)
• L. Jackson - $74.5M (word is they are reworking his contract, yet again)
• J. Burrow - $48M (a relative bargain if only he could stay healthy)
• M. Rudolph - $4.6M, Howard - $1.1M (LOL... even if Rodgers comes back we are talking half of what the other guys are spending, talk about bargains. This is the time to load up on premium FAs with short term contracts)

 

We have our big CAP hit guy. He's just on the other side of the ball. And unfortunately, not playing up to that value either.

 

"Dislike" - not your comment, .. but the guy.

 

SURELY THE TEAMS IN BOLD WENT TO THE PLAYOFFS AND HAD WINNING SEASONS
YES?

 

the contract not the guy for me

 

When you are paying franchise QB contracts it gets real hard to build a complete team.

 

Yea, better word.

 

Surely the bold have won multiple super bowls? 1 each? Just 1?

 

Watson gives me a good laugh. I'm surprised diehard Brown fans didn't burn the stadium down on that brilliant Browns move.

Then again are there any diehard Brown fans left?

 

Yes. They die hard every year.

 

I like it even better remembering all the guys on here that were just so sure we should have gotten Watson. Oh how quickly they went silent.

 

Wasn't around at that time but would have been a fun debate

 

It wasn't me. I wanted Steelers to get Baker Mayfield after Pickett and Trubisky flopped.

 

LOL Stains!

 

Sure..but he's clearly way more valuable than Watson.

And his cap hit is ~$23.5MM.

There will be a pretty big decision re: Watt next offseason though. Cap hit jumps to ~ $40MM.

 

sorry to burst some bubbles but out cheap model hasn’t been working out for us.

Lamar made an AFCCG in 2023 and won a playoff game in 2025.

Joe Brrrr made a SB and an AFCCG in 2021 and 2022

We haven’t won a playoff game since 2016.

These cap hits are UGLY but Watson is the only one looks like a bad investment. These other teams still have hope that if the QB is healthy, they have a chance.

We need to find a QB who plays so well we have to give them a dumb high contract.

 

If Lamar and Burrow stay healthy
A whole different situation
You are correct

 

Steelers took their chance on your QB draft pick Pickett but after two seasons he hightailed it out of the 'Burgh. He wasn't the answer. Obviously.

I expect them to draft a later round QB this season, not to be an eventual starter but to replace Rudolph. Rudolph is a known status quo backup. Better to take shots on a young QB that could become something rather than keeping status quo on the roster.

 

But they don’t stay healthy

 

While the 'hope' part is true, it is also true NONE of these investments have actually paid off.
The market value for franchise level QBs is insanely high. The market value for just the regular ye ole starting level NFL QB is staggering.
The Steelers took chances on former starters at the QB spot. It didn't work but it was still a solid plan. Trubisky, Fields, Wilson, and Rodgers were all NFL starters, with 2 of them having QB'd SB wins. Again, it did not work. I fully get that and hope we abandon that mindset for now. But at least we didn't spend elite QB money on trial and error. That would have made it even worse.

Personally, I would not have paid LJ his current contract. I just don't see the value. Watson is the worse of both sides. The contract was stupid, and then his play completely fell off a cliff on top of the cost. Burrow is at least understandable with the team getting to a SB. His injury history though makes his current contract less shiny.


Would I want any of these guys for the 2026 Steelers QB? Not really, for the reasons I laid out. Keep trying to find our guy.

 

to be honest our defensive heavy contracts haven't won us jack. it's nice to like a player and his accolades but unless they are winning you championships they are like a golden anchor.

 

We bailed on Kenny after 2 years. Like I have said before, when a tram brings in a QB who previously won a SB an agent an his client are not going to stick around. You can call it high tailing, I call it a business decision.

We also put Pickett with one the worst OC in NFL history. Where is Canada now?

Another late round QB? Why would we do that unless Howard sucks. Go get a Mac Jones or someone with actual potential instead of old vets. Its a young man’s game.

 

You're correct about that. The team managed to get quarterbacks at very affordable salaries, and they are not strapped with big cap hits and dead money. It is now presenting them the opportunity to come at the quarterback position from any angle they choose.

I hope they choose the path of youth and development. I don't care if it's a free agent, a trade, or a draft pick from this year or last year. It's time to try to develop the quarterback position into something that can be the answer to the issue for at least a decade, maybe longer.