Our current young talent

I think the list of players listed here was weird... our young talent is actually quite good IMO.

We have Jones, Herbig, Washington, Porter Jr., Fautanu, McCormick, Frazier, Cook, Howard, Sawyer, Payton Wilson, Harmon, Black, Benton... all on rookie deals. There are some quite good players in there, and some guys that are at least solid pieces. It's not even to mention a good rotational piece in Spencer Anderson and quality ST player in Bruener. It is hard to say that our young talent is lacking. Plus, I am hopeful with all the draft picks we have, that the 2026 draft adds a good bit of talent to the roster.

Wilson and Johnson have been quite dreadful so far, but there is a lot of good talent to like as well. Fautanu, Porter Jr, Frazier, Herbig, and Harmon all look like they could be future high end players. Many of the others listed are going to be long time starters too (Benton, Washington, McCormick), while there's some good depth pieces to develop in Sawyer, Black, and Howard. P. Wilson and Jones at the very least look starter capable if they up their game a bit. Hitting on this draft will be important, but I think that many on here are far too critical of the talent on this team. We aren't a top 5 team talent wise, but were average to above average easily.

 

Cook is better than Dan Moore. Moore never played as well for a 4+ game stretch. You can check the PFF rating because as far I know there is not another rating system out there for the public to compare and contrast players. Cook is better than Moore both on the field using our own eyes , in stats such as QB sacks against, penalties against and qb pressures against , and by independent ratings such as PFF.




Wilson can get open. He might not run routes well, but he has gotten open in 2025 camp, 2025 pre-season, and the few games he played in 2025. He did not get a helmet because his head coach did not play him and his OC did little to demand he plays. Tweedledum and teewedee are not Pittsbugh Steeelers anymore. Funny that no beat or web person keyed upon Roman Wilson not being able to run routes. Missing the snap counts, or lining up out of position! There are no examples on film of him running the wrong routes either.



AR may not come back either. And he is not above the head coach or OC. At his age, AR is the type that can play decent IF the OL holds up and keeps the clean. He protects his body by getting rid of the football early. Seldom does he throw it deep over the middle or use the middle of the field often. He is a quick read, check down type of QB these days..who rolls his eyes when at players when things are the way he likes them. That is not a leader. It does not matter if he's right. I'd roll with a new starting QB, whether that is Howard , or a new QB in free agency or the draft.

 

Good point.

 

Cook does have a chance to make the team next year maybe as a swing tackle behind Jones and Fautanu

 

I go on what I see. Where is the film or him running the wrong routes?! Where are the beat writers essentially covering the team 24 x 7 and all of the camera aiming at the action? This should not be too hard to find, right?


He was deep on the bench. In Tomlin's dog house. Funny the man produces in camp, the pre-season, and the select few games he played in 2025 when given the chance. Wilson can prodce plays.

Tomlin and his men are out. Beat writers who feared his repercussions don't have to worry about exposing him anymore.

If Tomlin or Smith said Wilson is not playing because he ran the wrong way on play X , Okay. But they have not said that at all for 2025. Only generic statements on why he is not playing. I am not buying what is being shoveled. He is not that stupid to learn 3 routes on say 15 plays.

Roman will get a fresh start next season.

 

not to mention the qb and wr have to see the same thing at the same time. that's why we went out and got vet receivers. not sure how smart wilson was but the physical was there but i'm not sure the mental was there. MT was good at picking those types. they take longer and some never get it.

 

I like our roster with FA and draft picks and philosophy changes we can compete.

 

And every time Rodgers was asked about him he says something like "has the tools, but needs to work hard on the details".

Part of that is because that seems to be that Rodgers says about every young WR. But Wilson not playing seems to be a Rodgers thing IMO.

I guess we'll get to see if AR comes back.

 

We are not going to agree on this issue and you are completely sidestepping what I am requesting. Read the questionmakrs.

Okay do pre season games and the limited amount of time Wison has played in the regular season count for this " complication " you speak of? YES or NO?


Wilson had zero dropped passes according to PFF. Where is the evidence of him running the wrong routes? Don't say oh he is and hide behind lack of film produced. I am requesting for you or someone to show me where he failed to adjust. You have 164 snaps to do so....




-
Pass Snaps
164
-
Targets
20
-
Routes Run
155
-
Receptions
12
-
Receiving Yards
166
-
Receiving Touchdowns
2
-
Drops
0
-
Yards Per Reception
13.8
-
Yards After Catch Per Reception
5.6
-
Passer Rating When Targeted
120
-
Average Depth Of Target
13.8


I willl end by agreeing with you. I too hope that Wilson can break out in 2026.


PS: I think you do a fine job on the board. Peace.

 

PFR also has him with no drops. In part because he didn't get many targets (they have him at 21 instead of 22).

Total offensive snaps was 253 (vs 5 last year).

PFR's passer rating when targeted stat is a little worse @ 114, but similar.

All of this agrees with all the comments you can find when Rodgers talks about him: "He has the tools and can make plays. But he has to be consistent. And he has to work the details.".

Hopefully that's something he takes to heart / is able to do this offseason. Because if Rodgers comes back, I think he'll struggle to get playing time again. Particularly since I'd imagine one of MM's + Omar's primary focuses this offseason will be to get an influx of talent at WR.

 

AR has bad facial reactions to ALL players when they screw up. His way of shaming them on TV. A leader does not do this.

I have yet to see Wislon " screw up " on video.

I think the Steelers are two key players away from the superbowl and look forward to an offense that uses the middle on the field with its WR and gets better coaching in general.

Well see and judge Roman Wilson then.

We can win a playoff game next year.

 

This is crazily optimistic IMO. We're kind of OK everywhere. But we don't really have any star players on the team currently...unless we count Watt, who hasn't played like a star for two seasons (really hurts to write). We should be rebuilding, but Rooney is dead set against it.

Is there any position aside from C (and probably RT) on offense where you wouldn't want an upgrade if you were going to be a true SB contender?

• We don't have a QB. So "just two key players away" clearly means that one of them is an elite (or at least very good) QB. Just the hardest thing to find in pro sports.
• In an ideal world, DK is a WR2. But if we had two DK type WRs that would be good. We'd also want a good WR3. So currently we have one of those top 3 WRs you'd want as a SB contender IMO.
• While I like Warren, I think he's better as the 40 in a 60/40 split. So ideally, we'd have an elite RB. I wouldn't go out of my way to improve this position this offseason. But I would use one of those rd 3/4 picks on one. And I think it's always a good idea to bring in at least one UDFA RB since they pan out reasonably frequently.
• I think we're fine at TE with Washington and PF. Not great a huge strength, but two about average guys is OK.
• Good at C and RT
• I'd really like to have a good to great LT for a SB. Hopefully Cook can at least be good. But needs more than a handful of games to see what he is IMO.
• Not super comfortable with either of our guards. IS will be 32 and is a UFA now (I think). McCormick is just a guy IMO.

How about defense?

• Edge is a position of strength.
• We have one good CB (I personally think he's very good). You really like to have two. And a good nickle.
• Not terrible at ILB. I think it's worrisome that Wilson wasn't clearly better than Harrison. He's the hope for the future IMO. Queen is OK, but a disappointment relative to the hype / contract IMO.
• DL is not Cam and a bunch of replacement level players anymore. But Cam can't stay healthy forever (will he retire?). Harmon looks to be good. Benton has been a disappointment relative to his draft position, but he had his best season to date last year. Hoping that Black grows into something...seemed to fizzle after a pretty good start.
• At S: I liked Elliott when he was healthy. Ramsey made some big plays for us but hopefully he gets better at playing S with an offseason to work on it.

We're not close to competing for a SB. Especially in an AFC that's stacked with talent at the QB position. Particularly if Maye and Nix end up being good for real.

IMO, it will be interesting to see how long people can go on blaming Tomlin if we struggle for the next few seasons.

 

Two key players away from a super bowl as if a very good starting QB and say a top flight WR or CB.

See what the Seahawks and Patriots did the season before and what they added and developed now at QB.

 

It will be even more interesting to see how long fans will still defend Tomlin if the team can win a lot of games and have great success with a sixth round quarterback, draft one this season and he develops quickly, or sign a QB in free agency. I keep hearing Tomlin supporters gleefully waiting for the floor to fall out from this team so they can say "I told you so".

They are the same people that have said and are saying that every quarterback that wasn't taken in the first couple picks of the draft wasn't worthy and that Mike Tomlin would be stuck with a substandard quarterback again. It's like some fans were ready to tear down any quarterback before he even got to Pittsburgh to already have a built-in excuse that Tomlin didn't have an elite talent at the position.

Hell, some people here make it sound like poor Mike Tomlin had to suffer with Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback his last ten years.

It is a very strange thing to see.

I have to see what offensive and defensive schemes they go with. Then we need to see the talent they bring in from the draft and free agency. Things can get much worse or much better based on the approach they take, but with the amount of cap space, a roster full of young talent that is going to continue to get better, and potentially a new offense and new defense seems to point to the fact that the team isn't going to implode. There will be an adjustment period with everyone getting up to speed, but this is a team that will most likely be competing for the playoffs.

You say that the team isn't a Super Bowl contender, but look at the team that is representing the AFC in the Super Bowl.

The Patriots were 4-13 in 2024 with Jerrod Mayo as head coach. They had a talented young quarterback, hired a new head coach, played the weakest schedule, won a ton of games, had everything fall their way, and they are in the Super Bowl representing the AFC. I mean, if anything tells people how quickly things can happen if everything is done well and some things fall your way, it is the story of the Patriots. There are no perfect teams or juggernauts in the AFC.

This can be done relatively quickly. Will they do it? Who knows. We're going to have to watch and see it unfold.

 

I'm old enough to remember when Tomlin haters said he would get exposed once Ben is gone .

 

I don’t know I think he has a chance to com-eye for a starting opportunity at LT. He played just as good as Jones if not better at times. He would also be a cheaper option. I still Darnell would be the best option at LT.

 

So am I.

The problem seems to be that many fans like you consider the years since Ben injured his arm as a success, while others don't.

Clearly, Tomlin is great with leadership, keeping everyone together, and getting everyone to give their best on the field.

Not quite as good as hiring and firing assistant coaches, adapting to modern concepts, knowing the difference between a good and bad offensive system, and developing quarterbacks.

In my estimation, people like me were trying to warn fans that complained about Big Ben that they better appreciate him while he's here. I supported and believed in Mike Tomlin and Big Ben. It is only the last several years that showed me that Tomlin wasn't willing to do everything necessary to move the team forward to better things.

I have no idea if McCarthy is going to be an awesome hire. My gut says no, but that he has a chance to be if he actually does adapt his thinking and he embraces some new offensive concepts and can incorporate that into his system. There are some things McCarthy has always done well.

Again, I want to see what McCarthy is going to do from here before we throw him a party or start digging his grave as a head coach. I'm not going to say that he doesn't have a chance. The organization is a large part of the reason that coaches succeed in Pittsburgh. Hardly anybody seems to want to mention that part of it. There have always been smart football people in the building that help keep the organization successful. It's not just a coach.

 

Hey jeh, we could have had Daronld in free agency but did not give him the length of the contract he was looking for. Might we be better off with him?

 

Better maybe

But that is not what you stated

 

Tomlin went nine seasons without winning a playoff game, hired bozos for coaches and is overrated in many ways. We will see about his hard core fans defending him if / when the news comes out that is brewing. Mike T did not say goodbye to the fans and left under the cover of darkness. Who does that? Not one peep to the football media.

I don't know what it was, but people who suddenly leave without saying goodbye are usually running from something. In this case it could be bad news for him.

You are very correct with New England and Seattle turning around. The right coach and QB can impact ANY team, even those who went 4-13!

Next year with McCarthy steering the ship. A lot of room on the cap, and 12 draft picks we are better than 50/50 to win a playoff game.

 

They weren't going to win anything after Ben retired at least the team didn't bottom out without a franchise QB.

 

He said goodbye to the team and other people in the organization; you act like he was supposed to address the fans or something .