The Steelers are setting themselves up for when they get their franchise QB

After this season they are going to have to start paying those guys on the OL, Heyward will probably be off the books and they still won't be paying a franchise QB.

 

Their going to need to pay JPJ, Benton, Frazier, Fautanu, Herbig, Washington, Queen and others this and next offseason. I don't see DK and Ramsey as a longterm solutions, but they're fairly simple contracts to dump next March. Ol wise I think a QB is going into a good situation, but we'll need another WR or two. We have pillars on each side of the ball, so that's a net positive, but there's quite a few contracts I'd like to dumb as of yesterday.

 

Probably have to pay the entire roster

 

Gonna have to pay those players. If anything, I expect Frazier to reset the market provided he earns First Team All Pro this season. That is something I truly believe he is capable of doing barring injury. Troy Fautanu is a bit of a wait and see approach but should he do well, he will be the first Steelers Rookie that was drafted by the team to receive the fifth year option since T.J. Watt.

With any luck, Derrick Harmon will be the second.

 

You guys keep saying Herbig he might not want to stay in Pittsburgh if they keep Highsmith and Watt, he wants to be a starter and might test free agency. Queen can walk unless he plays lights out this season, paying those other guys shouldn't be a problem the salary cap will continue to go up.

 

The same reaction we have after your repetitive posts .

 

They're not paying Herbig 20m- 25m+ to be a rotational piece man. One of the 3 won't be on the roster in 2027, regardless of the salary cap going up. I honestly prefer to keep Herbig and Highsmith moving forward, but I can't see them taking a 20m dead cap hit by trading Watt, which leaves Highsmith or Herbig as the odd man out.

 

I don't think Herbig is going to re-sign this offseason, I wouldn't be surprised to see Highsmith and Watt play out their contracts.

 

Do the math...

Herbig will command 20-25m(closer to 25m) apy
JPJ will command top ten money for his position: 25m-30m apy
Frazier will command top 3 money for his position, if not reset the market for C: 25m+ apy
Fautanu will command top 10-15 for OT, which is close to 20m, if not more, apy
McCormick will command far less than those above him, but at least 15m-20 apy
Washington will command close to 5m- 10m apy

So even if they dump Heyward, Ramsey, Queen and DK in 27 and 28, these contracts will offset those savings and thats before they make other trade acquisitions and FA signings.

Even though the salary cap increases, subsequent contracts also increase.

So who do you propose be the upcoming odd man out out of JPJ, Frazier, Fautanu and Herbig as each will be looking at deals in the 20m+ range ontop of the current deals of Dean 14m, Pittman 26m, Highsmith 21m, and TJ 42m and the other 35-40 men to be signed.

My #'s for JPJ and Frazier may be a bit conservative as it looks like JPJ is looking at roughly 31m APY.

 

31m for JPJ is too high you better be first team All-Pro for that kind of money, I say 25m APY should be their max offer 4 years 100m. And you're forgetting say they draft another QB in the first round next year they will be paying peanuts for their QB room. Herbig will likely become a free agent let him leave and take the comp pick.

 

I'm not going to do the math. I'll let the Khan-Man do it. He's much better at it than I am.

 

Why take a comp pick (3rd or 4th rd) when you can trade him tomorrow for a 2nd and a day 3 pick?

 

You're assuming a lot for a guy who is a backup that they could get a second for him.

 

I hear many players get upset if they don't get paid.

 

Perplexity, Grok and other sources indicated his potential trade value/2nd contract. I mean, sure AI isn't the best source, but it acquires a collection of sources when it makes it's reports.

 

Yeah it’s a union thing

 

2027 is the year they can cut or trade highsmith. they can save 15.5 mil. dead money will be 5.6 mil. much less than this year. heyward will be another 16 mil with 7.475 in dead money. if they designate them as june 1 cuts it will cut the dead money in half per year. if heyward retires we will owe his money.

right now they have 41.036 mil cap room with 44 players under contract for 2027 with no moves made.

 

They have a OL in the making - you always draft line of scrimmage players and keep the stable full.
But there's also a calling, to make moves to playmakers that can impact the game.
If they find that they do not have the QB of the future here, then they have to pony up somewhere and that is going to cost a little.

Free Agency, well, you'll always have attrition in that phase.
It's why you keep drafting the line of scrimmage - those rookie contracts and mix them with top guys.
In the meantime, you have to know where and when that window is for the Super Bowl and make those risks to take full advantage of that opportunity.

 

Assuming they can get that much in return, the difference is not having him for the 2026 season.

 

I mulled the Brown to NE deal for a while, wondering if that is what's best for the young QB as Diggs had a decent year no doubt.
I think Brown is probably the best thing for Maye. Diggs' catch radius is crazy, but Brown just is always open and makes those catches as well.
Hurts owes a lot to Brown.

I think both trades get a better upon further review.
Garrett is a definite upgrade to that Ram Defense and Brown gives the young franchise QB a very good target to depend on.

 

See this is why you shouldn’t think and should just stick to reposting SteelersDepot

 

DK was a terrible cap hit and a hugely disappointing player compared to the production we expected. Meanwhile, Pickens is out there playing like a top-5 wide receiver in the NFL.

Queen is very overpaid. Using PFF grade on him: " Queen is a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers who earned a 44.0 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season, 78th among 88 qualified linebackers. His PFF coverage grade of 31.3 ranked 83rd among 88 qualified linebackers. His run-defense grade of 58.4 ranked 64th at the position. "

We need to trade Alex Highsmith for whatever value we can get. Ideally if another team eats some of that cap hit. All three (DK, Queen, and Highsmith) should be gone by 2028. These signings were straight-up Khanfoolery. The man is not good at handing out big free-agent contracts to players from other teams.

Ramsey still has a solid 1-2 years left, but he turns 32 in October. Bottom line: shop Highsmith and see what Howard and Allar can become at QB. We are not finding a top qb in free agency. If neiter Howard or Allar pan out then draft a QB in round one of 2028.

 

A lot of scenarios are becoming due in the upcoming 27 offseason.
That's not unusual for any NFL team but here in Pittsburgh, it is looming a little larger.
Omar is going to have to think out of his normal box of thinking, and maybe with McCarthy, he gets a little help.
TJ, Heyward, QB, WR (still) are key issues.

QB is going to have be a high cost. If the 2 rookies flop, make no doubt about QB will have to be the #1 deal.
Of course, if the opposite is true, we are in must calmer waters.
On that note, if Highsmith does get traded before the deadline, they are thinking ahead about QB and also so much for the better if one of the rookies steps up.
Omar needs to hit on game-changers anyway.
So setting themselves up is not a bad thing.

They need to get a core of young talented players going.
I saw the remark on ESPN or somewhere, where someone felt the Jets have a better core of youth and talent than the Steelers. I would agree.
Though the Jets suck, mainly because that front office is awful and they'll flub it up somehow.
We have to mine out hits like:

• Tetairoa McMillan — WR, Carolina Panthers — AP/PFWA Offensive Rookie of the Year; led rookie receivers in yards and TDs.
• Carson Schwesinger — LB, Cleveland Browns — PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year; led rookies in tackles and TFLs. (makes me sick)
• Kelvin Banks Jr. — LT, New Orleans Saints — early first-round starter, high-end rookie LT play.
• Nick Emmanwori — S/NB, Seattle Seahawks — versatile defensive impact.
• TreVeyon Henderson — RB, New England Patriots — productive rookie running back.