Steelers take giant gamble via now not addressing QB with most sensible pick out

While Harmon fills an enormous want at the line of defense, it does now not cope with the largest want for the group on a temporary or long-term foundation. That want, clearly, is quarterback.

As of Thursday evening the Steelers’ quarterback room contains handiest Mason Rudolph and Skyler Thompson. 

They didn’t retain Russell Wilson or Justin Fields from ultimate 12 months’s workforce, ignored out on nearly each and every different unfastened agent or industry possibility, and for the second one offseason in a row are having a look at an entire overhaul in their quarterback room.

On a temporary foundation, they proceed to play the ready recreation with unfastened agent Aaron Rodgers. But even though he comes to a decision to play this season — and play in Pittsburgh — he’s at the fallacious facet of 40, might not be any excellent anymore and could be a big distraction because of his off-field presence and persona. 

On a long-term foundation, they’ve no actual quarterback possibilities at the horizon and don’t also have a second-round pick out this season to take a look at and protected one of the crucial quarterbacks that has slid down the draft board after buying and selling it for vast receiver DK Metcalf. 

Do they nonetheless consider in Rodgers as a one-year stop-gap? Are they surroundings their points of interest on a probably deeper 2026 quarterback magnificence, with the draft being held in Pittsburgh?

Those are all very real looking chances. 

Sanders is a long way from a positive factor, and there’s a explanation why he has fallen down the draft board. He does now not possess an elite arm or athleticism, and his largest strengths are extra intangible (toughness, sensible, accuracy) than game-changing characteristics. He may now not pan out, but when he does, he would have raised the Steelers’ season greater than another place would have.

The Steelers have now not gained a playoff recreation in 8 years regardless of ceaselessly being there, and the loss of even an above-average quarterback is the largest explanation why. Until they repair that place it does now not topic what their line of defense, offensive line or vast receiver positions appear to be.