The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a rollercoaster of an offseason. They entered the offseason at a crossroads between trying to compete (and likely remaining in purgatory) or entering a rebuild. Just a few months before training camp starts, there are still more questions than answers. The Steelers offseason has had something for everyone to love and something for everyone to hate. Some of their moves point to a rebuild, while others appear like they are trying to contend in 2025.
Puzzling Steelers Offseason Further Muddied by Pickens Trade
Pickens Move Leads to More Confusion
Given the holes on their roster, it would be sensible for Pittsburgh to enter a rebuild phase, something they have been putting off since Ben Roethlisberger retired. They have made some moves this offseason which point to a rebuild. Their most recent move, trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, is an obvious sign the team is not trying to contend this year. Pickens was on the last year of his rookie deal and wasn’t going to be extended next offseason. So, it was very rational for Pittsburgh to move on and acquire extra draft capital for the 2026 draft.
While it was smart to deal Pickens, the move made Omar Khan’s approach to the rest of the Steelers offseason a little more confusing, especially the draft. After the trade was reported, it was also reported that Pittsburgh tried dealing Pickens during the draft. Knowing they were trying to move on from him, it was asinine for the team to not draft a receiver at any point in the draft. While Derrick Harmon and Kaleb Johnson remain good picks, the questionable Jack Sawyer selection becomes even more puzzling. Pittsburgh drafted their #4 outside linebacker when they don’t have a #2 wide receiver.
Moving on from Pickens made sense, especially if Pittsburgh is looking ahead to 2026. The path taken to get to the trade was questionable at best, though.
Other Moves Send Mixed Signals
The rest of the Steelers offseason has been filled with what can be best described as mixed signals. It has been hard to tell what exactly Pittsburgh is trying to accomplish in 2025. If they are trying to compete, signing Darius Slay to a one-year contract was a good move. He’s 34 years old but likely has another good year left in the tank. However, if they want to rebuild, the Steelers should have tried to get younger at the cornerback position, both through free agency and prior to the seventh round in the draft.
Trading a second round pick for D.K. Metcalf was the ultimate mixed signal from Khan and the Steelers front office this offseason. With Metcalf and Pickens, it seemed like Pittsburgh was a quarterback away from having a contender-caliber offense. Post-Pickens trade, though, the wide receiver room is back to being very lackluster. The roster once again looks like a roster primed for a rebuild, but rebuilding teams aren’t supposed to trade a second round pick for a wide receiver who is then made the fourth-highest paid receiver in the NFL.
One approach taken by Khan this offseason that wasn’t confusing was making moves in free agency to secure several compensatory picks in the 2026 draft. Pittsburgh is projected to be rewarded four compensatory picks next year. Amongst the other noise, that is the strongest sign of any that the front office has their eyes on the future.
It All Comes Down to Quarterback
Ultimately, the Steelers success in the 2025 season will be determined by who plays quarterback. If they sign Aaron Rodgers, that would not be a move of a rebuilding team. However, signing Rodgers makes less sense following the Pickens trade. Even with decent quarterback play, the team doesn’t have the firepower to field a high-powered offense, at least without making another trade. And making another trade would likely eat into the 2026 draft capital which Khan has made a point to stockpile.
Given their accumulation of 2026 draft picks, it could be penciled in already that Pittsburgh will select a first-round quarterback next year. Even if they sign Rodgers and win eight or nine games, they have plenty of extra capital to trade up into the top 10. However, their best bet would be to let Mason Rudolph take the snaps in 2025. Go 6-11 and select in the top 10 without needing to trade up. A bad record in 2025 plus a mountain of draft picks in 2026 is just what Pittsburgh needs to start getting back on track.
Main Image: Geoff Burke – USA Today Sports
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