My Offseason Plan

[Steelafan77]

This is very nearly what my plan would be, and it’s written by a Philly eagles podcaster whose GF is a Steelers fan:

https://phillycovercorner.com/2025/01/w ... -steelers/

Other than re-signing Fields, damn near spot on.

Have to admit I do see the upside with the proposed moves.

Not Steelers like and very unlikely they ever consider carrying out those moves.

Would make for very entertaining football next couple years for sure.

[Gonzo]

i like the article and generally agree, but ....

The writer makes the initial mistake of trying to absolve tomlin using the QB excuse but ignoring the problem has been the same for a decade. i think they likely did that to avoid being brow beat on that issue and focus on the roster advice

as we all know they will do none of this except maybe sign fields

you can bet on the band getting back together -- the story will be they are doing it for watt minkah and came. And the band will be playing the same old tunes because they got no new stuff

[steelmann58]

THEY MADE NO COACHING MOVES FIRST THIS SHOULD SIGINAL A MOVE FOR THE FANS

[bradshaw2ben]

There were a lot more QBs available last year. Now aside from ancient guys or guys who will cost you draft picks, there's Darnold, Russ, & Fields.

But he wasn't worth a flier last year for a lot less. Nothing he put on tape last year is going to change that. Few trackers I've seen are pegging his contract a little bit above the top-tier backups, which is about right.

But there's a protocol in the NFL: if you're a vet signed as a starter, you get something along the lines of starter money. Right now better than terrible starter money is $40M/per. Can't see the Steelers paying him less than $20/per IF he's designated the starter from day 1. If he's competing for a job and might win it, that's different.

[bradshaw2ben]

i like the article and generally agree, but ....

The writer makes the initial mistake of trying to absolve tomlin using the QB excuse but ignoring the problem has been the same for a decade. i think they likely did that to avoid being brow beat on that issue and focus on the roster advice

as we all know they will do none of this except maybe sign fields

you can bet on the band getting back together -- the story will be they are doing it for watt minkah and came. And the band will be playing the same old tunes because they got no new stuff

Actually, if you read it carefully, he only says Tomlin did a good job treading water with that lack of talent, which is true superficially. Doesn't absolve Tomlin from the horse-picking.

[Gonzo]

i like the article and generally agree, but ....

The writer makes the initial mistake of trying to absolve tomlin using the QB excuse but ignoring the problem has been the same for a decade. i think they likely did that to avoid being brow beat on that issue and focus on the roster advice

as we all know they will do none of this except maybe sign fields

you can bet on the band getting back together -- the story will be they are doing it for watt minkah and came. And the band will be playing the same old tunes because they got no new stuff

Actually, if you read it carefully, he only says Tomlin did a good job treading water with that lack of talent, which is true superficially. Doesn't absolve Tomlin from the horse-picking.

fair enough but the opening lines say tomlin "overperforms" with the roster - the steelers have an old-fashioned approach to roster building

"I actually think he’s outperformed what other coaches would have done with this roster over the past several years"

so if steelers (of which tomlin is a part) reform their approach and give tomlin a modern roster he will coach them up to success. i disagree with that second half of the premise and tomlins approach to coaching bleeds into the roster building approach. they go together.

maybe a better way to say it is -- i dont believe the steelers are this way because they are simply organizationally old-fashioned or tired ... I believe they approach it currently this way because of the tomlin model so it is all part and parcel of the same issue. the are old and tired because the football (on the field) model is old and tired as well as self-serving. they are building exactly what they want to build -- their underling philosophy about the game is just wrong and group-think and self-protection has taken hold.

if you fix the roster building issue -- and/or cut tomlin off from it ... I do not believe you will fix the overall problem. to fix the overall problem they have to build a modern roster and allow it to play modern football ... cant fix only one part of that equation.

[franco32]

I love TJ. Always have. I pounded the table for him pre-draft. But even I have to admit the best business is to sell assets right before decline.

I agree with a lot of Philly guy's take but why on earth would I ever contemplate releasing Minkah or Queen? You trade them and get draft capital now.

My offseason plan would be to sell off assets before their decline (or in Minkah's case during their decline) and acquire a lot of trade capital for next year. Make no mistake, Arch Manning will be COSTLY if he has anywhere near a good season. What do I mean by that? Even if we had say the 5th or 6th pick, the team holding the #1 pick would a) have to not need a QB and b) fleece us if we wanted to move up.

Best case scenario is a full tank this year while building the lines (and snagging a WR) in this draft. These fuckers will never allow it, but that would be ideal IMO.

[cop1211]

That’s another reason I had respect for Bellichek, he would trade “stars” that he knew wouldn’t be stars in a season or two.
The Steelers love hanging on to stars way past their prime.
With no QB why hang onto Watt, Fitzpatrick, and Heyward?
Trade Watt for a 2026 1st and 3rd, trade Fitzpatrick for a 2026 3rd, trade Heyward , and Pickens each for a third this year.
Some times you just have go full rebuild.
Let Skyler Thompson be the starter go 2-15.
Sign CB Davis, DT Reed (run stuffer), WR Slayton

2025
1.DT
2.RB
3a.DE
3b.CB slot
3c.FS
4.CB
5.OLB
6.none
7a.ILB
7b.WR
7c.RB

2026
1QB
1b.WR
2.OLB
3a.OG
3b.DE
3c.DT
4.WR
5.OT
6.OC/OG
7.CB

[jebrick]

That’s another reason I had respect for Bellichek, he would trade “stars” that he knew wouldn’t be stars in a season or two.
The Steelers love hanging on to stars way past their prime.
With no QB why hang onto Watt, Fitzpatrick, and Heyward?
Trade Watt for a 2026 1st and 3rd, trade Fitzpatrick for a 2026 3rd, trade Heyward , and Pickens each for a third this year.
Some times you just have go full rebuild.
Let Skyler Thompson be the starter go 2-15.
Sign CB Davis, DT Reed (run stuffer), WR Slayton

2025
1.DT
2.RB
3a.DE
3b.CB slot
3c.FS
4.CB
5.OLB
6.none
7a.ILB
7b.WR
7c.RB

2026
1QB
1b.WR
2.OLB
3a.OG
3b.DE
3c.DT
4.WR
5.OT
6.OC/OG
7.CB

Cowher was like that. No C$3 for a long time. I think the Rooneys want that Family thing and do not want to trade away their stars.

[Deebo]

That’s another reason I had respect for Bellichek, he would trade “stars” that he knew wouldn’t be stars in a season or two.
The Steelers love hanging on to stars way past their prime.
With no QB why hang onto Watt, Fitzpatrick, and Heyward?
Trade Watt for a 2026 1st and 3rd, trade Fitzpatrick for a 2026 3rd, trade Heyward , and Pickens each for a third this year.
Some times you just have go full rebuild.
Let Skyler Thompson be the starter go 2-15.
Sign CB Davis, DT Reed (run stuffer), WR Slayton

2025
1.DT
2.RB
3a.DE
3b.CB slot
3c.FS
4.CB
5.OLB
6.none
7a.ILB
7b.WR
7c.RB

2026
1QB
1b.WR
2.OLB
3a.OG
3b.DE
3c.DT
4.WR
5.OT
6.OC/OG
7.CB

BB's phrase was: would rather trade a guy a year too early vs a year too late

[Ice]

Hanging on to stars past their prime dates back a couple of Rooneys, doesn't it?

[Ice]

And nowhere else to post it, so I'm doing it here, but that Labs quote on Roman Wilson was a doozy. So much for that scUM education. WR maybe even more in play this offseason than we thought.

[bradshaw2ben]

There were a lot more QBs available last year. Now aside from ancient guys or guys who will cost you draft picks, there's Darnold, Russ, & Fields.

But he wasn't worth a flier last year for a lot less. Nothing he put on tape last year is going to change that. Few trackers I've seen are pegging his contract a little bit above the top-tier backups, which is about right.

But there's a protocol in the NFL: if you're a vet signed as a starter, you get something along the lines of starter money. Right now better than terrible starter money is $40M/per. Can't see the Steelers paying him less than $20/per IF he's designated the starter from day 1. If he's competing for a job and might win it, that's different.

[Orangesteel]

Imagine being in a bidding war for Justin Fields.

What a goddamn time to be alive.

[cop1211]

Imagine being in a bidding war for Justin Fields.

What a goddamn time to be alive.

Just don’t do it, go with a cheap QB suck for the year and be in position to draft a top QB next draft.
Why continue to put off the inevitable???

[steelmann58]

Ok time to pick the Zfirst FA the Steelers will sign from the outside

[Jams]

What are your thoughts about acquiring more talent for the OLine?

Dan Moore & James Daniels are both free agents. Depending on Jones taking over as left tackle is a bit scary.

I hope they keep Jones at RT and let Fauntu take the LT. Sign a swing tackle in FA

I say move him to his natural position and let him sink or swim. We didn't move up and draft him to not play left tackle.

[Deebo]

Imagine being in a bidding war for Justin Fields.

What a goddamn time to be alive.

You know, I was thinking about this a bit more and here is how I see it:

If you want Tomlin's NHALS to be in jeopardy, you should be cheering for JF to be re-signed. Because JF fucking sucks.
If you want another 8-9 win season, then RW should be your preference. Guy not good enough to take them to elite status, but just good enough to get those wins

[gojira5150]

Imagine being in a bidding war for Justin Fields.

What a goddamn time to be alive.

You know, I was thinking about this a bit more and here is how I see it:

If you want Tomlin's NHALS to be in jeopardy, you should be cheering for JF to be re-signed. Because JF fucking sucks.
If you want another 8-9 win season, then RW should be your preference. Guy not good enough to take them to elite status, but just good enough to get those wins

Hope they don't sign RW, JF goes to Jets and Dummy Mcdumb Dumb signs Daniel Jones & NHALS FINALLY comes to an end. That would be the perfect offseason QB issue.

[Deebo]

Imagine being in a bidding war for Justin Fields.

What a goddamn time to be alive.

You know, I was thinking about this a bit more and here is how I see it:

If you want Tomlin's NHALS to be in jeopardy, you should be cheering for JF to be re-signed. Because JF fucking sucks.
If you want another 8-9 win season, then RW should be your preference. Guy not good enough to take them to elite status, but just good enough to get those wins

Hope they don't sign RW, JF goes to Jets and Dummy Mcdumb Dumb signs Daniel Jones & NHALS FINALLY comes to an end. That would be the perfect offseason QB issue.

Well there are ton of available QB's out there now that can make NHALS go away.

Daniel Jones
Justin Fields
Darnold
Rodgers

I'm surely forgetting some bad QB's out there. So I hope they all sign them!

On a more serious note- I'd like to see Kyle Allen get more of a look to see what he can do. He can't be worse than any of those dudes and he'll be cheaper.

[bradshaw2ben]

You know, I was thinking about this a bit more and here is how I see it:

If you want Tomlin's NHALS to be in jeopardy, you should be cheering for JF to be re-signed. Because JF fucking sucks.
If you want another 8-9 win season, then RW should be your preference. Guy not good enough to take them to elite status, but just good enough to get those wins

Hope they don't sign RW, JF goes to Jets and Dummy Mcdumb Dumb signs Daniel Jones & NHALS FINALLY comes to an end. That would be the perfect offseason QB issue.

Well there are ton of available QB's out there now that can make NHALS go away.

Daniel Jones
Justin Fields
Darnold
Rodgers

I'm surely forgetting some bad QB's out there. So I hope they all sign them!

On a more serious note- I'd like to see Kyle Allen get more of a look to see what he can do. He can't be worse than any of those dudes and he'll be cheaper.

Daniel Jones is under contract, so you can cross him of unless you're thinking... trade assets for Daniel Jones.

[Jams]

Hope they don't sign RW, JF goes to Jets and Dummy Mcdumb Dumb signs Daniel Jones & NHALS FINALLY comes to an end. That would be the perfect offseason QB issue.

Well there are ton of available QB's out there now that can make NHALS go away.

Daniel Jones
Justin Fields
Darnold
Rodgers

I'm surely forgetting some bad QB's out there. So I hope they all sign them!

On a more serious note- I'd like to see Kyle Allen get more of a look to see what he can do. He can't be worse than any of those dudes and he'll be cheaper.

Daniel Jones is under contract, so you can cross him of unless you're thinking... trade assets for Daniel Jones.

Jones is an unrestricted free agent.

[bradshaw2ben]

What are your thoughts about acquiring more talent for the OLine?

Dan Moore & James Daniels are both free agents. Depending on Jones taking over as left tackle is a bit scary.

I hope they keep Jones at RT and let Fauntu take the LT. Sign a swing tackle in FA

I say move him to his natural position and let him sink or swim. We didn't move up and draft him to not play left tackle.

Why not play Fautanu at his natural position, LT? He was a much better CFB LT than Jones and Jones has shown nothing to embue confidence in him being an NFL LT. I'd draft an OT, move Jones to RT, McCormick to LG, & Frazier at center. Hell of an upgrade.

[jebrick]

I hope they keep Jones at RT and let Fauntu take the LT. Sign a swing tackle in FA

I say move him to his natural position and let him sink or swim. We didn't move up and draft him to not play left tackle.

Why not play Fautanu at his natural position, LT? He was a much better CFB LT than Jones and Jones has shown nothing to embue confidence in him being an NFL LT. I'd draft an OT, move Jones to RT, McCormick to LG, & Frazier at center. Hell of an upgrade.

Because they promised Jones. duhhhh.

[bradshaw2ben]

Well there are ton of available QB's out there now that can make NHALS go away.

Daniel Jones
Justin Fields
Darnold
Rodgers

I'm surely forgetting some bad QB's out there. So I hope they all sign them!

On a more serious note- I'd like to see Kyle Allen get more of a look to see what he can do. He can't be worse than any of those dudes and he'll be cheaper.

Daniel Jones is under contract, so you can cross him of unless you're thinking... trade assets for Daniel Jones.

Jones is an unrestricted free agent.

I'm not 100% sure either way-- I think if he had been elevated from the practice squad he would have been on their roster for 2025 but I'm not sure. Been trying to find out. If he's an unrestricted FA, I think you could count on him being the favorite to be the Steelers starer next year. Fields will price himself out, Darnold is a mirage, they don't want Rodgers or Russ. That leaves Jones.

[Deebo]

Daniel Jones is under contract, so you can cross him of unless you're thinking... trade assets for Daniel Jones.

Jones is an unrestricted free agent.

I'm not 100% sure either way-- I think if he had been elevated from the practice squad he would have been on their roster for 2025 but I'm not sure. Been trying to find out. If he's an unrestricted FA, I think you could count on him being the favorite to be the Steelers starer next year. Fields will price himself out, Darnold is a mirage, they don't want Rodgers or Russ. That leaves Jones.

Tons of rumors swirling that support AND contradict whether they like Russ Wilson and want him back. We'll see in about 8 days what was true.

[steelmann58]

Wilson or Fields if both leave I going with Sklyar

[tbsteel]

Jones is an unrestricted free agent.

I'm not 100% sure either way-- I think if he had been elevated from the practice squad he would have been on their roster for 2025 but I'm not sure. Been trying to find out. If he's an unrestricted FA, I think you could count on him being the favorite to be the Steelers starer next year. Fields will price himself out, Darnold is a mirage, they don't want Rodgers or Russ. That leaves Jones.

Tons of rumors swirling that support AND contradict whether they like Russ Wilson and want him back. We'll see in about 8 days what was true.

Fields will be announced as re-signed soon IMO.

I also anticipate the Steelers go after Christian Kirk. They were very close to trading for him before his injury last year.

[Deebo]

I'm not 100% sure either way-- I think if he had been elevated from the practice squad he would have been on their roster for 2025 but I'm not sure. Been trying to find out. If he's an unrestricted FA, I think you could count on him being the favorite to be the Steelers starer next year. Fields will price himself out, Darnold is a mirage, they don't want Rodgers or Russ. That leaves Jones.

Tons of rumors swirling that support AND contradict whether they like Russ Wilson and want him back. We'll see in about 8 days what was true.

Fields will be announced as re-signed soon IMO.

I also anticipate the Steelers go after Christian Kirk. They were very close to trading for him before his injury last year.

Yup- so much chatter about Kirk. You can basically pencil him in as a Steeler, which I'm fine with.

Still don't believe ANYTHING related to the next Steelers QB. Lots of rumors in all directions from JF to Sam Darnold. We'll see in about 6 days what is true.

[Charles Demarr]

Justin Fields & Trey Lance
Javon Hargrave possibly another low $ vet
Nate Hobbs & another vet CB - Paulson Adebo?
Josh Palmer or Christian Kirk
Kenneth Gainwell or Rico Dowdle

These are my guesses.....