Insider Sees a Lot of Smoke and Mirrors with Steelers, Compares Them to Eagles' 2011 Dream Team
Despite the major turnover, the Steelers are favored in only six of their 17 games in 2025. The oddsmakers are apparently not too impressed with the additions of Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Darius Slay, Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith.
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Dan Graziano of ESPN is also not buying the new-look Steelers. He compared the Steelers to the Philadelphia Eagles' Dream Team in 2011. Despite the hype, things didn't work out for the Eagles that season, as they went 8-8 and missed the playoffs.
'The better parallel would be Philadelphia in Andy Reid's last year, when they went out and got all sort of stars… the dream team. Now, we were sitting there in the offseason thinking their roster was better. If the Steelers are going all-in, I just don't know how much they've improved their team this offseason,' Graziano said on First Take.
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – DECEMBER 08: Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) runs out on the field before the game between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets on December 8, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire)
While the Steelers' moves look impressive on paper. The overall age of the roster is a concern.
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The Steelers were one of the oldest teams in the NFL in the 2024 season, averaging 27.2 years old, according to a snap-weighted formula by Bill Barnwell of ESPN. All they've done in the 2025 offseason is get older.
When the Steelers traded for Ramsey and Smith earlier this month, they added two strong household names. They also added to their aging star roster.
Ramsey and Smith are both 30 – two of the 14 over-30-year-old players on the team. Not too long ago, Rodgers joined the Steelers at the age of 41. Additionally, they added Darius Slay in free agency, who is now 34.
Cam Heyward (36), Cordarrelle Patterson (34), Chris Boswell (34), Cameron Johnston (33), Robert Woods (33), Miles Killebrew (32), Isaac Seumalo (31), Dean Lowry (31), Christian Kuntz (31), Daniel Ekuale (31) and T.J. Watt (30) are all 30 or older.
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The Steelers still have a lot of youth despite their aging stars. Their offensive line has four out of five projected starters 25 or younger. The Steelers also have made a push to make their defensive line younger.
It's no secret that head coach Mike Tomlin loves two things: pedigree and veteran experience. It's part of the reason he switched from Justin Fields to Russell Wilson last season. He now has plenty of veteran experience, especially on defense once again.
Time will tell if the Steelers' plan for 2025 works out. But some analysts like Graziano, see a lot of smoke and mirrors.
Jobe Morrison contributed reporting for this story.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Insider Sees a Lot of Smoke and Mirrors with Steelers, Compares Them to Eagles' 2011 Dream Team
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