Steelers mailbag: What would George Pickens return in a trade? Who to blame for OL woes?

New York Times

06-02-2025

While the Kansas Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles gear up for the Super Bowl, the Pittsburgh Steelers are left searching for a way to snap their eight-year drought without a playoff win. Luckily, it sounds like yinz guys have some ideas.
As the offseason talk heats up, it's time to dig into the old mailbag. Today we're discussing what George Pickens might return in a trade, why the offensive line is still a work in progress and more.
Note: Questions have been edited lightly for clarity and brevity.
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What sliver of hope can I give my teenage kid, who doesn't really remember when the Steelers were actually legit, that they will, before he is an old man, return to a long-missing level of competence, challenge the Chiefs, Bills and Ravens for AFC Championships, and stop resting on their laurels? — Mayfair F.
This question reminds me of my relationship with the Pittsburgh Pirates. I'm 35 and have never even seen the Pirates play in a seven-game playoff series that I was old enough to remember. I'm afraid there's an entire generation of Steelers fans who are being raised the same way, where James Harrison's pick six feels as ancient as the Immaculate Reception.
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The hope for change lies in the draft. In GM Omar Khan's first two drafts, he's played the long game, in a sense. Offensive linemen like Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier weren't flashy additions, but the hope is that they'll eventually transform the offensive line into the strength of the team.
The most optimistic way I can look at it: If the Steelers stack another good draft class (including a dynamic running back in the middle rounds), they would be in a similar position to the early 2000s, pre-Ben Roethlisberger teams, with a reliable running game, a good defense and an average QB. To get over the top and actually compete with the big three in the AFC, they would then need to find their QB in the 2026 draft.
Despite several draft picks used on our offensive line, it continues to be viewed as one of the worst in the league. Is it bad draft picks, coaching or what? — Profpmg218
Here's how I look at it: The Steelers knew Jones was raw when they drafted him, considering he made just 22 starts at Georgia. But by picking Jones 14th, they were trusting offensive line coach Pat Meyer to take a player with tremendous physical gifts and help him reach his potential. It hasn't happened yet. It didn't help that Jones spent the 2024 preseason uncertain as to whether he would play on the right side or the left.
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Many other offensive line coaches have done a lot more with a lot less. Look at how Mike Munchak took Alejandro Villanueva, a college tight end who had never played offensive tackle, and made him into a Pro Bowler. Philadelphia offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland transformed Jordan Mailata from a rugby player who had never played a down of organized football into one of the most reliable tackles in the league. It's also noteworthy that Kevin Dotson was traded to the L.A. Rams and has played at nearly a Pro Bowl level.
I would have looked at all of this and moved on from Meyer, but the Steelers decided otherwise.
In Meyer's defense, Seumalo sustained a preseason pec injury that might have affected his play, Fautanu appeared in just one game before a season-ending knee injury and most of James Daniels' season was lost to a torn Achilles. Next year, when Fautanu returns, the line will need to take a big step forward or it could be Meyer's last in Pittsburgh.
Why do the Steelers continue with coaches who clearly aren't working e.g. Meyer and Teryl Austin? Is it a sunk cost fallacy issue, or just overall cheapness by ownership? — Dave V.
I don't know this for a fact, but this is how I imagine owner Art Rooney II looks at the situation: Austin has been the defensive coordinator for three seasons. In each of those three years, the Steelers have finished with a top-10 scoring defense. Because Austin has another year on his contract, Rooney probably decided the DC has done well enough to keep his job rather than paying him not to coach.
I call it The Curse of Creed — the reason the Steelers fell into mediocrity was the 2021 draft. Not selecting Creed Humphrey with their second-round pick and then choosing Kendrick Green and Dan Moore Jr. weakened the Steelers' offensive line. Looking back at the last 10 years, what do you think was our biggest draft mistake? — Gaile V.
I think you might want to start calling it the Curse of Colbert. Even though former GM Kevin Colbert brought a Super Bowl to Pittsburgh, his final years were really rough, a significant reason why the Steelers are stuck in the middle. The first-round failures include Jarvis Jones (2013), Artie Burns (2016), Terrell Edmunds (2018), Najee Harris (2021) and Kenny Pickett (2022), to name a few.
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But the worst, in my opinion, was 2019. Not only did the Steelers swing and miss on undersized inside linebacker Devin Bush, but they also wasted picks in Rounds 2 (No. 52) and 3 (No. 83 in the 2020 draft) in the trade-up for him. Top to bottom, that 2019 class might be one of the most disappointing in recent memory. Following Bush were Diontae Johnson and Justin Layne in the third round, Benny Snell Jr. in the fourth, Zach Gentry in the fifth, Sutton Smith, Isaiah Buggs and Ulysees Gilbert in the sixth and Derwin Gray in the seventh.
Why should I invest my time in watching and caring about the Steelers next season? — Rob T.
Because you really love my coverage at The Athletic?
What type of return do you think George Pickens would net in a trade? And do you think the Steelers would actually move him? — Will R.
It's often hard to predict what a receiver might fetch in a trade. Age, contract status, reputation and upside all play a role. Consider that the Steelers got a high second-round pick in exchange for Chase Claypool, because the Bears believed he could ascend into stardom. But when the Bills traded four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs, they also gave up a 2024 sixth-round pick and 2025 fifth to get a second-round pick in return because of Diggs' age, cap hit and mercurial nature.
The Falcons traded Calvin Ridley (while he was serving a full-season suspension for gambling) for a 2023 fifth-rounder and a 2024 conditional pick that became a third-rounder. The Ravens traded Marquise Brown and a third for a first-rounder. On the much higher end, the Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill in 2022 for first-, second- and fourth-round picks, plus future fourth- and sixth-rounders. That same offseason, the Raiders acquired Davante Adams from the Packers for first- and second-round picks.
I doubt someone would give up a massive haul like the Hill or Adams trades. I think something around a second-round pick would be fair for Pickens. Would Pittsburgh actually do it? I could see Mike Tomlin wanting to keep Pickens and Rooney more willing to part ways. We'll see ultimately what Khan decides.
Roman Wilson was a third-round pick. Why so little talk about him filling the well-documented WR2 gap? — Corey R.
The Steelers were counting on Wilson being a candidate to fill the WR2 spot last season, and look how that turned out. Theoretically, Wilson would be a nice complement to Pickens. The Michigan product did most of his damage between the numbers and impressed the Steelers during the pre-draft process with his ability to get in and out of cuts quickly. The issue is, he wasn't available or dependable as a rookie.
First, he sprained his ankle in training camp. Then, he injured his hamstring and was eventually placed on injured reserve as it lingered. All of that came after an underwhelming OTA period. Until Wilson proves he can stay healthy and earn the staff's trust, it's fair to be skeptical. I think the Steelers need a legit No. 1 and No. 2 receiver in their room and should count on Calvin Austin III and Wilson to be WR3 and WR4.
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Would the Steelers be interested in Cooper Kupp if they could rework his contract? — Greg T.
Although Kupp's injury history and age (he turns 32 in June) might give the Steelers pause, the veteran receiver would be a schematic fit, as he's a willing blocker and a reliable target over the middle of the field. I think the Steelers will do their due diligence on this one.
Do you see the Steelers breaking with their trends and drafting a receiver early? — Bret C.
As you alluded to, the Steelers have a well-established track record of finding wide receiver gems in the middle of the draft, including most notably sixth-round pick Antonio Brown. I wonder how much assistant GM Andy Weidl's influence might change things. When he was with the Eagles, Philadelphia spent first-round picks on Jalen Reagor (2020), DeVonta Smith (2021) and A.J. Brown (2022, via a trade). I could definitely see the Steelers spending a first- or second-round pick at this position.
How bad would it have to get next year for Tomlin to quit or be fired? Have a losing record? Going 5-12? Losing a playoff game by 45? Having a quarter of the players become hostages all at once? — Kyle H.
After the Steelers were blown out by the Bills in the wild-card round in January 2024, extending the postseason win drought to seven seasons, the team responded by giving coach Mike Tomlin a raise that made him one of the highest-paid coaches in the league. If the Rooney family doesn't like eating a couple hundred thousand dollars by firing a position coach, there's no way they'd pay Tomlin tens of millions not to coach.
I'm sure this isn't the answer you're looking for, but I honestly can't envision a scenario in which Tomlin isn't the coach in 2026, no matter how badly this season goes. Maybe Tomlin would be willing to waive his no-trade clause. But that also seems unlikely.
There has been a lot of talk about changes, but nothing has happened yet. Is that just timing, or was it just talk? — Dan A.
It seems like it's all just talk. Inside linebackers coach Aaron Curry took another job with the Jets. There are also a handful of other position coaches whose contracts expire and might not be renewed. But to me, these are all cosmetic changes that are about optics more than actually producing meaningful change. At this point, if the Steelers are actually going to shake things up significantly, it will have to be done to the roster, by trading someone substantial.
Would the Steelers consider bringing in an experienced voice from outside the organization (i.e. Mike McCarthy) to help evaluate the consistent playoff failures? — Steve S.
It would be a good idea to get an outside perspective. But they won't.
Assuming Najee Harris has played his last game in black and gold, who is a mid-round RB you could see the Steelers drafting? — Stephen D.
While the QB position has been dominating the headlines, the running back decision might be just as important for a Steelers team that wants to win by dominating time of possession and the line of scrimmage. I imagine Ashton Jeanty will be picked before the Steelers are on the clock in the first round, and Omarion Hampton will probably go early in Round 2.
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I think the Steelers could start considering a running back beginning in the third round. Iowa's Kaleb Johnson or Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson are two possibilities. But in a deep and talented running back class, there are a ton to consider. I'll have much more on the running back class as we get closer to draft day.
Outside of QB (which I hope they don't) and WR, what other positions do you expect Omar Khan to look for in free agency? — Spencer H.
Even though it would mean pouring more money into the defense (or at least reallocating it from one position to another), I am in favor of paying a cornerback instead of trying to develop one, especially given the nature of that position and the Steelers' struggles developing young talent in the secondary. Some of the top options in a deep class at this position include the Jets' D.J. Reed, 49ers' Charvarius Ward, Bills' Rasul Douglas, Lions' Carlton Davis and Chargers' Asante Samuel Jr.
(Photo of George Pickens: Tommy Gilligan / Imagn Images)