Whereas Harmon fills an enormous want on the line of defense, it doesn’t tackle the largest want for the group on a short-term or long-term foundation. That want, clearly, is quarterback.
As of Thursday evening the Steelers’ quarterback room consists of solely Mason Rudolph and Skyler Thompson.
They didn’t retain Russell Wilson or Justin Fields from final 12 months’s group, missed out on nearly each different free agent or commerce choice, and for the second offseason in a row are taking a look at a whole overhaul of their quarterback room.
On a short-term foundation, they proceed to play the ready sport with free agent Aaron Rodgers. However even when he comes to a decision to play this season — and play in Pittsburgh — he’s on the improper facet of 40, will not be any good anymore and can be a huge distraction on account of his off-field presence and character.
On a long-term foundation, they haven’t any actual quarterback prospects on the horizon and don’t also have a second-round choose this season to try to safe one of many quarterbacks that has slid down the draft board after buying and selling it for vast receiver DK Metcalf.
Do they nonetheless imagine in Rodgers as a one-year stop-gap? Are they setting their sights on a doubtlessly deeper 2026 quarterback class, with the draft being held in Pittsburgh?
These are all very reasonable potentialities.
Sanders is way from a positive factor, and there’s a cause he has fallen down the draft board. He doesn’t possess an elite arm or athleticism, and his greatest strengths are extra intangible (toughness, sensible, accuracy) than game-changing traits. He may not pan out, but when he does, he would have raised the Steelers’ season greater than some other place would have.
The Steelers haven’t gained a playoff sport in eight years regardless of frequently being there, and the shortage of even an above-average quarterback is the largest cause why. Till they repair that place it doesn’t matter what their line of defense, offensive line or vast receiver positions seem like.
