Let’s be blunt: It’s time to wonder whether the Steelers know what they’re doing.
The Steelers drafted Broderick Jones to be their franchise left tackle, or so we thought. Traded up to pick him.
But, over a year later, Jones still isn’t at left tackle. Coach Mike Tomlin said he doesn’t know where Jones will play Week 1 at Atlanta.
Jones’ versatility has been valued more than his ability. He has practiced mostly at right tackle this year, but some on the left. The result was an awful preseason.
Jones might be the Steelers’ version of the Pirates’ Henry Davis: They really wanted him, drafted him high, but have zero idea how to develop him or what to do with him.
The Steelers traded Diontae Johnson without having a concrete Plan B at wide receiver.
They failed to get Brandon Aiyuk from San Francisco.
The result is the worst crew of wideouts in the NFL.
San Francisco reportedly wanted a starting-caliber receiver as part of the return for Aiyuk. Johnson could have provided that had the Steelers not impulsively traded him out of spite. Because they didn’t want to tolerate his immaturity. Which they had already tolerated for five seasons.
Now the Steelers have extended defensive lineman Cam Heyward.
Heyward, 35, got a three-year deal worth $45 million; $16 million is guaranteed.
Heyward’s new pact frees up $9 million in cap space for this season. That will likely be used to extend tight end Pat Freiermuth, who is no better than meh.
But when your team has been stuck in the mushy middle for the best part of a decade, it’s important to keep all those mediocre pieces together and avoid, at all cost, trying something different.
We’re told Heyward’s contract has no risk. In theory, it doesn’t.
Heyward missed six games last year. He’s coming off two groin surgeries. If he disappoints, the Steelers can cut him with no discernible salary-cap damage. Or he can retire.
Except they won’t, and he won’t. That $29 million worth of new money isn’t guaranteed. But it might as well be. Heyward will never get cut. He’ll play out his contract.
Heyward is a thoroughly good man, a locker room leader and a big presence in the community. (Though he gets a bit whiny on his podcast.)
The Steelers wanted to placate Heyward, whose knickers were in a twist. Get some good PR, too.
But the logical move would be to let Heyward play out his current deal this season. See where he’s at, and where the team is at.
If Heyward doesn’t find his old form or is oft-injured, there’s no need to keep him.
If the Steelers go 6-11, you don’t re-up Heyward. He’s too old to figure into rebuilding. At that point, you think about trading T.J. Watt for a bunch of first-round picks. (These Steelers are a lot closer to 6-11 than they are to 11-6.)
The Steelers used to be run in clinical, merciless fashion.
In 1984, they cut Franco Harris when he was in decline. Harris won four Super Bowls and is one of the franchise’s most important players ever. He was expected to break Jim Brown’s all-time rushing record that season.
In 2024, they extended Heyward, who has zero rings, because they don’t want him to know an unpleasant moment. Because everybody has to be happy.
The Steelers are a soft organization. A get-along gang. Have been since Dan Rooney got feeble, then passed away.
It was important to Heyward, and to the Steelers, that Heyward be a one-helmet guy.
But that helmet hasn’t been a threat to accomplish anything for a long time. It isn’t now, either.
If Heyward puts together an All-Pro season before his career ends, that strengthens his case for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That’s what Heyward is playing for.