A Letter From the Editor: Can the Steelers win now and still focus on the future?
A plan is just a plan, until execution gets involved.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, their plan for this offseason has been crystal clear. Let’s recap, shall we?
- Allow free agents to walk
- Limit the number of compensatory free agent signings
- Target players who were released from their contracts
- Stock pile draft picks, compensatory and otherwise
- Prepare to be aggressive in the 2026 NFL Draft
- Hope to trade up to get a QB in aforementioned draft, which just happens to be in Pittsburgh
This is the plan, and the plan has been executed to near perfection so far this offseason, but that doesn’t mean the plan will equate in the desired outcome.
In other words, the Steelers could end up drafting a dud a quarterback in next year’s draft, and all this has been for nothing.
But for me, I find myself wondering if what the Steelers are truly doing is even feasible in today’s NFL. What I’m referring to is attempting to win now, but also preparing for a monumental future.
Let’s run down a scenario. If Aaron Rodgers stays healthy and leads the Steelers to a playoff victory, the team will be drafting in the 20s. They are comfortable drafting in that area, but moving into the Top 10 of the draft from that position will take some serious negotiating and movement of assets.
That plan isn’t out of the realm of possibility, but it puts even more pressure on the organization to get their pick right in the 2026 NFL Draft. If the team selects a fringe quarterback, who doesn’t pan out, all of the work done this past offseason won’t just be for naught, but will set the organization back when it comes to competing for a seventh Lombardi trophy.
It’s a risk the Steelers are willing to take, and it is a philosophy which separates the Steelers from other organizations.
Some organizations would be talking about tanking, or losing as many games as necessary to get a top draft pick which could transform their franchise. (Quick side note, notice I said “could” and not “will” based on the fact even the top draft picks every year don’t always pan out the way teams hoped and dreamed.) It makes sense, but you have to be pretty bad to earn yourself a top draft pick. The Steelers aren’t interested in having one of those seasons.
When you think back to the last time the Steelers had one of those seasons, which just happens to be their last losing season, we are talking about the 6-10 2003 season. The Tommy “Gun” Maddox era was coming to a close, but what did the 6-10 season get them? The 11th overall draft picks.
6-10 and not even a Top 10 pick!
So while there is risk involved in the plan the Steelers have put into place, the alternative doesn’t guarantee them anything. For those who wanted Mason Rudolph to start, assuming they’d lose more games than they would win, it wouldn’t have even meant they would be solidified as a Top 10 pick in the upcoming draft. If you look at last year’s draft, teams who went 5-12 rounded out the Top 10. The San Francisco 49ers won six games and picked 11th.
The Steelers want to win now, and for multiple reasons. Maximizing the primes of players like T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Getting aging veterans like Isaac Seumalo and Cam Heyward one last shot at a championship. And getting the entire locker room the experience of success are all vital to long term growth within the organization.
Is it possible to win now and still put your chips into the middle of the table for the future?
The Steelers are testing that theory in 2025/2026, and when you step back and look at the plan which has been implemented, it is actually genius.
But a plan is just a plan, until execution gets involved.
I talk about this more on my latest “Let’s Ride” podcast, which can be heard in the player below:
Great article… and in the Steelers going about it this way .. if it doesn’t work out someone has to held accountable either Mike .T or both GM’s. We shall see
The Kansas City Chiefs accrued a regular season record of 53-27 and a playoff record of 1-4 during the 2013-2017 period. The Chiefs have won titles after 2017, so they were seemingly focused on their future post-2017.
The Chiefs, how should their performance during the’13-’17 seasons be categorized? Curious on Father’s Day. Engagement achieved.
There is no right or wrong answer to this question on Father’s Day.
Any takers, I’m so lonely… were the Chiefs losers, winners, irrelevant arses… they did manage to lose to the Steelers thanks to Boswell.
I would say that the Chiefs were winners. The reality is there are very few franchise level QB’s in the league at any given time. Right now I would say there are clearly four (Jackson, Burrows, Allen and Mahomes).
Then you have the level below them with guys that things have to be right or need to show it again like, Hurts, Stafford, Goff, Stroud, Daniels and Purdy.
The next rung are talented guys that likely won’t put it together but seem to have the talent (Lawrence, Herbert, Murray, Darnold, and Love.
Then you have the working man starters, Smith, Tua, Mayfield, Prescott, and Carr.
You can argue the groups, but it is close. My main point being I think there are only four in the premiere group.
I think the Steelers plan is more or less what good teams do. They keep a solid team and keep trying at QB. Is 2026 the right draft? Time will tell. Did they mine gold with Will Howard? Time will tell.
I like what the Steelers are doing, and you just have to keep trying and hope when you take a chance, like Kansas City did with Mahomes, hope it works out.
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s as Steelers fan I always believe in building through the N.F.L. draft it’s cheaper and smarter home grown talent is better and you must be patient try and avoid other teams free agents and their contracts also checkout the talent at H.B.C.U., U.F.L., and N.F.L. international player pathway these teams are paying the price in over spending New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns
I don’t know that free agency can be completely avoided in present day, Ed. 1979 was a minute ago. Pgh has a few FAs on the roster, many of them start or rotate in.
Mike Tyson was once famously quoted as saying everyone has a plan until they are punched in the face. Far be it with this situation but their scouting department has got to be on point this year and and Omar has to be very fluid in his moves. This draft has a little of this and a little of that in terms of types and Arch Manning holds the key to much of this, referencing his declaration or intent on Jan 15.
Two teams have two first round picks as of now. The LA Rams are one of those teams and Stafford is in the twilight of his career. The other team is the Cleveland Browns and who the hell knows about that franchise. They drafted two QBs in 2025, one being a projected first rounder until he wasn’t. Same applies to Carson Beck who was at one time the top rated QB heading into the 2024 season. So much can change in one season.
There’s so much riding on this particular draft for the Steelers and have already missed the boat one time with Kenny Pickett. They are also on their 4th FA starter and 5th overall starter since Ben retired. And yes they have remained relevant in terms of regular season wins and Tomlin can be credited with that. But trust me when I say that Andy Weidl was brought in to turn this franchise around and build the roster to put us back into contention to win Lombardi’s. In saying that Andy Weidl, not Mike Tomlin, has to be the trigger man in finding this future franchise guy. Some won’t like that comment and I can deal with the push back but this is on Khan and Weidl and more so Weidl. I’m really hoping the glitz and the glamour of hosting the draft in 2026 doesn’t blow up in their faces. The Roethlisberger’s of the world don’t often fall into team’s laps.
Make sure he is your guy for the future and then don’t muck around hoping he falls, go get him at all cost. Things haven’t been perfect but Weidl has a vision and I trust that vision.
Don’t mind this comment so much, Pb56.
Tanking is not in our DNA! I for one am glad that’s the case! It has made every season exciting till the end, even with recent playoff record.I do believe we have the best roster we’ve had in a long time, top to bottom with young studs & excellent seasoned veterans ( all be it we stay healthy for the most part. So YES, I do think we can win now & still go for it in next year’s draft to be competing for the Big Sticky in the future & be a true contender for a while. It’ll come down to nailing it on QB pick (easier said than done)& having good drafts as I feel we have since Omar & Andy have been at the helm.