The Jig Is Up: Steelers Offseason, Vol. 15, NFL Draft Aftermath

Recently I was thinking about my time writing about the Pittsburgh Steelers. Throughout my career doing so, I’ve essentially done it all.

Commentary, news, breaking stories, features and even took a stab at simple film room breakdowns.

The one thing I’ve never done is work on just a random thought type format.

I can’t speak for you, the reader, but I am always thinking about writing and the Steelers. Thinking about different aspects of the team and game. Thanks to reading Myron Cope’s biography I decided to put a unique spin on this type of feature.

Now, for the name of the article, anyone who is familiar with the Styx song “Renegade” should know where it came from. If not, this is where it came from…

The jig is up, the news is out
They finally found me
The renegade who had it made
Retrieved for a bounty
Nevermore to go astray
This’ll be the end today of the wanted man

The jig is up…time for some randomness.

Rookie Minicamp Dates Set?

The Steelers offseason workout schedule for Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp has been released or weeks now, but not the dates for rookie minicamp. While there hasn’t been anything official yet from the organization, someone from within the organization, Bob Labriola, stated there is a date for rookie minicamp.

According to Labriola’s latest Asked and Answered article, he said rookie minicamp will be next weekend:

“Rookie minicamp won’t be held until May 9-11, which will be the first chance the Steelers will have an opportunity to see those players and assess how they might be able to learn and adapt to professional football.”

Mainstream Football Media is Clueless

If the 2025 NFL Draft wasn’t a clear sign that the mainstream football media doesn’t have a clue about individual team needs, especially the Steelers, this 2026 Mock from ESPN should certainly do the trick.

Anyone who follows the team closely, media or just fans, knows the Steelers are preparing for a big swing at a QB in 2026. So, the 2026 mock draft, which included trades, suggests what? That the Steelers stay put at pick No, 16 and take a defensive lineman.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers – LT Overton, DT, Alabama

“Sure, the Steelers drafted Derrick Harmon this year, but you can never have too many defensive tackles. Cameron Heyward will be 37 entering the 2026 season; the defensive line could see some turnover. Overton fits what the Steelers have looked for in the past, as the 6-5 283-pounder can play off the edge or reduce inside. His 13.4% pressure rate at defensive tackle last season was second best in the FBS. He probably would have been a top-60 pick had he declared for the 2025 draft, but Overton has the opportunity to boost his stock even more — especially if he can improve his sack total (two last season).”

Just remember, these are the same people who said the Steelers would take a QB at pick No. 21 in this past draft.

Good “Value” Draft?

Everyone gauges “value” in an NFL Draft class differently. Some suggest it is based solely on when these players were projected to be picked, and when they were actually selected. Others, like Warren Sharp below, suggests a different hypothesis. Either way, Sharp saw the Steelers as a Top 10 draft class in terms of “value”. Check out more in the link in the tweet below:

best value 2025 NFL draft classes

1. Falcons
2. Browns
3. Cardinals
4. Eagles
5. Giants
6. Chiefs
7. Buccaneers
8. Steelers
9. Ravens
10. Bills

see pic for 1-32 plus methodology

READ FULL ANALYSIS:https://t.co/8eg8GcgC1i

team-by-team & round-by-round analysis to follow 🧵 pic.twitter.com/QNV3DZLe45

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 26, 2025

These Never Get Old

I’m a sucker for videos like this, but when the “Hey Rookie, Welcome to the NFL” crew was at Will Howard’s house during the process they got some great content of his wait to be selected. The call finally came, and it was Omar Khan asking him if he’s ready to be a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. His reaction was priceless:

Will Howard even got his mom to jump into the pool after being drafted by the @steelers
🙌🤣 #HeyRookiepic.twitter.com/dZG7Y7bK2c

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) April 29, 2025

Truly a Sad Story

Earlier this week we wrote about the sad story of Ryan Watts’ football career coming to a close after medial personnel and the Steelers felt it was in his best interest to no risk further injury. Watts put out his own statement, and you can read it below. It’s always sad to see an athlete’s dream evaporate due to injury,

pic.twitter.com/VmmjnDxgRT

— Ryan Watts (@TheRyanWatts) April 30, 2025

Classic Contract Expiration?

Earlier this week it became public that the Steelers parted ways with former Offensive Assistant Mike Sullivan. It just happened to be the same day the Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways with their own Mike Sullivan. Is this the age-old Steelers not renewing the contract of one of their coaches? Or was Sullivan used as a scapegoat for the team’s offensive struggles at times last season?

The latter seems to be extreme, with the former seeming more appropriate. The question I have is why the Steelers chose to not fill the role vacated by Sullivan. And for those who are wondering, this move was likely made months ago, just wasn’t discovered until the Steelers removed Sullivan off the team’s official website.

More #Steelers changes today…

The team and Mike Sullivan have appeared to part ways.

(@ASaunders_PGH had it first)

MORE: https://t.co/exQPqmDnap

— Jeff Hartman (@JHartman_PIT) April 28, 2025

Player Spotlight

I wanted to start doing a spotlight segment every week during the offseason of a lesser known player who donned the black-and-gold for a time.

This week’s player: Amos Zereoue

Zereoué was selected in the third round, 95th overall of the 1999 NFL draft by the Steelers out of West Virginia. The pick raised eyebrows by some, considering the Steelers had acquired future-Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis from the St. Louis Rams four years earlier in 1996. Zereoué got a good but of playing time in his five seasons from 1999 to 2003. His best season came in 2002, when he rushed for a career-high 762 yards and four touchdowns. Also in 2002, he caught a career-high 42 receptions for 341 yards. In his years in Pittsburgh, he rushed for 1,698 yards and seven touchdowns.

After being cut by the Steelers after the 2003 season, Zereoué signed with the Oakland Raiders for the 2004 season. The next season would be his last in the NFL, and it was with the New England Patriots in 2004. He backed up Corey Dillon, and only getting 7 carries the entire season. Following the season he called it a career and retired.

In his seven-year career, Zereoué rushed for 2,137 yards with 10 touchdowns. He also caught 137 receptions for 1,111 yards and a touchdown. He also had seven kick returns for 169 yards.

After football Zereoué opened an African/French restaurant in Manhattan called Zereoué. The restaurant was located at 13 East 37th Street (between 5th and Madison) in New York City.

Zereoué also keeps fit by playing for the first-team of the well known New York City amateur soccer club Central Park Rangers FC, using his athletic skills to transition to a top scorer for the flagship team of the club.

Check out the latest “Let’s Ride” podcast in the player below:

That does it…the jig is up, they’ve finally found me. This renegade is outta here…be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of offseason leading up to training camp.