CBS Sports Gives Pittsburgh Steelers High Marks For Offseason Acquisitions

Reactions to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason moves have been mostly positive. One fact is undeniable: They have filled holes at position of need. Receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard were brought in to fill a major need while running back Rico Dowdle replaced a departed Kenneth Gainwell. Max Iheanachor and Gennings Dunker bring even more young potential to the offensive line while Jamel Dean and Jaquan Brisker add experienced secondary depth.

And of course, Aaron Rodgers was re-signed for what he confirmed will be his final NFL season. Arguably, the biggest change comes on the coaching staff as Mike Tomlin stepped aside after nineteen seasons and Mike McCarthy took over. Even though many argued it was time for a change, it will still be an adjustment for a team used to a certain level of continuity.

Offseason grades usually hinge on an individual’s perception of the moves made by a team but analysts from CBS Sports were high on the moves Pittsburgh’s made.

“I gave them an A. Big leap because of Aaron Rodgers. Now he’s back, so there’s no more questions about the quarterback room,” Emory Hunt said on CBS Sports HQ. “I think this team is set up better than what they were last year. I expect them to be able to run the football significantly better.”

Wilson came close to agreement.

“I gave them a B. Probably being more realistic, a B+,” added Ryan Wilson. “This draft class had to grow on you. In terms of trades and free agency, they checked a lot of boxes.”

Wilson added that his biggest question going forward is how Pittsburgh will ever find their quarterback of the future if they continue on the current trajectory of finishing every season with nine or ten wins and losing in the first round of the playoffs.

There’s no question that the Steelers look better on paper going into 2026. No team is perfect but this group doesn’t appear to have any glaring holes.

Will it be enough to break through and accomplish anything meaningful this season? Tanking isn’t in the Steelers’ DNA, so if the objective was to improve the roster this offseason, it’s been a success.

With the doom and gloom narrative that seemingly surrounds the Steelers and their direction, some may forget that they won the AFC North last season. Even with a different coach, the moves that they have made should be enough for Pittsburgh to remain competitive in 2026. The division will be as competitive as ever; keeping up with Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow without elite play from the quarterback position is no easy task.

If there’s one defining attribute that the Steelers can carry over from the Tomlin era, one can hope it will be the ability to always stay competitive and in contention, even if they don’t always match up on paper. With the moves they’ve made this offseason, the gap on paper against some of the better teams in the NFL might not be as high as previously expected.

If there’s one defining attribute that the Steelers can carry over from the Tomlin era, always being in contention is critical. A tough schedule makes them the underdog in the majority of their games, but pundits counted out the 2025 team, too.