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.

Aditi Kinkhabwala is just as confused about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback situation as much of its fan base. She sees the franchise, even with all its offseason changes, running in place for another year.

Appearing on Jason La Canfora’s podcast for the BigPlay network, Kinkhabwala has trouble sussing out Pittsburgh’s plan.

“So Mike McCarthy’s opening press conference is raving about Will Howard,” she told La Canfora. “Even Aaron Rogers is raving about Will Howard. But nope, we’re not gonna see Will Howard.

“Drew Allar, they used a third-round pick on him. At the combine, Drew Allar told me that no coach put him on the board more extensively or more thoroughly than Mike McCarthy did. Clearly, McCarthy has had some interest in Drew Allar for some time. Is intrigued by this young player…so you’ve now got two young guys that you claim, you feel so strongly about their potential, but you don’t wanna see either of them.”

Aaron Rodgers’ return closed the door on any chance of Howard or Allar seeing immediate playing time this regular season. Now, it’ll take a Rodgers’ injury or total collapse of the year for either, more likely Howard, to see the field. Pittsburgh could go through most of the season learning little about Howard and Allar, leaving the franchise in the dark for its 2027 quarterback decisions.

Pittsburgh believes Rodgers gives the team the best chance to win now. But that may only get the Steelers so far.

“You’re gonna try to back in the playoffs once again, potentially lose in the first round, pick in the twenties and not get a quarterback, and not know if you have a quarterback in Will Howard or Drew Allar. Run it back. Treadmill, hamster wheel.”

A valid and real concern. Pittsburgh has a roster good enough to win 9 or 10 games, but few anticipate a deep playoff run. It could leave the Steelers as stuck and stagnant as they were during Mike Tomlin’s final seasons.

Pittsburgh hopes to learn plenty about Howard and Allar this season. Bringing Rodgers in may also be an admission that neither young quarterback is ready. Neither have taken an in-stadium snap and Allar’s game needs plenty of work, as his bumpy OTA play reminded. But to Kinkhabwala’s point, the 2026 season might not shed much light on Pittsburgh’s best options going forward, which could lead to an offseason with more questions than answers.

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