Steelers mailbag: Will Pittsburgh trade for Kyler Murray?

It’s already Week 14, and I have to say, that is so depressing. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Christmas. It’s the best time of year. I spend way too much money on decor for my home, and I love it. But man, when the season is almost over, it always feels like it’s too soon.

Maybe I also dread this time of year a lot as of late because the Steelers are always in the midst of a collapse, as they are right now. They are 6-6, have lost five of their last seven, and are heading to Baltimore to face the Ravens. Ahead of that, though, let’s dive into this week’s mailbag.

Q: Can we start over? – ChippedHam

A: If by this you mean rebuild, I’d welcome it with open arms. Trade Cam Heyward for a Day Three pick. Trade T.J. Watt for a Day Two pick (no, you aren’t getting anything better than that. Certainly not a first-round pick). Trade Highsmith in a package to move up in the draft for a quarterback. Trade Mike Tomlin to the Giants or Titans. Hire Klint Kubiak. Draft one of the top quarterbacks and definitely start a new era in Pittsburgh.

Q: If you had the #1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft would you select a QB? If so who would it be? If not a QB, who would you select? Who You Got:

A: Fernando Mendoza is the easy choice. He’s the best quarterback in the Nation. If it can’t be a quarterback, Rueben Bain to put opposite of Herbig after all of the trades I would make. I’ll actually do a piece to show my “Trade Everyone Draft.”

Conference Championship Picks: Texas Tech, Georgia, Indiana, Virginia

Q: Please, please, please, tell me the Steelers won’t go after Kyler Murray. I’ve lived in AZ (huge Pitt fan), my whole life. K1 is too short, too fragile, and not a good QB, 6.5 years have shown this. Please make me be able to sleep at night…lol – Muchodiablo

A: I’d like to say no, but it wouldn’t shock me if they went after him. I’m not a Kyler guy, either. At this point, this is just who he is. For every great game he has, he’ll have three mediocre performances where it looks as if he’s never seen a football. Hard pass from me. Draft a guy and start over.

Q: With a backup LT, can Aaron handle any more hits like he did the past few weeks? Are the Steelers ready to shut him down after the next big hit and just see what they have Rudy? And are you confident the 2026 draft is the year to draft the next Terry/Benjamin or Pickett? – Polamolicules_Dude

A: Andrus Peat actually played solid against the Bills, and the Ravens’ pass rush isn’t great. There’s nothing to see with Rudolph. We know what he is – he’s a backup quarterback. If they wanted to see what they had, they should start Will Howard (they won’t). I’m far from a college football quarterback expert, but Fernando Mendoza looks like he’ll be very good on Sundays. Dante Moore looks good. Ty Simpson could fit what Arthur Smith wants to do and could be something. It’s a fine trio of guys, just completely different from who many expected to be the cream of the crop.

Q: All of your concerns are valid. But just to play devil’s advocate…. the realist in me thinks that next year is where we fully embrace the rebuild. If we were flirting with a top 5 selection this year, maybe there’s a shot at getting your next franchise QB, but the class ain’t looking great. The point is, we won’t be drafting high enough to get our franchise QB this year, so let’s load up on talent to surround that guy with when he gets here in a year or two.

If they take that approach, I’m probably ok with a bridge year of Murray. Probably wouldn’t move the needle overall, but he’s elusive enough that he’d make our offense a degree or two more exciting to watch. Defenses would just have to play a little more honest to respect his escapability… and if we’re gonna suck next year anyway, why not make the offense a modicum more exciting to watch? At least the drives may see the chains move a few times before ending in a turnover as opposed to 750 3&outs per game.

I’m not saying I WANT it… I’m just saying that’s probably a mild upgrade over recent approaches… signing another QB in their late 30s who doesn’t have their legs anymore. – ThePen_IsMightier

A: I just really don’t want to sit through another mediocre season, man. Of course, when training camp rolls around, I’ll be excited and let myself believe it could be different, but deep down, I’ll know it won’t be. The class is fine, in terms of QBs, and the Steelers can trade up. That’s how the Bills got Josh Allen, and it’s how the Chiefs got Patrick Mahomes. Gotta rip the band-aid off and start over. I’d be incredibly excited for a rebuild.

Q: Fender or Gibson? The Rolling Stones or the Beetles? Or is it Beiber or Rodrigo, cough… (sorry, I just vomited in my mouth) Dodge, Ford, or the brand for losers? Scotch or Bourbon? – Les Norton

A: I don’t know who Fender or Gibson are. I think both the Rolling Stones and Beetles stink (I’m 26, to be fair. Both far precede me). If I had to pick a truck, I’d probably pick a Tacoma, but I did get a Bronco for a rental once for the Combine, and I didn’t want to take it back. Plus, I owned a Malibu for a while, and it was a pain, so probably Ford. I’m very basic when it comes to drinks. I like Jameson, so I guess I’m splitting the difference with an Irish Whiskey.

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