PALM BEACH, Fla. — Mike Tomlin is not one to give away the secret sauce, but he does drop hints, and he may have given one to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ draft thoughts this year. Talking about Keeanu Benton’s versatility, Tomlin hinted that the team wants versatile players along their defensive line early in the NFL Draft.

More importantly, he talked about how Benton’s versatility allows him to stay on the football field no matter what, and that could give a key hint to their draft plans.

“He [Keeanu Benton] has versatility, but that’s why we took him that high, particularly in today’s game, [there’s] not a lot of nose [tackle] play in today’s game, based on matchups and so forth. I think we spend about 80% of our time in sub-package football. And so, his versatility is an asset to him and us where he’s not reduced by offensive personnel that’s potentially on the field or not,” Tomlin said.

That quote seems innocuous, but it basically all but rules out a two-down nose tackle in the first round. If the Steelers do draft a nose tackle, that player will be capable of going out to a 3-technique and perhaps further in sub-packages.

That will mean if the Steelers do draft Kenneth Grant, it will not be because they see him as a nose tackle that can bump their run defense, but also as a pass rusher who gives them utility in sub-packages that they play in the most.

It does not rule out Grant, but if the team thinks Grant is simply a run stuffer and only a two down player, it makes it a lot less likely they would take him, and far likelier they would look at Walter Nolen and Derrick Harmon.

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Sidney Crosby scored a power-play goal in overtime and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Ottawa Senators 1-0 on Sunday.

Crosby has eight goals and 15 points during a 10-game point streak. Crosby also extended a 13-game home point streak. Ridly Greig was called for hooking with three seconds remaining in the third period, giving Pittsburgh the overtime power play.

Tristan Jarry stopped 31 shots for his 20th career shutout and his first of the season. The embattled Pittsburgh goaltender, who spent time in the American Hockey League with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, allowed 11 goals in his last three appearances.

Anton Forsberg made 34 saves for Ottawa.

Evgeni Malkin missed his third straight game for Pittsburgh with an upper-body injury. Ville Koivunen made his NHL debut.

Rickard Rakell hit a post for Pittsburgh in the second period, and Shane Pinto hit a post for Ottawa on a breakaway in the final three minutes of the third.

Ottawa outshot Pittsburgh 27-19 through two periods. But the Penguins looked like the fresher team at the outset of the third with 14 of the first 17 shots of the period. The Senators were coming off a 3-2 home win against Columbus 24 hours earlier.

Senators: Ottawa still holds the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Senators saw a brief two-game win streak end, but they have still won 10 of their last 15 games overall.

Penguins: Pittsburgh snapped a three-game losing streak. The Penguins were outscored 13-4 during their two most recent games, blowout losses against Tampa Bay and Buffalo on Tuesday and Thursday.

Crosby took a pass from Erik Karlsson and ripped a one-timer over Forsberg’s glove for the game-winning goal.

Crosby, with 58 career points, passed Jaromir Jagr for the most points against Ottawa in franchise history.

Ottawa opens a four-game homestand against Buffalo on Tuesday, and Pittsburgh travels to St. Louis on Thursday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Pittsburgh Steelers are stuck.
They want Aaron Rodgers. They need a quarterback. They hosted him. He liked it. Apparently, he was the one who wanted the meeting.
But it’s been quiet since then. No yes. No no. Nothing. The team is in the dark, and it’s not the kind of suspense anyone enjoys. They’re trying to plan their future, and one guy has the keys to the offense. He’s 41. Recovering from injuries. And still hasn’t said a word.
Meanwhile, Najee Harris is gone. Jaylen Warren is alone. And Pittsburgh’s eyes are all over the 2025 NFL Draft—especially the running back pool. Not quarterback. Not right now.

Aaron Rodgers visited Pittsburgh, liked what he saw, and then ghosted

Aaron Rodgers met with the Pittsburgh Steelers last Friday. According to reports, he initiated the meeting. He “loved everything Pittsburgh had to offer.”
But that was it. No public statement. No decision. Not even a hint. Just radio silence. And now everyone’s circling back to the same question: is he playing, retiring, or waiting for something else to open up?
Adam Schefter gave the most accurate update possible—“Nobody knows for sure what Aaron Rodgers’ game plan is.” On Get Up, Schefter added, “There are people who believe that he may not play this year. There are people who believe he’s waiting to see if something might open down the line in Minnesota with the Vikings.”
He played last season, but hamstring and knee problems slowed him down. The year before, he tore his Achilles. That’s a two-year streak of physical setbacks, and the Steelers aren’t exactly built to protect a quarterback dealing with that. Their offensive line is still figuring itself out.
And still, no pressure. Pittsburgh hasn’t forced a decision or leaked anything. They’re waiting. Maybe patiently. Maybe stupidly. But waiting.

Pittsburgh Steelers may go all-in on a running back with the 21st pick in the 2025 NFL Draft

While Aaron Rodgers stalls, the Steelers are making moves elsewhere. Najee Harris signed with the Los Angeles Chargers. Jaylen Warren is left carrying the backfield. He’s solid, but Pittsburgh doesn’t want to leave him alone.
They’re already looking at who might be available at No. 21. Multiple reports say they’ve scouted several top-tier running backs—Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.
Ashton Jeanty might not be there at 21. If he drops, though, things could get aggressive. Pittsburgh has made it clear: they’re not ignoring the running back position. If anything, it’s high on their board. Could even be higher than quarterback.
And honestly? It makes sense. Rookie RBs are cheap. Productive. Valuable. And with a quarterback like Rodgers—if he shows up—you want balance. You want someone who can take heat off the pass game. You want flexibility. The Steelers know that.
Jaylen Warren deserves more touches. But pairing him with a young, explosive RB could change this team’s offense fast. Add that to George Pickens, DK Metcalf, and Pat Freiermuth, and suddenly it doesn’t look too bad. Even with a fragile 41-year-old quarterback under center.