Pittsburgh

Steelers

As Fowler notes, Steelers EDGE Nick Herbig is a free agent next offseason. Pittsburgh’s No. 3 pass-rusher is expected to be a hot name on the open market. The Steelers could work toward an extension for him before that happens, but they can’t realistically pay Watt, Herbig, and T.J. Watt top dollar. A Herbig extension might make Watt more valuable to the team as a trade asset. Still, it’s hard to believe the Steelers would trade one of the faces of their franchise at the tail end of his prime. How both he and Herbig play in 2026 will determine what GM Omar Khan does next offseason.

“They are re-uploading their own methods and fundamentals and mechanics,” Pryor said, adding that McCarthy and the team’s QBs coach were “very intentional” with Allar during rookie minicamp, focusing on footwork and basic throwing mechanics. McCarthy is hoping to get Allar to widen his stance and get off of his toes in the pocket. “That’s something that will help him process even more and just move faster as he gets acclimated to the NFL,” Pryor said. A third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft who threw 49 touchdowns over the 2023 and 2024 seasons at Penn State, Allar could see significant playing time this season if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t show up this summer. Even if Rodgers eventually decides to report to the Steelers, a lost season for Pittsburgh could put Allar under center down the final stretch of the regular season.

The Saints will host the Steelers in a Paris matchup, the inaugural Paris game for the NFL at the Stade de France. The Saints did not play an international game in 2025 while the Steelers will play overseas for the second straight year, defeating the Vikings in Ireland last season. The game will be during Week 7 of the 2026 season, potentially meaning a bye for both teams before or after the game.

“During rookie minicamp, the former Penn State quarterback worked his two- and three-step drops at an almost robotic-like pace. That was intentional,” DeFabo writes. Perhaps it all clicks later in the offseason, but we’d be surprised to see Allar as a real option in-game this year based on this observation.

Boswell’s $7 million AAV on his new deal ties with Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey for the highest in league history at the position. Boswell, 35, converted 27-of-32 field goals (84.4 percent) last season and is one of the best kickers in league history from distances of 50-plus yards, as he’s 52-for-63 lifetime. This new deal keeps him under contract with the Steelers through 2030, all but ensuring he’ll have the chance to spend his entire career with one organization.

Rapoport later added that Rodgers will “likely play for them in 2026.” The news originally came from Adam Crowley of 93.7 The Fan. Crowley noted that Rodgers is expected to be in town Thursday night, “with the expectation of him signing this weekend.” Rapoport wasn’t as steadfast in a deal getting done, though he still expects Rodgers to play in Pittsburgh this year. There were previous reports that Rodgers could be interested in signing with the Cardinals, but that fit never made sense for either side. All signs point to Rodgers re-upping with the Steelers and reuniting with new head coach Mike McCarthy. Barring a change of heart, a deal should be done sooner rather than later.

The coach, speaking to ESPN anonymously, expressed optimism that Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy would get the most out of Allar, who was taken in the third round of the 2026 draft. “Hopefully [Pittsburgh] will be a coaching staff that can maximize what he’s good at,” the Big Ten coach said. “I’m not really sure that was the case [at Penn State].” ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg said Allar, who threw 49 touchdowns over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, “would have been among the top quarterbacks drafted in 2025 if he skipped his senior season.” Allar’s final season started slowly and was cut short by an ankle injury. In Pittsburgh, he will likely sit behind Aaron Rodgers to begin the season if Rodgers finally decides to return to the Steelers for another season.

Bell was a seventh-round pick by the Patriots in 2024 and has caught two career passes for 20 yards in 15 games. The athletic tight end who was treated as a TE/HB hybrid in college has struggled to catch on as a full-time tight end in the pros. He could have a chance to earn a spot on the Steelers’ 53-man roster in training camp, but it’s hard to imagine him making much of an impact on offense even if he sticks on the roster.

It’s unclear whether this is a report from inside the building or Dulac speculating, but regardless, it wouldn’t be surprising to learn that the Steelers are growing tired of waiting for the 42-year-old quarterback to make his decision. The Steelers recently applied the rarely used unrestricted free-agent tender to Rodgers, giving them the right of first refusal and a chance to match any offer Rodgers may receive from another team. The Steelers have quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Will Howard on the roster and also used the No. 76 overall pick in this year’s draft to select Penn State’s Drew Allar. Head coach Mike McCarthy will have multiple options at his disposal if Rodgers doesn’t return, but he remains their best option if he opts to continue playing.

The news comes from Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s office, and notes that “the fan did not appear to be injured, nor did he seek medical attention at the game.” Metcalf already served a two-game suspension issued by the league, and the Steelers did not void Metcalf’s financial guarantees, so there is no reason to expect further punishment from the NFL. The fan in question still has a $100 million civil suit against Metcalf, which remains ongoing, but we see no reason to believe that it will impact his fantasy stock negatively at this time.