Pittsburgh

Steelers

According to DeFabo, “at least six teams would be interested in exploring the idea” of trading for Freiermuth, but the Steelers have no interest in dealing the five-year vet. Freiermuth had a down year in 2025, catching 41 passes for 486 yards and four touchdowns while seeing the second-fewest targets (54) since his injury shortened 2023 season where he played just 12 games. While the Steelers may not have any interest in dealing Freiermuth, DeFabo says the situation with Jonnu Smith “seems a bit more fluid.” Smith crashed back down to earth in 2025 after breaking out for 88-884-8 in his lone season with the Dolphins in 2024, but he remains under contract through next season.

Steelers GM Omar Khan said last week that Jones may not be ready for camp. We now know why. The third-year tackle underwent fusion surgery to repair a neck injury he suffered in Week 12 of last season, which undoubtedly puts a giant question mark on his timeline for return. To make matters worse for Jones, the Steelers will need to decide by May 1st if they will pick up the fifth-year option for him in 2027, or if they will allow his contract to expire after 2026. Jones has started 27 of the last 28 games he has played in for the Steelers and will be 25 at the start of next season. His status will be one to monitor as we draw closer to camp.

In his article, Dulac writes that the Steelers “have little if no intention of taking a quarterback with their top pick,” while adding “it’s more than likely it wouldn’t be until the third round” when they would consider drafting a QB. He also added that they would only take a QB if they believed he had a higher ceiling than Will Howard, who they selected in the sixth-round of last year’s draft. The Steelers met with Penn State’s Drew Allar, Miami’s Carson Beck, and Alabama’s Ty Simpson at last week’s combine, with Simpson being the only QB who is believed to have a chance at going in the first round. Whether or not Aaron Rodgers opts to return for another season will likely also factor into the team’s decision on if/when they should draft a QB, but regardless, it doesn’t sound like we should expect the Steelers to reach into the first-round to draft their quarterback of the future.

A true wild card in this year’s draft, Allar saw his 2025 season cut short due to a season-ending ankle injury. The former Nittany Lion started each of his last three years with the team and put together a mixed bag of performances while throwing for 7401-61-13 and adding another 732 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. Allar has a chance to improve his draft stock with a solid combine, where he is expected to throw, and should meet with plenty of teams who are interested in finding out what he could offer as a Day 2 or Day 3 selection.

Gainwell doesn’t seem to be a major free-agent priority signing for anybody, but figures to do quite well for himself after putting up 73/486 through the air and amassing 1,000 yards from scrimmage. He figures to be a potential third-down back upgrade for several teams in free agency, though the Steelers remain a great fit for him as he slotted in well behind Jaylen Warren.

Jones missed Weeks 13-18 and the playoffs with the neck injury, which appears to be quite serious. Dylan Cook started Pittsburgh’s playoff game against the Texans and would appear to be the reasonable depth headed into the season if Jones — on the final year of his rookie contract — isn’t able to go from the jump.

Khan told reporters at the NFL Combine on Tuesday that he has been in touch with Rodgers, 42, and doesn’t “foresee this going like it did last year,” when Rodgers drew out his decision to play for the Steelers well into the spring. ESPN reported on February 13 that Rodgers is “more likely than not” to return to Pittsburgh and play for his former Packers coach Mike McCarthy. Rodgers in 2025 showed some improvement over his play with the Jets in 2024. He ranked 23rd out of 36 qualifying quarterbacks last season in drop back EPA and 33rd in drop back success rate.

Kaboly went as far as saying the Steelers believed they had a deal done for Waddle before last season’s trade deadline. While adding another wide receiver to go along with D.K. Metcalf seems to be a priority for the Steelers, it ultimately takes two teams to make a trade. Pittsburgh’s pursuit of Waddle before last year’s trade deadline came up short and NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reported on Friday that the Dolphins aren’t interested in trading Waddle this offseason. That could also be posturing by the Dolphins to get better trade offers. If truly available, Waddle will be one of the big names to watch at the NFL Combine next week.

Pryor believes that the Steelers would like to know Rodgers’ intentions “sooner rather than later,” ideally before the NFL Combine for scouting purposes. During new head coach Mike McCarthy’s interview process, McCarthy reportedly laid out a plan to develop 2025 sixth-round pick, QB Will Howard, who missed most of last season due to a “freak” pinky finger injury. McCarthy is a “big fan” of Howard, though one wonders how big a fan he is, given Pryor’s comments about Rodgers’ decision-making timing regarding the NFL Combine.

Kugler spent the last two seasons serving as an assistant offensive line coach with the Patriots. He held the same role with the Panthers in the two prior seasons. The Pat McAfee Show’s Steelers correspondent, Mark Kaboly, notes that Krugler is a former Steelers training camp “ball boy” and son of former Steelers OL coach Sean Kugler.