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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 03.23.26
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Brian Batko
1:53
Hey everyone, welcome back to our weekly Monday Steelers chat. Some minor filling-out-the-roster type moves going on now in free agency, but if you've got big picture stuff or the draft on the brain, have at it.
Stairway to seventh seed
1:53
Brian: I have long wondered if the delay in signing Rodgers is just because the Steelers and Rodgers want to avoid the bad PR of Rodgers skipping OTAs.  Do you think this is a possible reason why we are in version 2.0 of the insanity of waiting to see what he will do?  And if so, isn't the PR of this worse than just announcing his signing and saying we'll see him in June?  Alternatively, if they really don't know what AR will do isn't it somewhat absurd that they go through free agency and the draft building around a QB that might not show?
Brian Batko
1:57
Let's start with your second part first. It's not absurd to me from the QB planning perspective, because they do have Mason Rudolph and Will Howard in place. But I do have to assume Aaron Rodgers is following what the Steelers are doing. Not necessarily that they're consulting him or anything. As for the first part, yeah I think that's possible. And I'd imagine there are people in that building who believe he should be there for the voluntary work. But here we are.
CG
1:57
Hi Brian, is JJ McCarthy a legitimate trade target? Would would the draft capital cost?
Brian Batko
1:58
I'm not a big JJ McCarthy guy. Don't know if the Vikings would or will look to move him, but I can't imagine they'll get more than a third-round pick for him at this point.
JPinPDX
2:00
Good morning from the PNW Bats! Do you think our Steelers are done in Free Agency, pending a certain QB decision?
Brian Batko
2:00
What's up JP? Yeah I think they're done with well-known names. Obviously, just in the last few days, they've added backup/depth/role player types in Brock Hoffman and Travis Homer.
Draft King
2:02
Do you believe the Steelers will trade for or sign a free agent potential starter at guard or does that become the priority in the draft? Thank you
Brian Batko
2:04
I feel like they're set now, viewing Spencer Anderson in that "potential starter" category while keeping a close eye on this draft class. And as we sit here today, it may well be the top priority, yes.
Epiballo
2:05
Hi Brian - thanks for the chat. I keep reading conflicting reports: did the Steelers sign OL Hoffman or not? If no, do you think they will?
Brian Batko
2:05
Yes, Brock Hoffman is in. Should be announced any minute now.
Woody
2:06
Brian, with the tax burden highlighted on Sam Darnold losing thousands for winning the superbowl in California and now Washington state passing a 9.9% tax on millionaires l, do you see a time where the NFL and the NFLPA facing down these ridiculous taxing states and potentially moving out of state? I would reconsider signing a contract as a professional athlete if given a choice of no/low income state tax versus the above cited examples?
Brian Batko
2:08
Hoo boy, Woody, you win the award for most beyond my purview question of the day (although it's still early). I'm only vaguely familiar with the various jock taxes around the country. But I do think it's probably a consideration to some extent for players when they hit free agency. Not the be-all, end-all, but as a tiebreaker maybe if two destinations are offering similar money and contract structure.
NY Steel
2:09
The Steelers drafting in the first round from 2013 to 2022 was quite bad.  The 1st round picks were Jarvis Jones, Ryan Shazier, Bud Dupree, Artie Burns, TJ Watt, Terrel Edmunds, Devin Bush, Najee Harris, Kenny Pickett.  Only TJ Watt got a meaningful second contract. There was also a complete imbalance towards drafting defensive players which left the cupboard on offense totally bare. Was this driven by Colbert, Tomlin or both? Has Omar Khan improved this dynamic?
Brian Batko
2:11
Yeah, a lot of misses there, but I feel like that's at least inherently the risk in picking where the Steelers have drafted so often in the past decade. It gets harder and harder to find those slam-dunk prospects once you get into the double-digits, then the teens, then the 20s, of course. Mike Tomlin had a lot of say, that's for sure.
John in Florida
2:13
Thanks for the chats. The Steelers are in a bit of a quandary with 12 picks in next months draft. They don’t really want to use all those picks, and it will be tough even for the Khan artist to flip them for 2027 picks. I think their best strategy would be to either bundle picks to move up in the first round this year, if there is someone they really like available, or bundle picks to either jump back into the end of round one or pick up another second round pick. I know you always need a partner to trade, but what do you see as the best or most likely options available?
Brian Batko
2:17
Hi, John. Not to be "that guy" but I did delve into this quite a bit in my mailbag last week https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2026/03/19/steelers-draft...

In my mind, it'd be ideal to move picks into 2027 so you have the requisite ammo to take your shots at what projects to be a deeper QB class. But other teams around the league can recognize that, too, so you might have to take 75 cents on the dollar or something like that.
Randy
2:18
BB…. What are the chances: 1) the Steelers draft a traitsy QB in Rds 3-5, 2) prepare Will Howard for QB 2 duties and 3) trade / cut Mason?  Seems like it would be a good idea to have 3 QBs with upside heading into the 2027 season (assuming they draft one in Rnd 1 in ‘27).
Brian Batko
2:20
I feel like all of those are decent possibilities, Randy. It all serves the idea of leaving no stone unturned when it comes to finding your franchise QB. Trading Mason Rudolph might be the most unlikely, simply because we have years' worth of a sample size that the Steelers have been unable to do that.
Realist
2:22
With Killebrew, Pierre, and Heyward leaving, that leaves a hole in the Steelers' special teams does it not?
Brian Batko
2:23
Come on down, Travis Homer! But yeah, those three were really good at those jobs. Still have core guys like Ben Skowronek, Carson Bruener, Brandin Echols, and now maybe Cole Holcomb/Malik Harrison/Roman Wilson shift into bigger special teams roles, too.
2:24
Lest we forget about Sebastian Castro (which I just did)
Tell Me Why
2:24
Tell me why you think that Mike McCarthy could be successful in 2026?
Brian Batko
2:26
By and large, his offenses in Dallas and Green Bay were very productive. Combine that with a Steelers defense that has a bounce-back season and maybe you get a nice stew going, Tell me Why.
4th and Inches
2:27
Hello Brian, is 2026 finally the year the Steelers define who they are—or just another season stuck again between rebuilding and contending?
Brian Batko
2:28
I'm shaking my crystal ball and, as usual, it says 9 wins, 10 wins or somewhere in between
Dwight
2:28
Given both hs speed and his inability to shed OL blockers in the run game, wouldn’t it make sense to move Peyton Wilson to strong safety?
Brian Batko
2:30
That's a no for me, Dwight. For two reasons. 1: There's still time for him to get better at getting off blocks, and he should. 2: Straight-line speed is one thing but not sure his lateral quickness is DB-caliber.
To say nothing of all it would take to learn an entirely new position on the back end, the instincts that come with that, etc. So I guess that's three reasons.
The Truth
2:31
Your personal opinion - is the Will Howard hype the team is pushing out a bunch of nonsense or is it legit? Something tells me its a smokescreen to convince the fans that they have a long term QB plan in place. Am I too cynical or do you believe that they like him as much as they say?
Brian Batko
2:33
Ehh suggesting it's a smokescreen just to gaslight fans, I'm not sure I buy that. But could it be posturing to make other teams think the Steelers have less of a QB want/need than they actually do? Sure, I guess that's possible in the name of misdirection as we head toward the draft. It's a month away now, don't ya know.
2:35
Oh, and I guess I didn't really answer you at the end there. I do believe they genuinely like him, mainly because this isn't the Steelers trying to sell some obscure late-rounder who doesn't fit the traditional archetype. Howard is a big, fairly mobile guy who won a national championship as a starter and has other football minds not on the Steelers payroll espousing their confidence in him.
Takoma Tom
2:37
Why not go with Will Howard and Mason as QBs for this coming season. It’s win win either one steps up and becomes an above average QB or you get at least a top 5 pick for 2027. It’s better than Rodgers or Cousins.
Brian Batko
2:38
I do see that logic, Tom. I do. Especially when both are on such cheap deals. But the big hang-up there is we know the Steelers don't want to waste a year of their life not trying to contend. And they almost certainly feel like Aaron Rodgers returning as their starter would give them a better chance at contending.
Steel Russel
2:39
Hi Brian - is part of the problem Roman Wilson had last year the fact that Rogers choose to avoid all the volunteer sessions which would have allowed them to bond?  And are we going to repeat that mistake this year?
Brian Batko
2:41
Well, he wasn't under contract with the Steelers during those, so hard to say he chose to avoid them. But this goes back to the earlier question about his timeline, OTAs participation and all that. I mean, sure, I suppose you can connect those dots. Rodgers did play catch-up though by inviting the pass-catchers out to Malibu for that weekend that they got on the field and threw the ball around, which Wilson was there for. If I'm not mistaken, Rodgers is on record as saying he doesn't think football in shorts is all that benficial for veterans, so ... yeah.
SoCalSteelerFan
2:42
Assuming Rodgers is protected (big assumption), does he still have top 10 arm talent in the NFL in terms of strength and accuracy?
Brian Batko
2:44
Just going off the top of my head, let's see ... 

Josh Allen
Patrick Mahomes
Justin Herbert
Caleb Williams
Matthew Stafford
Jordan Love

Yeah, as I sit there six deep, if you're talking all-around arm talent and pure thrower of the football, Rodgers is probably still there.e
Arthur not Art
2:44
What am I missing that appears to bother a large portion of the fan base - Rodgers is, and has been their best option at QB this offseason - they know he can still play, he knows the new system, by all counts he was a great teammate, and it provides year to year stability, something they haven't had since Ben retired. If he decides not to play, the segment that wants them to play Howard to see what they have and qualify for a high 1st Rnd pick will get what they want. If he does play, Howard gets another year to learn from him and they can sell out to get high enough in 2027 to target the franchise QB while using the 7 picks in the top 135 they currently have to build a quality roster that can give the next guy time to grow the way Ben had. Seems like they're in a pretty good position either way, so why all the angst?
Brian Batko
2:46
You may have answered your own prompt in the fourth or so line there. Many have had enough of the year to year stability. They want to see the Steelers either get over the hump and win in the postseason again, or make a more concerted effort to rebuild for future success. But, obviously, you make moves that you think can accomplish one or both of those tasks and you don't find out until much later whether it was right. Hence, why we all love following sports on this day to day level.
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