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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 06.02.25
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Brian Batko
12:00
Hey all, I’ve got a bit of a Kennywood hangover from yesterday I still need to sleep off. Just kidding, but I did have a slight hiccup in my schedule so we’re gonna kick this off closer to 12:30. Thanks for your patience.
12:30
OK everyone I’m here now and ready to chat away for the next hour or so. Sorry for the delay. Hopefully it didn’t derail your day. If it did, my deepest apologies, but I’m not gonna lie, you also need some new hobbies.
Silent Bob
12:30
Hi Brian - Going off of memory but I believe that Pickett threw for over 200 yards just one time in nearly two seasons of football. Conservative Tomlin and JV OC Matt Canada had something to do with that. But, he had good targets in GP, DJ and Mooth. Isn't this the evidence that he's just not an NFL-caliber starter?
Brian Batko
12:31
Yeah, I don’t think Kenny Pickett will become a starting-caliber QB. Solid backup for a while, someone who can get you through a game or even a stretch with decent to good play, but that to me is the ceiling. Perhaps he’ll prove me wrong and do so in Cleveland. Wouldn’t that be juicy?
FC
12:32
Hey Brian, any updates on Holcomb?  He sure looked good before the injury.  Hopefully, he can contribute this year.
Brian Batko
12:33
He looks good now, at least in the drills we can take photos and video of at the start of practice. You wouldn’t know he was coming off a major injury other than the leg sleeve he wears. But obviously his play speed will be more evident, or lack thereof, come training camp and preseason.
TVC15
12:33
Hi Brian,  My biggest hope for the coming season is that the offensive line becomes at least well above average. Am I a starry-eyed yinzer?
Brian Batko
12:35
My assumption is that’s the front office’s biggest hope, too, considering all they’ve poured into it via the draft. And that would be a great way to insure a significant future investment at quarterback, as well. Not to mention, no one likes being wrong. If this group has a whiff, or even multiple whiffs, the Steelers will have been wrong - either in evaluation, development or both.
Mr. PGH 9th Ward
12:36
Do you think that the “fire Tomlin” crowd understands that Dermontti Dawson, Rod Woodson, Greg lloyd, John Jackson, Carnell Lake, Barry Foster, Neil O’Donnell, Eric Green, Hardy Nickerson, Thomas Everett, and others… all were drafted by Chuck Noll? These players helped Cowher lead the Steelers to 6 straight playoff appearances to start his career. Cowher didn’t win a Super Bowl until the Steelers drafted Big Ben who was a player Cowher did not want to draft. I am a big Cowher supporter, so I am not bashing Cowher, but instead pointing out that Tomlin has been a really good head coach.
Brian Batko
12:39
To be fair, Bill Cowher’s team that won the Super Bowl was not exactly carried there by Ben. Closer to the opposite, actually. But I’m with you in that I’ve never been one to criticize Mike Tomlin via the “won with Cowher’s players/coaches” mantra. I’m a believer that sometimes a certain coach is needed for a certain situation and if Tomlin was the right guy at the right time to get that particular group over the hump, credit to him and credit to those who hired him for that job.
Alan in Bama
12:39
Good morning Brian, here’s hoping  the TJ Watt contract talks helps drown out the Rodgers signing!
Brian Batko
12:40
Part of me does wonder if TJ is at least the slightest bit perturbed that this Steelers offseason has been so much more about the pursuit/waiting game for a 41-year-old quarterback than locking up the face of the franchise
Happy Gilmore
12:41
Brian, do you anticipate any real, true competition for any starting positions this summer? MT seems to decide who his starters are before the first snap of camp.
Brian Batko
12:42
Eh, maybe slot corner. Maybe inside linebacker No. 2. And we’ll have to see how the WR position shakes out. But those are all sort of game plan/situation based roles anyway.
12:43
Ah and I suppose I shouldn’t give short shrift to punter but it Cam Johnston is fully recovered I don’t think he’ll be in danger of losing the job to Corliss Waitman.
Commissioner
12:43
In my opinion, if Aaron Rodgers wants to be a Steeler, he needs to sign and attend mandatory mini camp on June 10. Otherwise, the Steelers need to walk away and move on with what they have. What say you?
Brian Batko
12:46
In my opinion, the deadline should’ve been set long ago. But if you’re waiting this long, why worry about three days in June? It’s sort of a drop in the bucket if you’re willing to hold up the entire offseason for one guy.
DaquidoBazzini
12:47
Do you think it was wise for Mason Rudolph (and Miles Killebrew) to show up onstage at the Trump affair a few days ago?
Brian Batko
12:48
If they don’t care about publicizing their political views, then sure.
Tim from Canada
12:48
Good day and thanks for the chats. Regardless of the QB I am concerned about the O line. Besides the anticipated upswing due to TF being healthy and BJ changing back to his natural side, what is your assessment of the depth? Thanks.
Brian Batko
12:50
I think Spencer Anderson is an underrated backup guard. And Ryan McCollum isn’t a bad No. 2 center at all, as he showed last season. The swing tackle spot is more concerning, in my view.
Al Slinsky
12:50
Any thoughts of who the Steelers might bring in if Rodgers bows out?
Brian Batko
12:51
If it were me I’d sign Carson Wentz and call it an offseason.
Pittfan
12:52
Hi Brian. I believe Mike Tomlin is in a no win situation this year. If Rodgers comes in and they win 11 games and end up drafting in the 20s as usual, fans and national media are going to to say the Steelers mediocrity may have cost them one of the top tier QBs in the 2026 draft and Tomlin should be fired for only being concerned about not having a losing season. If they finish with a losing season the fans and national media will say he should be fired because the team stunk and he handled the QB situation horribly. What gives?
Brian Batko
12:53
Well if they win 11 games followed by or including a postseason victory, I’d call it a successful season. Plus, in Omar Khan’s side of the house, they’re stacking enough draft capital to potentially NOT miss out on next year’s QB class if it’s as deep and talented as projected.
Steeltowntim
12:54
Brian, I see that the Steelers still have around 31 million in cap space and besides Watt who’s new deal usually doesn’t hit the cap this year and maybe another QB it’s likely they won’t get near the top, is there any rule that they can move this over to next year or do they just waste it and save the money?
Brian Batko
12:56
Yes, teams can roll over unused cap from one season to the next. Not a bad idea for the Steelers, honestly. Especially because I view them in the light of “we’d like to win this year and we’re trying to win this year but we aren’t ALL IN this year.”
tjc
12:56
If you were GM, would you look at trading away any veterans this offseason (Highsmith, Watt, Fitz) for draft capital next year?  They have an interesting opportunity to completely change their roster next year
Brian Batko
12:57
No because I still think you can with those guys. Regardless of age and price, you’d be trying to acquire players LIKE those guys anyway
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:59
There seems to be no panic with the AR situation with the FO. National Pundits seem to think the Steelers will go after Cousins if AR retires or blows them off. Why would you pay for Cousins with draft picks and taking on salary when Mason is similar to what you would get from Cousins? Also, the Browns and the Giants will have a vet available after training camp cuts to be a backup if needed or just roll with Howard as your backup. Agree?
Brian Batko
12:59
I’m only interested in Kirk Cousins if the Falcons make it exceedingly cheap to acquire him. And even then …
steve
1:00
Brian - with all the talk of the Steelers packaging a bunch of draft picks next April for their QB of the future, I'm starting to wonder why they would need to do that. How many teams are going to be needing a QB bad enough to invest a first round pick? I can think of POSSIBLY 3 teams: the Saints (probably), Giants and Colts (possibly).
Brian Batko
1:01
They might not have to. That’s the beauty of likely being in the QB market next draft. The Steelers have continuously missed these opportunities and it seems the brass is determined to not let that happen again.
DJ
1:02
Do you consider Cam / TJ as "all time great" Steelers given the lack of any playoff success?
Brian Batko
1:02
Yes because in football wins are never a stat attributed to any individual player, especially one who’s not a QB
SamosPete
1:03
Why the widespread pessimism about the Steelers? Compared to last year, DL is improved, ILB equal or better, OLB improved, CB improved, S equal or better, OL improved, WR improved, RB equal or better, TE equal. And one way or the other we’ll have a QB tall enough to see over his OL and throw over the middle. Agree?
Brian Batko
1:05
They’re all improved on paper. That’s means nothing. Guess what, a bunch of teams - almost every team - think they improved this offseason. I do think Rodgers is a better QB than Russell Wilson though so I’m with you there, or at least a better fit for this team/scheme. Mason Rudolph might be too.
62 Stack Monster
1:07
Brian, Here in FL, it's been reported that the Steelers inquired about trading for Jonnu Smith (TE-Dolphins).  Are the Steelers satisfied with the position? If not, why did they extend Friermuth?
Brian Batko
1:08
Well they could be satisfied with Pat Freiermuth but not the TEs behind him. Or not the overall depth of pass-catchers on the team. Or they're just kicking the tires to see how cheap they can get a specific player.
TX Pressure
1:10
Keeping tabs on Fields at Jets camp and only OTAs but the talk of the offense being more focused on running and being balanced because the Jets were 30th in running the football last year.  So explain the fit of Rodgers calling his own plays and throwing the 2nd most passes and 25th QBR rated QB is going to work with this offense?
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