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Christopher Carter's Steelers chat: 02.20.26
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Christopher Carter
10:20
Alright. Just got done recording North Shore Drive podcast with Ray, and I'm settled in to answer your questions. Let's get into it.
Silent Bob
10:20
Hi Christopher - According to Pro Football Network, the Steelers OL ranked number 3 overall. Not sure how objective those ratings are but it does seem to indicate the OL has moved from a weakness to a strength. Obviously they have work to do based on the Houston game. From your lens, does it feel like the OL is solved and they have much greater needs elsewhere? What are your thoughts on not having to draft a guard and instead moving Jones and/or Cook over? Thanks
Christopher Carter
10:25
Hi Silent Bob!

I wouldn't say they were third overall, but I do think they were hovering around the top ten. Sports Information Systems notes they were called for holding just eight times last season -- fewest in the NFL. They also allowed the fewest pressures in the NFL at 157.

Those numbers get a boost because of Aaron Rodgers' quick release and the emphasis on a short passing game. But there are other teams that also tried to get the ball out quick and fast and weren't as good at protecting their quarterback.

If this was the floor for their run blocking and that starts to grow -- as I expect it will -- there's a good chance this group could be special in short time. Also, I do think they should draft a guard to have ready soon -- just not super early. This looks like a decent guard class that can provide a starter in the third/fourth rounds.
Retire21
10:25
What would be Plan B with no Rodgers? Go with Mason, sign a FA, trade for a vet, go all out to get Ty Simpson?
Christopher Carter
10:30
My thought would be to get a veteran that wouldn't break your bank. Ty Simpson isn't the guy I'd take my first round shot on when I think there will be several players who can be stars available for the Steelers to get.

Malik Willis is at the top of the list for me because while he might fetch a decent per/year salary, I think he could be signed for a shorter term deal that doesn't tie up a lot of money for several years.

But right now, it's a bleak outlook on the free agent class. It's why I think there's a better chance Aaron Rodgers returns than not.
G Man
10:30
Hi Chris!  I’ve always enjoyed your weekly game report cards & All 22 breakdown you provided all season!  If Nussmeier is available in the 3rd round, should the Steelers take him?
Christopher Carter
10:31
Hello! And thank you!

I think Garrett Nussmeier did a decent job in the Senior Bowl, but he didn't impress too much during those practices and had a rough season. I'd be fine with him in the fourth round. I just think there are some prospects to be had in the third round who can become long term starters and not just backup quarterbacks. They have those in Mason Rudolph and I think another in Will Howard. But if he's there on day three of the draft, I can see taking a shot on him.
Ben
10:32
Hey chris - pls share some reasons why you think the defense might be better and more innovative under this DC besides the fact that he is just a different leader. I haven’t read much about him having success elsewhere. Thanks -
Christopher Carter
10:41
Hello!

I don't know for sure that Patrick Graham will be better or more innovative -- but I also don't know that he won't be, either. Things I like of his past defenses is how he's incorporated simulated blitzes and adapted from roster to roster to not stick to one specific style that he wanted -- but rather whatever suited the roster he had.

Out of his last six seasons as a defensive coordinator -- two the Giants and four years with the Raiders -- he's managed just two seasons to coach a defense that ranked 9th in points allowed -- once for each team.

But in the other four years, his defenses ranked 23rd or worse.

A Steelers defense hasn't finished 23rd or worse in points allowed since 1988. I wasn't even alive then.

There are elements I thought of Graham's defenses that were intriguing, but he still needs to put together some consecutive years of good defenses. Maybe he'll have a better situation to work with in Pittsburgh and it will work out. But it's not something I think is a sure bet.
Retire21
10:41
Talk out there about trading Herbig but with injury history of TJ and Highsmith, that would be risky. Would you move him, extend him or let him ride out the last year of his deal?
Christopher Carter
10:45
I would extend Herbig. He's 25 years old and coming into being a strong player. He's homegrown, he's flashed a ton of potential, and improved as a run defender.

I also think the Steelers can afford him. Omar Khan has left the Steelers with plenty of salary cap space in 2027 -- when Herbig's new deal would be due. They're projected to have over $158M in space then, which gives them plenty of space to sign Herbig, Joey Porter Jr. and others who they want to prioritize to keep. And that's without considering how the cap continues to increase every year.

Sign Herbig. And don't trade away Watt or Highsmith UNLESS you get a very good price. Trading them away for day three picks would be silly. If someone calls with higher picks, then that's something to consider.
Tampa Too
10:45
Chris. What are your thoughts about the Steelers pursuing Malik Willis?
Christopher Carter
10:49
I like Malik Willis as a player. Thought he would've been a good third round pick when he was coming out of the draft. I think he has potential and would be a find bridge option at quarterback. But I also think because of how thin this free agent class is at quarterback, this might be a tough bidding war.

Omar Khan would need to find a way to make Willis work with their current cap situation. $20M would be the range I'd expect, as that per/year average is what Justin Fields signed for with the Jets. If it gets much higher than that, I think the Steelers would pass.
JPinPDX
10:49
Good morning CC. Will you get to join the crew going to Indy for the combine? Are there any OL that will test there that should be on the Steelers radar?
Christopher Carter
10:55
Good morning! And yes I will be! I'm excited for my fourth season attending the combine and I'll be with Gerry and Ray.

This is a good year to want a tackle or a guard. Olaivavega Ioane is going to be someone to watch as the lone first round guard, but he can make himself go even higher if he tests well.

But I think the sweet spot for the Steelers to watch here could be third-fourth round, and I really like Georgia Tech's Keylan Rutledge or Iowa's Beau Stephens in that range.

Rutledge was fun to watch at the Senior Bowl and when I talked to him, he talked about how har dhe worked to become a mauler. And that would be a good thing to add at left guard.

At offensive tackle, I have about five players who I think are first round prosepcts. But then I only have nine total in my top 100. So, tackle might be tricky because first round might be the best value to get there and I don't think that's where the Steelers want to spend their draft capital.
TVC15
10:55
Hi Chris,  What if the Steelers would have "reached" for Malik Willis in the 1st round (he was drafted by the Titans in the 3rd round) of the 2022 NFL Draft instead of Kenny Pickett? Would Tomlin have broken him too? Or would he have somehow thrived?
Christopher Carter
10:58
I don't know that Tomlin "broke" anyone. Pickett's best days were with the Steelers. I think if he had stayed, he would've been the starting quarterback when Russell Wilson was injured in training camp last year and if he'd gone 4-2 like Fields, he would be viewed differently than he is now after being on his third team.

I do think Willis would've had to struggle with a rough offensive line and the rebuild they were going through, but if he stuck around I think his athleticism with this current offensive line, Warren and Gainwell would've made an interesting threat and opened up easier reads in the passing game.
Matt from Davidson NC
10:58
Please don’t let the one reader monopolize your chat as they do every other one in the PG. They are usually always put first & subit
Christopher Carter
10:59
I answer the questions as I get them. Often times there are repeat questions from different people and I skip those to not have to repeat the same answer over and over.
Soggy
10:59
Good Morning Chris & thank you for taking the time to answer our questions!!  What players are you most interested in seeing perform at the combine?  Any guys you think could surprise (positive or negative) with their performance?
Christopher Carter
11:06
Good morning and thanks for being here Soggy!

One guy I'm interested in towards the top is Jermod McCoy. I really like his tape from 2024, but he missed all of 2025 and that always is a red flag. But if he runs well, shows the great change of direction, he could challenge LSU's Mansoor Delane as this year's top cornerback.

I'm also interested in how fast and explosive this safety class is. Caleb Downs looks like a sure superstar, but Oregon's Dillon Thieneman, Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, LSU's AJ Haulcy and TCU's Bud Clark all are on my radar to see who is the most athletic.

Also, who are the faster and more explosive receivers? Man, this is going to be a fun week.
Billy Gunn
11:06
Could Broderick Jones or Dylan Cook play LG?
Christopher Carter
11:07
Could they? Maybe Jones, But I would prefer to draft an actual guard and let those guys battle it out at tackle. Let them be in their natural positions and settle in there. Would rather that than ask Jones to play his third different position in as many years.
Pittfan
11:08
Hi Christopher. Drew Allar there seems to be a lot of interest by the fans. I looked up draft grades and measurables for Will Howard and Allar. Will Howard was rated a little higher and both have similar measurables. I also think Howard may be better between the ears. So why so much the excitement over Allar?
Christopher Carter
11:11
I think there's always some excitement for quarterbacks when a team doesn't have their franchise guy on the roster. So excitement for Drew Allar might be from people who just look to whoever they liked in college and think that will transfer over. I know there are some Penn State fans that think he got a raw deal with his receiver talent and believe he could be a threat in the NFL. I was all-in on Drew Allar watch -- in 2024. But I just haven't seen enough to make him someone that I think should be prioritized anytime before the 4th or even 5th rounds. If I were to put him and Will Howard from last year on the same big board, Howard would be higher for me.
Yuri
11:11
Good morning Chris.  From what I’ve seen, I think Alec Pierce would be a nice addition to the receiving corps.  Your thoughts?  Thank you Chris.
Christopher Carter
11:16
Good morning Yuri! I also really like Alec Pierce -- heck I liked him coming out in 2022. He was taken the very next pick after George Pickens.

Pierce would be a good target for the Steelers, but might be too expensive. He's certainly one of the best 26 year old players available as an unrestricted free agent. But that will attract other teams as well. Could be a bidding war for him. If the Steelers want to win that, it might cost them from keeping or signing some other spots.
Darnell
11:17
Hey Chris.  Really enjoy your chats and hope you get to keep doing them.  Would love to see Gainwell stay with the Steelers, but understand he will be sought after by many teams. As of now, what are the chances you think KG will be in Pittsburgh next season?  Thanks.
Christopher Carter
11:20
Hello!

I also think it would be best for the Steelers if they found a way to keep Kenneth Gainwell. If you could sign him for around $4M-$5M/year for 2 years, that would be a good fit. Warren makes an average of $5.9M/year and that should make them both doable options.

But what are the chances of Gainwell going for that? I think it might be higher if he knows Aaron Rodgers will be around as they had a special connection. But if I'm Gainwell, I'm trying to make this the year I go out and get my bag in free agency. I was just an MVP for a playoff team, I'm healthy and I'm in my prime. Might be the best time in his career to make some big money.
Merle
11:21
It seems like whenever a team has someone that is a problem child, narcissist or malcontent, more times than not, it's a receiver. I'd like your thoughts on why this is. Thank you!
Christopher Carter
11:28
Ha. This is always funny. But I think part of it might be the nature of the position. It's the primary position where players are only seen for their value if they're given the ball or the chances to make things happen. When players don't get the ball, they're less likely to impact a game as a blocker like a tight end and have more competition for touches than running backs.

This isn't justifying behavior, but it's something I've seen develop inside players from every level I've covered. Players are often coached to be team-oriented, to keep their mouths shut and not voice their opinions in a selfish manner. But receivers can sometimes be very talented, overlooked, and then frustrated for not getting opportunities.

Go back to 2013 when the Steelers' offense was struggling and there wasn't an identity developed just yet. Then Antonio Brown was rumored to have been demanding the ball from Ben Roethlisberger. The next week, he has three touchdown receptions against the Bears and then he becomes a superstar.
11:30
I think there's a difficult balance between advocating for yourself and being humble and patient for your opportunities. And it only gets more difficult when players see they have a limited time to impress scouts/decision makers about if they're good enough to get drafted, receive a big contract extension, etc. And with that, comes attitude, differences and issues that aren't always putting the team first.

Just a theory on my end.
Takoma Tom
11:31
The Steelers need to get a good young QB either in the draft or free agency.  Take a chance on Malik Wills or Davis Mills will be better than bringing Rodgers back or some other old retread.  Yes it might end the no loosing seasons but at least we’d be able to compete against the good teams.
Christopher Carter
11:49
I'm all for exploring younger free agents, but I don't think there's any need to have losing seasons. Having losing seasons is no guarantee that you'll then become competitive "against the good teams." Steelers did beat the AFC champions this year and were a rookie bungle of a special teams mistake from taking the Super Bowl champions to the final minutes.

As they are now, the Steelers should remain competitive. Their goal should be to continue to build the younger core that's beginning to be the strong point of the team. If the Omar Khan/Andy Weidl picks hadn't started to come around like Porter/Frazier/Fautanu etc. then this would've been the losing season as Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt weren't the superstar DPOY candidate players they'd been in recent years and Minkah Fitzpatrick wasn't around either.
Mark
11:50
Why is there no talk about the Steelers upgrading inside linebacker where Wilson can’t stop the run and Harrison can’t stop the pass? We need a really good ilb like James Farrier. Is he still around?
Christopher Carter
11:51
There will be, it's just very early in the draft process. I've been looking more at this inside linebacker draft class and like what I see. I would not be surprised if trading up for Ohio State's Sonny Styles wasn't on a wish list for the Steelers, or if they'd be interested in Georgia's CJ Allen, or a middle round prospect like Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez or Pitt's Kyle Louis. It's coming, but we've been starting our draft process by focusing on the big needs like quarterback and receiver.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
11:52
When do the Steelers finalize decisions on Jonnu Smith, Ramsey and some other high-priced folks that would free up some salary cap and force the Steelers to get younger on defense? On offense I've heard some reports about trading Freiermuth and releasing Seumalo? Any truth to those rumors?
Christopher Carter
12:00
I would say by the start of free agency you'll see the moves start to come through. I'd expect Jonnu Smith to be cut. Not sure about Jalen Ramsey just yet, but I do think moves will be done to free up cap space.

I can tell you that Pat Freiermuth being traded is lot less of a sure thing now that Arthur Smith is gone. There was something weird going on where the team wanted Smith to involve Freiermuth more and he didn't. Had Smith still been here, I think Freiermuth would've requested a trade. But now that he's gone, I think that door is more open to his return.

But that will also be up to Mike McCarthy and Brian Angelichio for how they plan to structure the offense. Freiermuth was grossly underused and that has to change. If they agree and plan to change that, I see him staying.

Isaac Seumalo is a free agent so they'd have to re-sign him.
Vicky , Allison Park
12:01
Good morning Chris.  Do you believe Kaleb Johnson still has a chance to contribute to the team or will the Steelers consider drafting a running back?
Christopher Carter
12:03
Good (afternoon!) Vicky!

I think they're willing to give Kaleb Johnson another year or two to figure things out. Jaylen Warren's a more than capable starter -- my highest graded offensive player in fact -- and if they re-sign Kenneth Gainwell it would give Johnson time to grow.

Unless they don't re-sign Gainwell, I don't see them drafting a running back with any relevant picks. There's always the chance they could go for one late or sign an undrafted free agent after the draft. Heck that's how they got Warren, and I was told by Eddie Faulkner after that draft they saw him as the 7th best RB in that class.
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