Christopher Carter's Steelers chat: 05.15.26
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Christopher Carter
11:32
Alright! Can only do about an hour today due to work constraints but we will power through these questions! Let's get into it!
Peter
11:32
Hi Chris . Glad you all are still here! I have a non-draft question. How big a role will Joseph-Day have in the defense? How do you envision him being used? I ask because I wanted to broaden the recent conversation a bit and because I just found out he went to my high school. Go Mounties!!!!!
Christopher Carter
11:36
Hello! I'm glad too!

Also, that's cool you went to Stroudsburg!

I see Sebastian Joseph-Day being a key rotational element of the defensive line. When Heyward-Harmon-Benton need a reprieve, he's the first person they call.

That's important to have, and was a bit of a problem for the Steelers last year. They signed Daniel Ekuale to be that guy, and he missed pretty much the whole season due to injury. That put extra stress on Yahya Black to figure things out.

If SJD can take on that role, it could be important depth for the Steelers up front and give Black more of a chance to rely on vets around him as he continues to hone his skills.
Tim
11:37
Barring injury, your starting Oline by the time we carve our Thanksgiving turkey?
Christopher Carter
11:38
Honestly, I think Iheanachor might take some time to develop. If we're barring injuries and saying Broderick Jones is healthy, I'm thinking:

Jones - Dunker - Frazier - McCormick -Fautanu.

This is partially because I think Iheanachor might take a bit to adjust to speed and I think Jones might be ready to go by training camp and look like a solid vet. He was playing well when he got injured last season.
Surly in sheraden
11:39
Is there any real chance they would trade Watt?  They seem to be obsessed with keeping successful veterans in one helmet, possibly to the detriment of the team.  I suspect most fans would welcome signing Herbig and trading Watt (who is still a good player, but most rational fans suspect that Watt will not come close to providing the on field value that is commensurate with his contract).
Christopher Carter
11:42
I just have a hard time seeing that happen this offseason. MAYBE next year, if that. But if they moved Watt, they'd owe him a TON of dead cap money over the next three seasons and wouldn't even see savings count towards their salary cap until 2028.

If Watt's moved, someone would have to agree to take on all his guaranteed money as well, and that would lower the value of the trade in the process.

Maybe in 2027 when the dead cap hit lowers, but I still think it's more than likely he's on the roster for at least two more seasons because of that deal.
Turk in MD
11:42
Thanks for the chat, Chris!  Please help me with the thought process for evaluating Howard and Allar.  

MM needs to see a lot from one/both of them this year to pass on a much better QB class in '27.  Can either of them really show that in camp/pre-season/practice without in-season game reps?

Maybe asked differently, what would Howard or Allar need to consistently demonstrate this year to win next year's QB1?
Christopher Carter
11:45
Thanks for being here Turk!

I think there is a 0.00001% chance there's enough to be seen in OTAs/training camp/preseason from Drew Allar or Will Howard to convince the Steelers to not target a first round quarterback if next year's class turns out to be a really good one.

If either of them were to demonstrate they can be next year's QB1, that would most likely require that A) Aaron Rodgers got hurt at some point -- as I still see him arriving and being on the team; B) Mason Rudolph getting hurt or being cut; and then C) either one of Allar or Howard playing lights out for several games this season.

And when I say lights out, I mean more than what an occasional Jake Browning run might be for the Bengals. High level processing, limited mistakes, big time throws, all of it. If the Steelers were teetering as a playoff team and one of them helped them make it at least 5 or so wins under their belt ... maybe.

But we're now going deep down the rabbit hole.
11:46
I think the ideal situation Steelers fans might want with Mike McCarthy and future Steelers quarterback situations is a room with three young options available for them to develop:

A) the young rookie first round QB they pick in 2027.

B) Drew Allar the mid-round pick.

C) Will Howard the late round pick.

That gives the Steelers three shots at finding their franchise quarterback over the next few years and maximizes their chances.
Eric Witt
11:48
Who on the roster is a player no one is talking about that could have the greatest impact on the 2026-2027 season?
Christopher Carter
11:50
I feel like Keeanu Benton ahs been forgotten a bit when it comes to this roster. He took decent strides last year and I think if he's relieved of nose tackle duties he'll eat a lot more this season. They need that defensive interior to be strong in the coming years and if Benton doesn't work out, they'll be dipping back in that position soon in the draft.
Yitzer
11:50
Chris, my wife wants to see Paul McCartney in Japan.  I want to see the Steelers in Paris.  Who wins?
Christopher Carter
11:51 
Nihongo o manabu keikaku o taterubekidesu.
"You should make a plan to learn Japanese."
Rico Steelerway
11:52
When do you honestly think Kaleb Johnson will ever see the field? I am not saying he has done anything to warrant extensive playing time, but its difficult to imagine, barring injury, either Warren or Dowdle not being on the field, considering their talent/contracts.
Christopher Carter
11:54
I do agree this is currently not a great outlook for Kaleb Johnson to see significant playing time this year with the signing of Dowdle. Both he and Warren are guys I expect to get a decent amount of touches, and I still anticipate the Steelers to be a much heavier passing offense than they've been for years.

And one of Johnson's biggest weaknesses last season was both pass protection and making catches out of the backfield. He needs to show significant improvement this year. Then, maybe next offseason if someone's hungry for a vet RB, the Steelers could move one of the vets.

But that's a lot of "ifs" to calculate.
Daniel
11:54
Thanks as always for taking the time.  What would you think would have to be the record for the Steelers under Rodgers that it is bad enough that they move on to trying the younger QB's?
Christopher Carter
11:56
I think they'd have to basically be eliminated from playoff contention or get to a point where he's playing Kent Graham/Tommy Maddox level bad. Heck, he might even pull himself if it got that bad.

(Kent Graham may be the worst Steelers QB of all time.)
Takoma Tom
11:56
It’s going to be hard for the Steelers to win a playoff game with or without Rodgers so why not see what you have in the two young QBs?  Have to think about the future at some point.
Christopher Carter
12:01
I think one thing people overlook when they go down this line of thinking is that you'd like to give your young QBs space to grow without a trial by fire.

A young quarterback thrown to the wolves could see their development ruined if they're forced to play before they're ready and get beat up a lot. It hurts their psyche, stunts their growth and can ruin their careers if they're rushed in before being ready.

Especially for a player like Drew Allar who is having his mechanics completely re-worked, I think it would be more beneficial for him to focus on his fundamentals for a season than have to focus on a new gameplan every week. Same goes for Howard, as he missed most of last season.

Let 2027 be the year for that.
TVC15
12:01
Hi Christopher, How high would you rank McCarthy against the NFL's other quarterback whisperers like McVay, Shanahan, Payton, etc. Top 5? Top 10? Bottom 22?
Christopher Carter
12:06
Hello!

I'd say probably top 10. I think guys like Andy Reid and Sean McVay are strongly at the top. Sean Payton is certainly in the mix. But McCarthy does have a ring nand did bring Rodgers up from his second year in the NFL. I'd put that over the Shanahans, LaFleuers and company who've yet to do that.
Mike in Virginia
12:06
I enjoy collecting football cards, and I have some autographs of Will Howard, Kaleb Johnson and Roman Wilson... which if any of these would you predict are still worth being in my collection a year from now and which have been tossed in the trash?
Christopher Carter
12:08
I personally believe you shouldn't toss any signed football cards in the trash. You never know when someone might turn things around, and even if they don't, they're still professional athletes.

Out of those, if you were to ask which one I think might turn things around, I'd look at Johnson. I think he'll be given a chance to rise as a running back in the next year or two and that'll allow him to shine in the NFL.
NCRob
12:08
Hey Chris! Thanks for what you do. You provide thoughtful and genuine answers to questions which is appreciated and valued. Now for another QB question. Assuming we go for a  top QB in next years draft, how are we going to get up high enough to draft one? I think the Allar move was done because front office doesn't think it will be possible barring a poor performance this season. Do we have enough picks to package or enough courage to give up future first round picks?
Christopher Carter
12:14
Hey Rob! Thanks for being here! I try my best to make these chats fun.

I don't think it will be all that hard to move up to draft a quarterback actually. It will most likely require a future first round pick and maybe a middle round pick -- pending on where the Steelers finish this year and who their QB target is next year.

Chiefs sent their current and a future first round pick along with a third, to move up from 27th to 10th for Patrick Mahomes.

I think that's the bar for an aggressive move. Current first, future first, and a middle round pick.

But if it's just to move up a few spots like 17th to 12th, that might be two day two picks like a second and a third.
Gregg from Shaler
12:15
I assume AR will sign and Allar will make it based on draft slot. Who’s odd man out? Mason have any trade value? Or will Allar “get injured” and stashed?
Christopher Carter
12:18
I think there's a decent chance an NFL team is dealing with an injury during the preseason and may look for an emergency vet quarterback and Mason Rudolph would be high on the list of targets for such a role. He's had enough starts and can fill-in well in pinches, which someone may be willing to swap late round picks for.
Devitt’s Pub
12:18
Chris!  I’m a constant transcript reader of your chats but I rarely catch one live.  Just wanted to say you and many of your curious followers do a great job!  
(I’ll ask my many questions about the front office another time 😀).  Cheers!
Christopher Carter
12:19
Thanks for being here! Cheers to a fun weekend!
Eric
12:19
Pitt's odds of winning the Lambert Trophy in 2026?
Christopher Carter
12:22
Last time Pitt won the Lambert Trophy was 2021 when they won the ACC championship with Kenny Pickett. I actually think Mason Heintschel will be dangerous and take better to Kade Bell's offense than Eli Holstein did and could give them a chance to be in that conversation.

But I also don't know how Penn State will do in the first year of the post-James Franklin era. This needs to be a year Pitt gets to double-digit wins. They were close to getting that back-to-back years in 2021-2022. And I think if Heintschel was the starting quarterback from the jump last season, they might've been able to do that last year.
Rooney
12:22
Did the Steelers do enough to become a better defensive team against the run? I think Queen is so overrated and especially against the run, he runs around plays in my opinion. Thank you!
Christopher Carter
12:29
I really think they should've gone after one of the better nose tackle/DT prospects in this draft class to further bolster the DL. If they had gotten a Lee Hunter, Christen Miller, Domonique Orange or a Darrell Jackson Jr., I think it could've helped them with their run defense.

Brian Baldinger posted a clip of Casey Hampton the other day and talked about how vital he was to those 2000s defenses, and boy was he right. Hampton regularly paved the way for James Farrior and company to stay clean, diagnose plays and smother the run. Steelers don't have that guy in the zero-one technique right now. If Queen were kept clean more regularly, I think he'd make a ton of plays.

I always think back to Ray Lewis' comments in the mid-2000s once they lost Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa. He complained about needing help to keep him clean because they played a huge role on the early 2000s Ravens defenses. They got Haloti Ngata, and then things got better for Lewis.
Drill Hallard
12:29
Orlovsky hates the steelers. He sees them losing the last 9 games. Is that possible? should we be a bit happy about that  because we might get a top qb?
Christopher Carter
12:31
I do think the Steelers have a tough schedule after the bye week, but I have a hard time seeing them go 0-9 down the stretch.

Orlovsky predicted the Steelers to start 0-6 last year and they went 4-2. If that pattern holds they'd be 6-3 in that "0-9" stretch this year.

And with the first half of the schedule the Steelers have, if they actually went 6-3 in the second half of the season, I'd be thinking another division title.

But that's why I also don't put much stock into Orlovsky's predictions.
Eric Witt
12:32
When do you think the Rodgers will he/won't he drama ends?
Christopher Carter
12:33
Sounds like the Steelers may have a May 18 date up next for arrival hopes. So, Monday?

If not then, the start of mandatory minicamp.
Takoma Tom
12:33
Is there a trade market for TJ?
Christopher Carter
12:33
I think only among teams that are desperate for an edge rusher and close to a Super Bowl. But even then, the price tag would make it a tough move to pull off.
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