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Christopher Carter's Steelers chat: 05.22.25
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Christopher Carter
10:00
It's 10AM! Time to chat! Let's get into it!
Tom
10:01
What is the advantage of Aaron Rodgers over Russel Wilson?
Christopher Carter
10:03
I would say the biggest thing is that Aaron Rodgers is better at working the middle of the field and with his height, he'll see it better than Russell Wilson did. Wilson is under 6-feet and Rodgers is 6-foot-2. You'd be surprised how much that helps see over offensive linemen and pass rushers to process what's happening in that area of the field.
DonB
10:03
Is it possible if the Steelers get two more winning seasons that Art and Tomlin will retire together
Christopher Carter
10:05
Is it possible? Sure. But I doubt it. I don't see Art stepping down for a while, and with that, the only way I see Tomlin leave is if he has a terrible season in the last year of his current contract.
Tim
10:07
If Roman Wilson was a 2025 3rd round pick and we didn't know anything about his 2024 with the Steelers, wouldn't we be a little more excited about the potential of our WR room?
Christopher Carter
10:10
I liked Wilson's tape as a receiver who could attack the middle of the field and use his speed to break open for big plays. If he puts it together, that would be an exciting addition. But it's certainly a question mark headed into 2025, which is why the excitement might be lightened right now.
Tim
10:10
The FO may say they are comfortable with the WR room, but that simply can't be true based on their experience in 2024. Who are some WR names that maybe aren't on our radar that could be trade or cut-down day targets?
Christopher Carter
10:15
The FO's job is to say they're fine even when they're not so that they can not look desperate when making moves with other teams. If the Steelers make a move for a WR, which they've been exploring, it would help to not appear like  a team that needs a receiver at all costs. Could see a Christian Watson, Treylon Burks or another player on a rookie deal that expires after this season and hasn't been great.
Yunzer Jake
10:15
Any idea how often ARII, Tomlin, Khan meet?  Is there a regular weekly sit down?  Curious how they run and organize the business part of the team.
Christopher Carter
10:16
I don't have insight on their meeting schedule. But I imagine it's a regularly paced occurrence.
TVC15
10:17
Hi Christopher, Could Pat Freiermuth's career be considered underwhelming so far? Will he ever have a breakout season? Is he in the Top 15 of NFL tight ends?
Christopher Carter
10:20
Hello! Freiermuth certainlyt hasn't taken off, but his seven touchdowns last season rose back to the number he reached as a rookie with Roethlisberger. I think he's been hampered by the Steelers' state of their quarterback room. But I also think there's legitimate potential there and once the quarterback gets sorted out next season Freiermuth will get a better chance to shine.
Steeltown
10:20
Hello Chris, I'm excited about the potential for the Steelers offense this year. That is assuming, and that is a big assumption, that they acquire a number two receiver. Do you think there's any truth to the rumor that they are pursuing Olave? I would love that!
Christopher Carter
10:22
Hello!

I had a source inform me a call did happen, but it was not a call for a direct trade. It was a call to simply explore what a hypothetical cost would be. Those are routine calls GMs make to understand all the offers that are available. Don't put too much down on any Olave future bets. But the fact they're exploring shows that they're willing to make moves there.
Jack Ham Sammich
10:22
Have the Transfer Portal + NIL impacted the NFL readiness/maturity of newly drafted players?
Christopher Carter
10:31
I think if anything, it's giving players more incentives to stay in college football and develop while making money. But every player is different and no story is exactly the same. So it's tough to make a blanket statement about those who might be more mature vs those who might not.
10:32
As a person who's covered college football, I've seen Pitt players who've grown better over time and opportunity, as well as those who didn't because they sought to avoid challenges to be better by entering the portal. All depends on the individual.
Takoma Tom
10:32
Why not just go with Mason?
Christopher Carter
10:33
Mason Rudolph has been a fine bridge and backup quarterback. But that's who he is. It's understandable to want more if you can get it. He could probably hold the floor steady, but he won't give you too high a ceiling either.
Takoma Tom
10:33
It seems the quality of the NFL game has really fallen off the last 5 or so years.
Christopher Carter
10:34
I don't know about that. There's still a lot of complexity in the game and plenty of stars.
TVC15
10:34
Will Mike Tomlin's coaching career most likely end with a whimper or a bang?
Christopher Carter
10:35
I'd say a bang. The Steelers as an organization have been building to grow back to being a serious threat, and I think they're a year or two away from being that if they get the right QB in the draft. If that happens, could see a bang or two.
Takoma Tom
10:35
are TJ and Minkah washed?  They clearly aren’t elite players anymore.
Christopher Carter
10:38
Wouldn't say that at all. T.J. Watt was the complete focus of teams late last season to limit him and he still had 11 sacks. People said Heyward was done before last season and then he was first team all-pro. Minkah Fitzpatrick could be there, but he's also done a very good job limiting the middle of the field and teams avoided him like the plague. Steelers need better CB play to take away those easier throws and give him more chances to be a playmaker again.
TVC15
10:38
Can Penn State finally win some big games this year? Enough to be NCAA champs?  They really had the luck of the playoff draw last year but as usual played small in big games.
Christopher Carter
10:40
Penn State does some amazing recruiting. But if this is going to be the year, Drew Allar has to step up against the better teams. If he does that, they've got a shot.
SMF
10:40
Hi Chris:  I never understood the Steelers throwing away a 5th round draft pick last year on WR Mike Williams.  He won his first game with a TD then went silent.  Yet the Chargers quickly resigned him.  What went wrong?
Christopher Carter
10:42
Hello!

Definitely a bizarre thing in my opinion that he wasn't used more in the offense after Washington. I imagine the Steelers didn't want to pay him and the back-and-forth between Russell Wilson and Arthur Smith didn't help either when it came to offensive chemistry. Maybe returning to Justin Herbert was just his favorite option.
Pittfan
10:42
Hi Christopher. How much is today's NFL salary cap a deterrent? It seems teams are able to keep who they want. Fans seem to get caught up in the numbers like TJ potentially making 40+ million per. Why should we care how much they make? A couple of questions here.
Christopher Carter
10:50
I'm not sure what you mean by a deterrent. To who? Sorry, I might be missing something in your question there.

But yes, fans don't fully understand with the growth in the salary cap that if Watt was paid $40M/year it would actually be around the salary cap percentage he'd been making. Fans might just not fully understand that yet.
CoalportKid
10:50
Saw the piece on Cam, and also saw a recent meeting between Harmon and Cam.  Two things.  What's the thinking about why Cam's career started off relatively slowly? Harmon looked incredibly out of shape and soft next to Cam.  Are the Steelers concerned?
Christopher Carter
10:53
1) Have to remeember, Heyward was drafted into an experienced DL. So he wasn't shoved into action so quickly. Also, it took time for him to find his rhythm as a playmaker in the middle of the line. Sometimes it takes linemen longer to find their prime as an interior pass rusher.

2) I'd give Harmon some slack. I'd imagine with his mom passing, he might've not been working out as hard lately. We'll see where he is around training camp.
Kevin
10:53
What team do you think will have the biggest improvement and which will have biggest decline from last year based on their offseason?
Christopher Carter
10:55
I think the Chargers have a legitimate shot to win the AFC West. Less about the most recent addition of Omarion Hampton--though that will do well for them--and more about the youth they've put together could be ready for a collective rise.

I'd be concerned if I were the Bengals that they didn't really fix the defense or the offensive line, the two things that kept them out of the playoffs for the third time in the five years of Joe Burrow's career. If that turns into four times in six years, yikes.
Kevin
10:55
Do you think beanie bishop gets the nickel job?
Christopher Carter
10:56
He will if he comes in and plays the tackling/run defense parts well. That's where he has to improve. If he does that, I like his chances.
Kevin
10:56
Which position battles are you most excited to watch this offseason and who do you think wins those battles?
Christopher Carter
10:57
Jaylen Warren vs Kaleb Johnson. I think Warren wins initially but Johnson eventually takes over later in the year. But I also think both backs could be very dangerous behind a good offensive line and bring the fun back to the run.
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