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Christopher Carter's Steelers chat: 06.26.25
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Christopher Carter
1:01
Happy Thursday everyone! Let's get this thing started.
Biggie
1:01
Hey Chris, it seems that Rodgers' recent comment about it maybe being his last year actually probably means his last team.  He seemed open to playing for the Steelers another year if things worked out.  How do you see it?
Christopher Carter
1:06
Biggie, Biggie, Biggie, can't you see? Aaron Rodgers' words won't hypnotize me!

... Ok but for real, I do think there's a window open for Rodgers to return for a second year for the Steelers but it's a tight one that requires a few things:

A) Steelers have to be very good. As in, they need to make the playoffs, win at least one playoff game, and either lose to a team like the Chiefs barely in the divisional or confereence championship round. But if they're bad, he won't stick around. If they win a Super Bowl, he's off to the sunset.

B) O-Line must take a step up. Rodgers won't stick around even if they're good if he's running for his life.

C) Playmakers develop. If more playmakers emerge in the offense on top of Metcalf and Freiermuth, it would also entice Rodgers to stick around another season.

Those are the 3 primary boxes I think that would have to be checked for Rodgers to stick around for 2026.
Uncle Eddie
1:06
Hi Christopher, why isnt anything being done to address the large WR2 void prior to camp?  After DK, the talent drops significantly.  Any word/news of a trade, etc.?  Let's not go thru another year of this.
Christopher Carter
1:08
Hi Uncle Eddie!

The Steelers haven't made a move yet, but they've done the preliminary research like making calls around for players like Chris Olave who *could* be on the market and brought in a free agent like Gabe Davis to see firsthand.

I think their plan is to see what Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson do in camp with Rodgers. Once the pads have been on for a bit and they see just how good those guys will be, that will inform them on what kind of receiver they should make a move for. If they're confident in the guys they have, expect a cheap signing like Davis. If they're not, maybe they do look for a bigger trade.

But I think the major thing is Omar Khan doesn't want to pin them to a specific plan until they know as much as they can about how Aaron Rodgers will work with their current receivers.
Silent Bob
1:09
Hello Christopher, With Pickens & Metcalf, the Steelers probably had a top 5 receiver group. Now they are generally considered bottom 5. Isn't it a must that they get another proven receiver and not make the same mistake as last year? I like Austin but can't see him putting up more than 50 grabs due to his size. I hope Roman Wilson is the next Heinz Ward but he's not caught an NFL pass yet.
Christopher Carter
1:11
I think it depends on just how good these guys are. Calvin Austin played basically his 2nd year in the NFL last season (missed rookie year) and took a good step up. If he takes another, that could work out for them.

But I do think the best they hope for both Austin and Wilson to be this year are good WR3s. Think Antwaan Randle El when he was behind Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress. If you had two guys like Randle El's level in Austin/Wilson, that could make for an interesting group.

Your point is correct though, it's unproven. So it's a bigger gamble. But I do think if they feel the two aren't maturing fast enough in camp, they'll make a move that reflects that.
STEEL72
1:11
Chris, as the roster rounds out and the season gets closer, do you feel that there is a different genetic makeup to this team? When I go over the roster, I have a bit of hope that there seems to be the right veteran leadership combined with relatively ego-less youth... and that is a good overall feeling given the struggles of years past. Do you agree that the character of this particular squad has the potential to be of more value than overall talent position by position?
Christopher Carter
1:24
I do feel there's a potential for a team-centric group of leaders to emerge among the younger players on the team.

Zach Frazier, Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, Pat Freiermuth, Patrick Queen, Keeanu Benton, Joey Porter Jr. all carry the sort of personas of potentially being lieutenants under the Steelers top leaders of Cam Heyward, TJ Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick.

But they still have to live up to those statuses. The team has gotten rid of guys like Diontae Johnson--who openly admitted to not going into a game because was too cold last season--and are looking for guys who they can build a locker room with. Just need them to emerge soon.
Fastfred
1:24
Hello Christopher, what is your prediction of how many passes TE Washington catches this year?
Christopher Carter
1:25
Hello Fastfred!

I'll go with a solid 27. I think he gets some good feeds throughout the year that let him big a bigger playmaker than he has been. But it won't be a common thing, as Rodgers will spread the ball around a lot.
Lou
1:25
Hey Chris. This time of year is boring for all things NFL. So what kind of Steeler info might you have to generate something exciting for fans?
Christopher Carter
1:27
Hey Lou! At this point of the year I go through my unused quotes from scrums and interviews to put together more insight on certain players. I'll also do some film reviews when I can to go over more specific things that can add to the observations we look for in training camp.
Mike in Virginia
1:27
As a life-long Steelers fan, I'm not sure I've ever gone into a season like I am now: I'm more excited about the 2026 season than the one that's about to start, because maybe we'll draft our future QB then and go on a run. And honestly I think I'm ok with the idea of a relaxed 2025 season where the stakes aren't high because I don't expect us to do much. How many games into the season do you think it takes before I change my mind and I am 100 percent "in" for 2025 and think we're going all the way?
Christopher Carter
1:30
Ha. Mike, I've seen this town go from "these guys stink" to blaring "HERE WE GO .... STEELERS ... HERE WE GO ..." in their cars in a matter of a week. If Aaron Rodgers has a game with 3 passing touchdowns in a win and the Steelers are 5-2, that might be what you need LOL
Steel City Kid in Alabama
1:30
Counselor Chris…PLEASE keep on doing what you’re doing. I’m sure other writers and/or broadcasters in the area are resenting you because of the time and effort you’re putting into your work and making them all look like part-timers and   that’s ok. It’s nice to see someone not just trying to do the minimum. We appreciate you!
Christopher Carter
1:31
Thanks! I've got some hardworking partners here at the PG that match my grind. Excited to be part of this team in a full-time role!
GM
1:31
I am really excited for this offense - particularly how  AR will utilize the tight ends to keep defenses off balance. I think TE has been underutilized by our previous QB's. Muth is a tough tight end with good hands and power. What are your thoughts on Darnell Washington, Conor Heyward, DJ Thomas-Jones, and JJ Galbreath?
Christopher Carter
1:33
I think Darnell Washington has been very much underused. He's open a lot--even if it's just because teams leave him alone. I really think if he gets more passes to the flat when he has five yards of space, he can become a problem for defenes that keep them from doubling up on the team's primary receivers.

Connor Heyward looked GOOD in minicamp and I've always felt like he's a gamer who's ready when the lights go on.  I particularly like DJ Thomas-Jones tenacity and grit to get the play done whatever it is. This might be the deepest TE group the Steelers have had that I can remembere.
Greenwood
1:33
Chris, thanks for the chats. Harmon is set to take Ogunjobi's position at Left DE. With Yahya Black's size, do you know if they see him as being more of a nose tackle rotating with Benton? I heard they were looking at playing him at end.
Christopher Carter
1:38
Happy to do them! When we asked Karl Dunbar right after the draft, he seemed to indicate both Harmon and Black would be closer to 4-tech guys than nose tackles. So, if that holds, maybe Ekuale is the nose behind Benton.
Just The Truth
1:38
Chris, in last week's chat you listed the great QBs Tomlin has lost to in the playoffs. Not surprisingly you failed to mention David Gerard, Tim Tebow, Blake Bortles, and Baker Mayfield. If not for Burfict and Pac Man we could also add AJ McCarron to the list. How do you justify those losses?
Christopher Carter
1:40
Hm, I wonder if you're intentionally leaving out some context to this loaded question. Oh, you are!

Here's the exchange you referenced:
Guest: Tomlin hasn't won a playoff game with any QB not named Ben. Cowher had more postseason success and it was with Ben, Maddox, Kordell, O'Donnell, Tomczak. Cowher knew how to get players to play above their potential. Mike always gets players to play below their potential. Why are these two coaches even mentioned in the same sentence?
Christopher Carter: I think it's also important to note who Tomlin's had to play without Roethlisberger vs who Cowher had to play.

Cowher's first playoff win was over Testeverde and he lost to Stan Humphries the next week. His other playoff wins w/o BR came against an over the hill Jim Kelly, Jim Harbaugh (2x), Drew Bledsoe, Elvis Grbac and Kelly Holcomb.

None of those quarterbacks can be considered to be in the same stratosphere of the last three quarterbacks the Steelers faced in the playoffs in Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. It's a completely different era. If Jim Kelly was in his prime, he'd be the only one, but he was not.
1:43
So, it wasn't that I was talking about every quarterback the Steelers faced with Mike Tomlin as head coach, but specifically because the question mentioned Tomlin in the playoffs *without Roethlisberger*, I mentioned ONLY the quarterbacks he faced WITHOUT Roethlisberger.

Which by the way, are: Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.

Also in the game they beat the Bengals and AJ McCarron, the defense allowed a whopping 16 points. If they had lost that game, it would have been on Ben Roethlisberger and the offense not building up a lead while the Bengals were shut out for three straight quarters.
1:44
Maybe next time, tighten your cleats up before you try to race.
JPinPDX
1:44
Good morning CC and thanks for the chat. I appreciate your willingness to be thoughtful and expansive in your answers! Where will your focus be between now and Week 1 of the regular season: a) Quest for WR2 b) the TJ Watt saga or c) prepping for Aaron Rodgers last ride?
Christopher Carter
1:45
Good afternoon!

Where will I focus? All of the above! But if you'd like to know the position group of the team I might pay the most attention to in camp, it's the offensive linemen. They are going to be what drives this team to the playoffs or a high draft pick.
Mike from NY
1:46
Should our former WR Johnson sign with a dome team because he doesn't want to play when it's cold? So signing with the Browns makes a little of sense
Christopher Carter
1:46
Yeah, I gotta say, that Diontae Johnson interview was bizarre. I just can't imagine admitting something like that on open air for anyone to see.
Seven
1:46
Hi Chris. If the Steelers truly are in it to win it this year, why not grab Jalen Ramsey to lock down the secondary, then sign the No. 2 receiver and add some depth to the OL? They've got a better chance to go deep this year with a healthy (knock on wood) Rodgers than they will with Rudolph or a rookie starting QB in '26.
Christopher Carter
1:50
I think they're weighing their options and what matches their long term plan. The Steelers are "in it to win it this year" in the sense that they'll do what they can to form the best team possible within the parameters of not sacrifcing picks necessary to make their big move for a QB in the draft.

They also don't want to commit too early to a player that won't work or miss out on a better opportunity because they've already invested in a spot. I like Ramsey as a player but I'm not sure he fits what the Steelers' plans are at 30, being expensive and having not been part of the team.

I do think this team makes additions before the start of the season. But injuries, moves by other teams and other factors will better frame where they go with that.
Michael
1:50
Chris,it seems like every year we’re being told this could be the year Freiermuth breaks out.  You can’t tell me there is one defensive coordinator who has to game plan for him.  Would you agree he’s reached his ceiling and a gigantic mistake was drafting him over Humphrey?
Christopher Carter
1:52
Actually I can, Lou Anarumo. In 2023, Kenny Pickett lit up the Bengals with Freiermuth so much that in the rematch, the Steelers used Freiermuth as a decoy. That left George Pickens open for several targets while Freiermuth got double teamed and didn't sniff a target that night in a blowout Steelers win.

Now on Creed Humphrey, I agree. Humphrey was not a bonafide first round pick that year, but I did feel like his sweet spot was the second round. If the Steelers had him, that center position would've been a lot easier for Roethlisberger in his last season. But don't sleep on Zach Frazier. He already's one of the better centers in the NFL.
Seven
1:53
Did you pay any attention to the UFL? If so, did you see anyone who would help the Steelers this year?
Christopher Carter
1:54
Seven, I'm not going to hold you, I haven't watched a second of UFL. I've got a wedding to plan, podcasts and TV shows to do on top of these Live Qs and articles. If someone looks good in the UFL, I'll catch it on the highlights.
Michael
1:54
Chris, if you had to personally deal with or coach either Antonio Brown or Pickens for one season, who would you choose?
Christopher Carter
1:56
Depends on what part of their careers. If both right now, Pickens, obviously, as he doesn't have a warrant out for his arrest.

But if we're talking all-time in both their best years, undoubtedly Antonio Brown. When I first started covering the Steelers part-time in 2016, he spoke in complete, coherent thoughts and could explain things out in great detail about football.

For all of Brown's public issues, when he was in his prime, he was very much someone every team would've put up with from 2010-2018.
Seven
1:56
Will the NIL money alter decisions by elite underclassmen to come out for the NFL draft as juniors? Players like Arch Manning might be happy to delay their NFL careers while they are collecting big $, yes?
Christopher Carter
1:58
I think players who will make big money in the NFL will still come out when they want because their rookie contract will pay out fully guaranteed for four years while the college NIL deals are one-year deals (mostly).

That being said, don't overlook players who might project as third round picks or later thinking they can just go back a year and come back as a higher pick. The NIL money is real and student-athletes are going to take advantage of it.
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