This offseason has been atypical for the Pittsburgh Steelers in some ways. It received much more unusual on Monday when Pittsburgh despatched Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins in change for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. Regardless of making such an enormous transfer, Steelers insider Brian Batko doesn’t assume it makes the Steelers any extra of a Tremendous Bowl contender.
“I nonetheless don’t assume they’re there,” Batko stated on the North Shore Drive podcast on Monday. “I nonetheless don’t assume they’re Tremendous Bowl contenders. So yeah, that does muddy the water a bit as a far as, what are you doing right here? I don’t know that that is some form of Omar Khan, we’re pushing all our chips within the center as a result of we’re about to swing for the fences… It simply comes all the way down to, they’re making an attempt to make their group higher.”
Making an attempt to make their group higher is at all times the purpose, and the Steelers are chasing a Tremendous Bowl in an unprecedented manner this offseason. From buying and selling for and lengthening DK Metcalf, to ready a number of months for Aaron Rodgers, and now this main blockbuster commerce, Omar Khan, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers are displaying a unique facet to themselves this offseason.
With all of that in thoughts, transferring on from Fitzpatrick may be the largest transfer of their total offseason. Together with T.J. Watt (who has his personal issues now) and Cam Heyward, Fitzpatrick had been one of many pillars of the protection. Each from a expertise and management standpoint. Shedding him is a big change to a protection that has stored the Steelers in competition in recent times, regardless of poor offensive play.
Nonetheless, the writing could have been on the wall for Fitzpatrick this offseason. Jeremy Fowler reported shortly after the commerce that “whispers” concerning the potential transfer started months in the past. Given the way in which the Steelers protection ended the 2025 season, it is smart. Fitzpatrick, together with a number of others within the secondary, struggled with miscommunications, The Steelers have been merely getting gashed towards the cross. Fitzpatrick, and the 127.6 passer ranking he allowed when focused in 2024, didn’t assist that.
The Steelers at the moment are in a singular place. With a boatload of draft picks and an opportunity to land their quarterback of the longer term subsequent offseason, that would definitely be seen as a retooling interval. Nonetheless, 2025 now appears to symbolize the Steelers making an attempt to go all-in for a Tremendous Bowl this yr, as nicely.
If that’s their purpose, they might want some assist in the method. Including Ramsey does give Pittsburgh arguably one of the best cornerback room within the league. Nonetheless, they’ll now should lean on DeShon Elliot and Juan Thornhill at security. Until they plan on taking part in Ramsey there, as nicely. All issues thought of, this transfer most likely does make the Steelers a greater group. Nonetheless, it won’t make the Steelers Tremendous Bowl contenders simply but.
