The Pittsburgh Steelers are trying to strike a fragile, doubtlessly unattainable stability between profitable now and making ready for the long run. They’re all-in on going for a playoff run with a veteran-laden workforce led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers whereas additionally planning for the long run in a monumental 2026 NFL Draft the place the Steelers maintain 12 picks.
Bootleg Soccer podcast host Brett Kollmann and EJ Snyder spent an hour criticizing the Steelers and their management for a perceived lack of plan.
“This duo [head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan] with their lack of future planning in any way, as a lot as I like them individually, I virtually really feel like they’re poisonous for one another,” mentioned Kollmann. “As a result of they refuse to have a look at one another and say ‘We have to take our medication.’ I really feel like anyone else must step within the room and say ‘Look guys, we have now to do that.’”
The Steelers are planning for the long run. They’ve 12 picks subsequent yr in a draft that ought to have loads of quarterback expertise. As well as, Kollmann neglected the truth that Pittsburgh has one other voice within the room. It’s assistant basic supervisor Andy Weidl.
Kollmann responded to criticism on Twitter stating, “Having 12 picks isn’t a plan, that’s a prayer.”
There have been lots of feedback from Steelers followers on at the moment’s episode to the impact of “they ARE planning for the long run, they’ve 12 picks to commerce up for a quarterback!”
And to these followers, I’ll simply ask this.
What if they’ll’t commerce up?
The Giants have been at SIX, and nonetheless…
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) July 17, 2025
Having 12 picks means they’ll commerce up for a quarterback subsequent yr or proceed to construct a younger core for years to return. Certainly one of Kollmann’s criticisms all through the video was how previous the Steelers are. These 12 picks can permit Pittsburgh to usher in a brand new technology of expertise for the workforce.
Regardless of being loaded with draft capital, Kollmann thinks the Steelers usually are not being accountable with their future.
“This mentality of ‘we refuse to be unhealthy, we refuse to tank,’ I’m not saying you should tank, however at the least be accountable with the long run,” mentioned Kollmann. “At the least perceive you could take your lumps to construct a youthful, sooner, more healthy, cheaper roster. You’ll be able to put yourselves in place to get a quarterback in a really sturdy upcoming quarterback class.”
Whereas I agree with Kollmann that the Steelers’ administration has an issue of refusing to be unhealthy, we disagree with what the choice ought to’ve been. With most of their different strikes aligned with an all-in technique, I needed to see George Pickens taking part in for a brand new contract with this revamped offense. Kollmann, however, thinks Pittsburgh’s plan this yr is pointless and they need to simply be unhealthy as a result of they received’t be higher than the groups with franchise quarterbacks.
Earlier than the Pickens commerce, the Steelers already had loads of picks for 2026. The choose gained from buying and selling him seemingly received’t make the distinction in whether or not they land their quarterback of the long run or not.
When you will have over 10 picks within the draft, you don’t must take lumps for the sake of taking lumps. Moreover, Pittsburgh doesn’t have to draft within the high 10 to get a franchise quarterback. Good quarterbacks fall out of the highest 10 on a regular basis — take a look at Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, and Aaron Rodgers.
The Steelers do have a plan. You’ll be able to disagree with it, you may say it’s one foot in a single foot out, however the concept they don’t have a plan is simply mistaken. Solely time will inform if Pittsburgh’s plan will web a franchise quarterback and a spot among the many higher echelon of the NFL once more.
