The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the crucial secure franchises within the NFL over the previous twenty years, however all good issues ultimately come to an finish. Some would argue an finish is critical for larger and higher issues sooner or later. ESPN’s annual “future energy rankings” predict the Steelers’ stability will lastly come to an finish within the not-so-distant future.
Ranked twenty second within the NFL, the Steelers obtained a 75.1 total rating from EPSN. Of their particular person class rankings, they had been twenty third in total roster (minus QB), thirty first in quarterback, eighth in teaching and thirteenth in entrance workplace. It is a step again from their fifteenth total rating final 12 months.
“The Steelers will end with 5 or fewer wins in 2027,” Seth Walder wrote. “After an unsuccessful 2025 marketing campaign with Rodgers, they’ll make an ill-fated try and compete once more in 2026 with an growing old roster. After that fails, they’ll lastly decide to the teardown and rebuild in 2027.”
There is no such thing as a doubt that adjustments are coming for the Steelers. Rodgers is 41 years previous, in what’s prone to be his last season within the NFL. Their star defensive gamers are throughout 30 years previous with Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey approaching the top of their careers. There is no such thing as a assure how issues will look as these gamers transfer on over the subsequent few seasons, however the Steelers have actively been stocking the cabinets to assist with the subsequent period.
Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer, Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Keeanu Benton and Payton Wilson give Pittsburgh a combating probability to keep up their robust entrance seven for years to return. However that additionally depends on robust growth from all of these gamers.
The offense is even youthful with excessive draft picks littered throughout the offensive line. And they’ll seemingly be working with a first-round choose at quarterback in 2026 and past. If that works out, the Steelers would possibly be capable to proceed their reload and keep away from a full rebuild. However they’re yet one more Kenny Pickett-type whiff from a teardown and rebuild.
ESPN pointed to DK Metcalf and the younger offensive line as causes for optimism, and the quarterback scenario as their greatest long-term problem. It’s onerous to argue with that.
Kevin Colbert’s last years because the staff’s GM did not replenish expertise. Omar Khan’s tenure is already beginning to flip issues round. However till they discover their quarterback of the long run, the Steelers aren’t going to be seen as a staff with its long-term arrow pointing up.
