Daniel Valente 🏈

For the second straight year, the Steelers will have a completely different QB room than the year prior to start a season.

2024
Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph out

2025
Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, Kyle Allen out

Got to say the Steelers putting their chips in the basket of waiting on a 41-year-old QB Aaron Rodgers coming off one of his worst seasons perfectly sums up where this franchise is at.

Darius Slay allowed 6.1 yards per target in 2024, per PFR. That was his best mark since 2018.

Do have concerns about the age but great guy to have in a locker room and in the CB room.

EPA per dropback rank on throws of 20+ air yards in 2024 (via TruMedia)

Russell Wilson: 1st in NFL
Aaron Rodgers: T13th in NFL

Just something to think about with the Steelers having a WR group of DK Metcalf and George Pickens.

Great fit for Najee Harris.

Have my opinions on the Steelers picking Najee in the 1st round of 2021 and his skillset but you can’t take away that he ate a ton of carries & had crazy durability doing so. Never missed a single game. Great leader, too.

Rooting for him in L.A.

The thing with Justin Fields leaving the Steelers is they could have had him as their starter. But they chose to sit him after a 6-game audition. And then they tried to act like they could fall back on him prior to free agency.

Never agreed with how it was handled but hope for the best for him.

If Dan Moore Jr. had a nickel for every time a Steelers fan tweeted that he should be replaced, he would have $82 million.

Honestly, happy for him.

Okay I thought Dan Moore Jr. was going to get crazy money but I didn't think he was going to land INSANE money! Wow.

Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf and George Pickens is going to be better than reality TV.

What kind of fever dream have I been in the last two days that Aaron Rodgers might be throwing passes to DK Metcalf with both wearing Steelers' jerseys.

Dan Moore Jr. is going to make a fortune 💰

If enough people migrated over here, I would never go back to that dumpster fire of a site.

Most Receiving Yards on Throws of 25+ Air Yards Since 2019:

1. Tyreek Hill - 1833
2. A.J. Brown - 1650
3. DK Metcalf - 1639

HOME-RUN HITTER FOR THE STEELERS.

Only 4 WRs have more 30+ yard receptions since 2019 than DK Metcalf.

Davante Adams - 54
Tyreek Hill - 52
Justin Jefferson - 51
A.J. Brown - 49
DK Metcalf - 45

A big-play addition to the Steelers.

Yards per Reception Since 2022

George Pickens: 16.3 (1st in the NFL)
DK Metcalf: 14.2 (T9th in the NFL)

Pickens & Metcalf. This Steelers’ passing game is seriously explosive.

Also I have about -5% confidence that the Steelers could create a QB-friendly & sustainable offense for Sam Darnold to thrive in even if he did sign here.

This really feels like the Steelers just trying to jumpstart the “no, guys, we really tried” once Justin Fields signs elsewhere & they are left picking between other QB options.

I couldn’t think of a real reason this entire time why Justin Fields would forgo testing the market & re-sign with the Steelers before free agency.

Especially with the way 2024 went down & the messaging of either wanting him or Russ back, never treated as the #1 undisputed guy.

Matthew Stafford coming to the Steelers would put them in this phase of trying to replace their former franchise QB.

From 2014 to 2024, the Steelers only drafted one player who ended up becoming a First-Team All-Pro for them:

• T.J. Watt (2019, 2020, 2021, 2023)

That's the entire list. One player.

I can't find it within myself to feel too outraged that the Steelers let their DBs coach go after constant communications issues down the stretch while also banging the table to part ways with the OL coach because of issues with that unit.

Maybe that's just me, I don't know.

The Eagles have rebuilt two Super Bowl winning rosters & coaching staffs while the Steelers still largely struggle to let go of coaches unless their contracts are expiring (or they’re Matt Canada).

To no surprise, the Steelers have 0 playoff wins in that span.

George Pickens had more drops in 2024 (6) than he had in his first two seasons combined (5), per PFR.

Also crazy to see how much Pickens’ drop rate rose this season (also PFR) despite being known for his hands.

2022: 3.6%
2023: 1.9%
2024: 5.8%

That postseason record…once upon a time.

No words to describe the Steelers’ offensive line the last time they made a Super Bowl appearance.

The Steelers on 1st down this season ranked:

• 25th in total EPA on carries (via TruMedia)
• T26th in yards per carry
• T27th in rushing success %

Feels like this offense failed at reaching most of the goals they publicly set out from last offseason.

Someone start making the photoshopped edits of Cooper Kupp in a Steelers’ jersey.

Zach Frazier was 1 of 9 centers in 2024 to surrender 1 sack or less (min. 900 blocking snaps), per PFF.

Great start for the Steelers' rookie in Year 1.

Russell Wilson had a -0.12 EPA per drop back over his last 6 starts with the Steelers, including playoffs, per TruMedia.

For comparison, Kenny Pickett had a -0.15 EPA per drop back in 2023 with the Steelers.

Glad for what Russ brought but this should be a one-and-done journey.

Wanted to see what Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes' combined numbers vs. the Steelers, including playoffs:

16-4 record
70.5% completion rate
6001 passing yards (300.1 yards/G)
52 TDs
6 INTs

Franchise tradition to get cooked by the league's best QB it seems.