Let's get to it:
BRADLEY COLLINS FROM LINCOLN, RI: As much as I want Ben Roethlisberger in the Hall of Fame and have little doubt he'll make it there, watching people get passed over makes me wonder. Do you think he's a first-ballot Hall of Famer, or do you think that phrase is overused?
ANSWER: I think people are losing a little bit of perspective on the whole concept of "first-ballot Hall of Famer." There are a lot of legends enshrined in Canton who were not inducted in their first year of eligibility. Vince Lombardi and Paul Brown. Mike Ditka and Otto Graham. Wellington Mara. Pete Rozelle. Guys who built the league. And with social media giving everyone a voice, the rush to label someone a "first-ballot Hall of Famer" begins before careers even end. Among a segment of NFL fans, it's assumed that Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce are both "first-ballot Hall of Famers." Travis Kelce is still considered an active player, and Jason Kelce was a center. In the history of the NFL, there are 12 pure centers enshrined in the Hall of Fame, and 10 of them were NOT elected in their first year of eligibility. With the voting rules now requiring 80 percent approval by the Board to get elected, in 2025 only 3 of the 15 Modern Era finalists survived the process and were elected (none of them were in their first year of eligibility).
One of the 2025 first-ballot possibilities was Eli Manning, and there long has been an association with Ben Roethlisberger since both were first-round picks in the 2004 NFL Draft – Manning 1st overall and Roethlisberger 11th overall. Another similarity is that both won 2 Super Bowls, and while Manning was voted MVP in both of those Giants' wins, Roethlisberger has superior statistics in just about every possible category of quarterback play. Manning's regular season record was 117-117-0, while Roethlisberger's was 165-81-1. And for those who don't put a lot of stock into win-loss records in football, Roethlisberger also retired with 8,000 more passing yards, 174 more touchdowns, 33 fewer interceptions, and a passer rating that was 9 points higher. Here are some more of Roethlisberger's qualifications:
• Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady are the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for 60,000 or more yards and win at least two Super Bowls.
• He joined Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady as the only starting quarterbacks in NFL history with at least 160 regular season wins.
• Roethlisberger registered his 160th career win in his 238th career start, becoming the third-fastest quarterback to reach 160 wins in NFL history.
• In his 18-year career, which included 249 regular-season games (247 starts), Roethlisberger was one of the best passers in NFL history in the fourth quarter and overtime.
• In the fourth quarter and overtime, he completed 1,421 passes on 2,196 attempts (64.7 pct.) for 16,860 yards and 120 TDs with 62 interceptions (94.4 passer rating).
• Roethlisberger's 16,860 yards passing in the fourth quarter and overtime, alone, nearly ranks among the top-100 overall passers in NFL history.
• Roethlisberger threw for 3,000 or more yards in 15 of his 18 NFL seasons. Only Tom Brady (19), Brett Favre (18), Drew Brees (16) and Peyton Manning (16) have more 3,000-yard passing seasons in NFL history.
• Roethlisberger rallied the Steelers from a tie or deficit in the fourth quarter 53 times in his regular-season career, which is the most in franchise history and tied for the second-most in NFL history.
• Only Peyton Manning (54) had rallied a team from a tie or deficit in the fourth quarter more often. Tom Brady and Drew Brees also registered 53 to tie with Roethlisberger.
It's my opinion that Roethlisberger should be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2027, which is his first year of eligibility. But if he isn't, that in no way diminishes the greatness of his career when he is elected.
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JIM ANDERSON FROM TOLEDO, OH: In this year's draft, will the Steelers keep to their policy of drafting the best player available, or do they need to concentrate on position?
ANSWER: The whole "best player vs. need" draft debate has evolved into a more nuanced "best player at a position of need" drafting philosophy. Because of free agency, teams have control over the players they draft for 4 years, maybe 5 if the player is a first-round pick and the team elects to exercise its fifth-year option, and so there just isn't a lot of time for long-term development.
JOE LaMOLINARE FROM DALLAS, GA: With Cooper Kupp looking to get out of Los Angeles do you think the Steelers may look at picking him up?
ANSWER: I think the Steelers are going to explore a lot of possibilities to add a veteran wide receiver during free agency, and the kind of veteran wide receiver who's a top of the depth chart kind of guy.
TODD GOODING FROM PORTAGE, MI: So the "dynamic kickoff" is a success (limited number of collisions), but the NFL still has live punts and wants to go to an 18-game season. Are the lower concussion dynamic kickoff numbers to help sell the 18 games?
ANSWER: Any expansion of the regular season to 18 games must be approved by a vote of the players. If it happens, or when it happens, will be a direct result of the players approving it.
ERIC HUTTINGER FROM DAYTON, OH: I heard something interesting the other day that has me slightly confused. If the Browns trade Myles Garrett, they would still take a more than $30 million cap hit. Does the new team not take that on?
ANSWER: If a team would trade for Myles Garrett, that team would assume his contract starting with the 2025 season, but any previous bonuses paid to him by the Browns would have to be accounted for via a dead money assessment on their salary cap. If the trade would happen before the 2025 season starts, the dead money charge to the Browns would be $36.22 million.
DAVID LEWELLEN FROM GLENDALE, WI: You mentioned Chad Brown in a recent column, which reminded me that he made a successful transition from ILB to OLB. Can you explain why that move made sense compared to the ones that many of your submissions suggest?
ANSWER: The position Chad Brown played for the Colorado Buffaloes was close to what the Steelers looked for at the time in an outside linebacker in their 3-4, and he actually was moved to inside linebacker after he was drafted in 1993 to get him on the field quicker, because the OLBs at the time were Kevin Greene and Greg Lloyd. Actually, Brown's specific position on the Steelers defense at that time was ROLB, which is what Lloyd played, which is why Chad Brown didn't get to play that until Lloyd tore a patellar in the 1996 regular season opener. And after getting that chance is when Brown posted 13 sacks, made first-team All-Pro, and then signed a big contract in free agency. He was playing "out of position" at ILB, but that was the only way he could get on the field.
GRANT SPELLERBERG FROM CUTLER BAY, FL: In a recent Asked and Answered, you wrote that the defensive line needs serious attention during this offseason. I agree, but watching the Steelers quarterbacks running for their lives, I would say serious attention also should be given to the offensive line. How can they address this with 7 picks?
ANSWER: Getting Troy Fautanu back after a year on injured reserve should be a boost to the offensive line in 2025, and maybe they can re-sign Nate Herbig, another IR guy, for depth. The defensive line's need for a talent injection this offseason is much more pronounced, in my opinion.
WILLIAM HEISE FROM SUMTER, SC: How many good players might the Steelers have lost out on if the draft was only 7 rounds before 1976?
ANSWER: Starting in 1969 and continuing through the 1970s, DE L.C. Greenwood (4 Super Bowl rings) was a 10th-round pick in 1969; DT Ernie Holmes (2 Super Bowl rings) was an 8th-round pick in 1971; SS-FS Mike Wagner (4 Super Bowl rings) was an 11th-round pick in 1971, QB Joe Gilliam (2 Super Bowl rings) was an 11th-round pick in 1972; and OLB Loren Toews (4 Super Bowl rings) was an 8th-round pick in 1973. That's 16 total rings added after the seventh round of the draft. And that doesn't even take into account Donnie Shell, who was an undrafted rookie in 1974.
ERIC ASH FROM WELLSVILLE, NY: This is for anyone going to see the Steelers in Ireland: my wife and I spent the better part of a week in Dublin a few years ago. The Irish were the friendliest, most helpful, most welcoming people we have encountered in all our travels. It's a great place to visit.
ANSWER: I was fortunate enough to have traveled to Dublin with the Steelers in 1997 for the preseason game against the Chicago Bears, and my experience was as positive as yours.
