Let's get to it:
RUSS PALLONE FROM TRINIDAD, CO: Should we give Mason Rudolph the keys to the car, draft a quarterback we can maybe develop, and spend some money on our defense?
ANSWER: That course of action sounds good, but just saying it or writing it doesn't make it a real possibility, especially when it comes to drafting "a quarterback we can develop," because that's a path a lot of other teams might be trying to follow as well. I believe the ideal scenario would be to have Mason Rudolph serve as a veteran backup for the 2025 season, with the possibility of going to him in the event of sub-par play or an injury to the starter. Drafting "a quarterback we can develop" sure sounds like a nice plan, but who might be available to draft and at what cost in terms of draft capital, and might the guy drafted have a ceiling as a backup in the league anyway? As for spending money on the defense, I see the way to reinforce/retool the defensive line has to be done by spending premium draft picks on the position instead of looking for that kind of player via free agency. The same can be said about looking to add a long-term starting caliber cornerback to play opposite Joey Porter Jr., because on Monday it was reported that the Texans agreed with CB Derek Stingley Jr. on a 3-year, $90 million extension.
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BEAU JACKSON FROM BUCKHORN, NM: Seems like we are on a merry-go-round ride with quarterbacks. I thought we would be able to get Justin Fields, but now we are waiting on Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson. But what is your opinion of Mason Rudolph? I know he is not a powerhouse, but there is a lot less drama there.
ANSWER: Based on Mason Rudolph's age (he will turn 30 before training camp opens in July) and the fact he was an unrestricted free agent after both the 2022 and 2023 seasons and wasn't offered a job as a starter or a contract commensurate with a starter's salary indicates he is seen by teams around the league as a backup. Make no mistake, there is nothing wrong with being seen as a backup. A lot of players have gone onto long and lucrative NFL careers in that role, but that's how I believe Rudolph is being seen at this point in his career.
ERIC SMITH FROM WOODBRIDGE, CT: What do you think about the signing of Mason Rudolph? He has shown that given the Steelers' style of play, he can win games while protecting the football. I think it's a sneaky good signing that can pay off if Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson isn't signed, or if one of them (or someone else) is signed and gets hurt.
ANSWER: I would agree, and I would add to that if the Steelers do find themselves in a situation where they have Mason Rudolph as part of the depth chart at quarterback also including a rookie draft pick – either in 2025 or 2026 – he would serve as a mentor and do so willingly.
JESUS SADA FROM MONTERREY, MEXICO: I loved watching Joe Haden play for the Steelers for the last 5 years of his 12-year NFL career. He was a 3-time Pro Bowl selection (once with the Steelers). Is Darius Slay projected to be a similar player for the Steelers?
ANSWER: At this stage of his career, Darius Slay, 34, has played 12 NFL seasons – the first 7 in Detroit and the last 5 in Philadelphia – and he played in 6 Pro Bowls, 3 with each franchise. As of this writing, I would pencil in Slay to start at cornerback opposite Joey Porter Jr., but being that today is March 18 a lot of things can happen between now and the 2025 regular season opener.
DEAN FLORIO FROM ALLENTOWN, PA: What are your thoughts on acquiring a pure fullback? I see less and less of this position being utilized on most NFL teams.
ANSWER: NFL teams have grown very reluctant to commit a roster spot to a fullback, unless that player can contribute more than just serving as a lead blocker for the running back. If a player is nothing more than a lead blocker for a running back, opposing defenses will know what's coming every time he's on the field and react to that accordingly. My sense is that for a team to commit one of its 53 roster spots (46 on game days) to a fullback, that player must either be a legitimate threat as a receiver, or a core special teams player. Or both.
ANGELO MORELLA FROM POLAND, OH: Can you make any sense of the Steelers offseason so far? Every Steelers fan knew they had to improve the defensive line and add depth to the offensive line. But they added no one. Needed a starting cornerback, signed a 34-year-old. Got a sports car (D.K. Metcalf) without having a driver's license (a quarterback). Maybe they are collecting compensatory picks for the 2026 NFL Draft?
ANSWER: I looked up the definition of "drama queen," and it read, "a person who habitually responds to situations in a melodramatic way." That describes your submission. The new league year began at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, which means free agency is not yet a week old. If you're actually interested in making sense of the Steelers offseason, how about waiting until it's over. There is still more than a month of free agency before the 2025 NFL Draft, then rookie minicamp, OTAs, and mandatory minicamp – and you can expect a lot more moves between now and then.
BRANDIN SHUMAC FROM MURRYSVILLE, PA: In your opinion, what do you think the Steelers do about the glaring hole they have at the cornerback position outside of Joey Porter Jr.?
ANSWER: As of this writing, I would list the top 3 outside cornerbacks on the roster as Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay, and Corey Trice Jr.. I believe the Steelers like the potential they have seen from Trice, but injuries have been an issue with him throughout his college and pro careers. Slay is a pedigreed NFL starter with 6 Pro Bowl appearances on his resume. And I would not be surprised at all to see the Steelers add to their outside cornerbacks via the draft or in the secondary wave of free agency. Whatever they do, Porter will be the No. 1 guy at that position in my mind when the Steelers assemble at Saint Vincent College in late July.
RAYMOND CHASON FROM CONNEAUTVILLE, PA: With us trading this year's second-round pick in the deal that brought WR D.K. Metcalf, is there any way to try to get back in the second round?
ANSWER: Absolutely. Many ways. But it's going to depend upon what a team might want from the Steelers to give up their second-round pick, and which player is there for the Steelers to select before it would make sense to trade back into the round. The one thing I would list as a very remote possibility would be trading next year's No. 1 pick for a No. 2 pick this year.
DANIEL FRIEDMAN FROM BEIJING, CHINA: Always enjoy your work, both here and on SNR Drive with Dale Lolley and Matt Williamson. Google couldn't help me with my current question, so I've decided to come to you to try to get an answer. During the Super Bowl era of the 1970s, was there any weight-lifting equipment at Three Rivers Stadium? And more generally, what kind of weight-lifting and training equipment did the team offer for its players to use?
ANSWER: When the Steelers shared Three Rivers Stadium with the Pittsburgh Pirates, they were considered secondary tenants at best. The team's weight room was smaller than the average high school football weight room nowadays, and during the 6-plus month baseball season the visiting team might be using it, too, during their time in Pittsburgh to play the Pirates. As far as the equipment, there was a treadmill or two, one upright exercise bike, and mostly free weights. Not a lot of space and few, if any, amenities.
ERIC WEAVER FROM CHARDON, OH: Up to this point in free agency, the Steelers have had a number of their higher profile players (James Daniels, Dan Moore Jr., Justin Fields, Najee Harris, Donte Jackson) sign with other teams. Russell Wilson is still up in the air if he'll be re-signed by the Steelers or another team. With having all of those players sign elsewhere, is this a good start for the Steelers to pick up compensatory picks in the 2026 NFL Draft? Does the trade for D.K. Metcalf factor into that formula?
ANSWER: Compensatory draft picks are awarded based on a formula that takes into account the number of unrestricted free agents signed and the size of those contracts vs. the number of unrestricted free agents lost and the size of those contracts. Since D.K. Metcalf was acquired in a trade, he will not count either way in the compensatory draft pick formula. Neither would Aaron Rodgers count in the formula, because whichever team signs him would be doing so after the New York Jets released him. And I'm sorry, but I am not going to get into any speculation about compensatory draft picks in 2026.
