Things could get ugly if the Steelers can't answer these questions.
There are too many unknowns right now to quantify what the Pittsburgh Steelers could be in the 2025 campaign. This team has no shortage of holes to fill, but they have the remainder of free agency and the draft to address those areas of concern. Despite time still being their ally, Pittsburgh appears poised for a similar outcome to seasons prior, and their fan base is sick of it.
The future of this team hangs on Aaron Rodgers' decision. If he signs with the Steelers, they will likely repeat Mike Tomlin's reign of mediocrity. On the other hand, if Rodgers doesn't sign, Tomlin could be looking down the barrel of his first losing season. There aren't many quality free agents left on the market, so Omar Khan will need to string together a terrific draft class.
The Steelers could be in trouble if they can't land a fantastic group of rookie players.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must find solutions to these questions (or live with the results)
Who is going to be their starting quarterback?
If Rodgers signs with Pittsburgh, it's clear he will be their starter in 2025. They remain in a waiting game as he continues to weigh his options. The Steelers might have no choice but to take a flyer on a prospect higher in the draft than they would prefer. Mason Rudolph is on the roster, but they need two more players at the position before training camp starts.
If Rodgers decides to go elsewhere, Rudolph would be the starter. He, likely a rookie quarterback, would battle for the starting job for the remainder of the upcoming season. Adding Rodgers would end this speculation. If he doesn't jump on board, it will create a lingering question mark. Not having a quality starter at the quarterback position would produce headaches.
What will happen if the secondary suffers numerous injuries?
There are bright spots in Pittsburgh's secondary heading into the draft, but there are also issues. Minkah Fitzpatrick appears to be slowing down, which is a huge problem. The Steelers have shown plenty of pre-draft interest in top safeties in this class. They might need to address the position in the top rounds since DeShon Elliott will become a free agent after this year.
Outside of the safety position needing some TLC, the cornerbacks on this roster are concerning. Joey Porter Jr. is coming off an up-and-down campaign, and new addition Darius Slay is 34. Their slot cornerback position remains in disarray, and Cory Trice is the only option on the depth chart who could start. They must attack this problem in the upcoming draft.
Expectations for their secondary should be lower than last season.
Who will replace Larry Ogunjobi in the trenches?
Many thought the Steelers would address this need in free agency, but they refused to invest money into the trenches. They have shown plenty of pre-draft interest in defensive linemen in the upcoming event, but they have countless problems to fix. They didn't seem to have a plan to address letting Larry Ogunjobi go, and now all the pressure will sit on a rookie.
Cam Heyward isn't getting any younger and needs a reliable player next to him up front. Perhaps they will draft a rookie nose tackle and push Keeanu Benton into the role next to Heyward. That might be well and dandy, but it's wild to fathom there will be no injuries across the line. It's a brittle defensive line for the Pittsburgh Steelers right now, and they must find a resolution in a deep draft class at the position.
