What is a Realistic Expectation for the 2024 Steelers?

[Mojouw]

Well this is Wilson’s swan song. Its all downhill from here given his age and playing style. Hopefully he keeps playing well for the rest of this season, but after this? We need to plan for our next Qb. I dont know Darnold looks good, throwing strikes on the move, i attribute at least part of that on good Qb play. Maybe your viking friends know better…

If Darnold could be had for $8-10 million bucks? Maybe.

But he’s gonna cost $25-35 million instead.

Don’t forget the stretch of the season where Addison was hurt and defenses took Jefferson away to a degree. Darnold took sacks, tossed a few picks, and didn’t score points by the bucketful.

Also this same offense and similar players made Case Keenum look pretty good.

Don’t sign Darnold. Sign the NEXT Darnold. That’s where the bargain lies.

I’d take Fields at like $10-15 million over $30-40 million on Darnold. Or even old Russ for the same high salary.

[DesertSteel]

I’m expecting about 11 wins and a trip to the AFCCG. But my mental health won’t depend on it.

Still feeling good about this prediction.

[Craic]

They put all their eggs in the basket in "win now" mode instead of rebuilding like they should've done. This season is a definite failure if this team flames out again in the playoffs.

I was of that mindset earlier in the year. But after seeing Fields play, I no longer am. If Wilson goes down, we have a better chance of winning games with Fields than we did with any QB we had except possibly Pickett, and there, I'd say it's about even (I'm still convinced a lot of Pickett's problems here was the OC. Change that and open up the offense, and I think you see higher scoring games with him).

[polamalubeast]

If Darnold could be had for $8-10 million bucks? Maybe.

But he’s gonna cost $25-35 million instead.

Don’t forget the stretch of the season where Addison was hurt and defenses took Jefferson away to a degree. Darnold took sacks, tossed a few picks, and didn’t score points by the bucketful.

Also this same offense and similar players made Case Keenum look pretty good.

Don’t sign Darnold. Sign the NEXT Darnold. That’s where the bargain lies.

I’d take Fields at like $10-15 million over $30-40 million on Darnold. Or even old Russ for the same high salary.

I don't think it will happen because I think Stafford will stay but the best place for Darnold if he leave the vikings would been the rams.....I just don't know what good option would for Darnold among team who need a QB next offseason

Darnold know this is important to be in a good situation after the awful situation he was with the jets and Panthers....But team who need a QB in the next offseason,this is team like the Jets(Rodgers likely out),no he will be back with the jets,the giants,raiders,titans...all awful team....What will be his options?...Colts maybe if they gave up on Richardson?...Better hope Stafford retire!

[Mojouw]

I don't think it will happen because I think Stafford will stay but the best place for Darnold if he leave the vikings would been the rams.....I just don't know what good option would for Darnold among team who need a QB next offseason

Darnold know this is important to be in a good situation after the awful situation he was with the jets and Panthers....But team who need a QB in the next offseason,this is team like the Jets(Rodgers likely out),no he will be back with the jets,the giants,raiders,titans...all awful team....What will be his options?...Colts maybe if they gave up on Richardson?...Better hope Stafford retire!

Yeah. The Rams would be the perfect spot.

If the Colts punt on Richardson; I’d like the Steelers to sign him as the 2025 version of Fields.

Assuming they don’t just resign Fields.

[pczach]

If Darnold could be had for $8-10 million bucks? Maybe.

But he’s gonna cost $25-35 million instead.

Don’t forget the stretch of the season where Addison was hurt and defenses took Jefferson away to a degree. Darnold took sacks, tossed a few picks, and didn’t score points by the bucketful.

Also this same offense and similar players made Case Keenum look pretty good.

Don’t sign Darnold. Sign the NEXT Darnold. That’s where the bargain lies.

I’d take Fields at like $10-15 million over $30-40 million on Darnold. Or even old Russ for the same high salary.

How about the people that wanted Kirk Cousins coming off of a major injury?

OHHHHH the fun we would be having now!!!

[Steeler-in-west]

If Darnold could be had for $8-10 million bucks? Maybe.

But he’s gonna cost $25-35 million instead.

Don’t forget the stretch of the season where Addison was hurt and defenses took Jefferson away to a degree. Darnold took sacks, tossed a few picks, and didn’t score points by the bucketful.

Also this same offense and similar players made Case Keenum look pretty good.

Don’t sign Darnold. Sign the NEXT Darnold. That’s where the bargain lies.

I’d take Fields at like $10-15 million over $30-40 million on Darnold. Or even old Russ for the same high salary.

if Wilsons performance suddenly went downhill id try to get Darnold, i dont know the number but hes worth more than Fields thats for sure. I think Tomlin would be inclined to get a proven vet who can stretch the field (Seems like Darnold). I dont see him rebuilding with a rookie Qb. So likely Wilson continues to play well and we hopefully make a playoff run, he gets his contract, and we probably draft a Qb in 26.

[DesertSteel]

I don't think it will happen because I think Stafford will stay but the best place for Darnold if he leave the vikings would been the rams.....I just don't know what good option would for Darnold among team who need a QB next offseason

Darnold know this is important to be in a good situation after the awful situation he was with the jets and Panthers....But team who need a QB in the next offseason,this is team like the Jets(Rodgers likely out),no he will be back with the jets,the giants,raiders,titans...all awful team....What will be his options?...Colts maybe if they gave up on Richardson?...Better hope Stafford retire!

Some team will hire from the McVey tree and then go after Darnold.

[ALLD]

The 2024 Steelers either catch lightning in a bottle like 2005 or they are one of the SB favorites in 2025? I think the rough schedule of the last 4 games will set the tone.

[Mojouw]

Some team will hire from the McVey tree and then go after Darnold.

That makes too much sense not to happen.

[fansince'76]

They put all their eggs in the basket in "win now" mode instead of rebuilding like they should've done.

How so? They're currently paying Wilson and Fields less than a typical punter gets.

Besides, most of the naysayers were predicting 5-6 wins this year and a 4th place finish in the AFCN. This has been a successful season by that metric.

[Hawkman]

How so? They're currently paying Wilson and Fields less than a typical punter gets.

Besides, most of the naysayers were predicting 5-6 wins this year and a 4th place finish in the AFCN. This has been a successful season by that metric.

Someone please explain to me, what the hell does “rebuilding” mean anyway. I feel like we work on rebuilding constantly. Does “rebuilding” mean, lose a lot of games so you can have a bunch of high draft picks, and do that for that for multiple years. As a fan that’s sounds like great fun. I prefer to see a competitive team every year.

[86WARD]

How so? They're currently paying Wilson and Fields less than a typical punter gets.

Besides, most of the naysayers were predicting 5-6 wins this year and a 4th place finish in the AFCN. This has been a successful season by that metric.

It’s almost like some people don’t follow the team or watch the team or games…

[86WARD]

Someone please explain to me, what the hell does “rebuilding” mean anyway. I feel like we work on rebuilding constantly. Does “rebuilding” mean, lose a lot of games so you can have a bunch of high draft picks, and do that for that for multiple years. As a fan that’s sounds like great fun. I prefer to see a competitive team every year.

Good teams don’t need to rebuild, they are constantly replacing parts. Rebuild teams are bottom of the barrel teams. “Rebuilding is code for we don’t know what we are doing so we’re going to start over.”

What team has won, then “rebuilt” and then won again and then realized another rebuild is necessary and the. Won again after the rebuild.? Lol. Not many…if any…

[tube517]

How so? They're currently paying Wilson and Fields less than a typical punter gets.

Besides, most of the naysayers were predicting 5-6 wins this year and a 4th place finish in the AFCN. This has been a successful season by that metric.

Hextall Khan will blow the team up starting with Scam Heyward!



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[Shoes]

I don’t understand why "winning now" is treated like getting the plague. If you surveyed the entire team and asked, 'Do you want to win now?' I’m confident you’d get a unanimous Yes.

[polamalubeast]

I don’t understand why "winning now" is treated like getting the plague. If you surveyed the entire team and asked, 'Do you want to win now?' I’m confident you’d get a unanimous Yes.

I agree with you

They want to win now but this is not like they gave up so many future draft pick or cap space for just this year so they did not put all their eggs in the basket in "win now" mode ....The reason why edman said this was because they trade Kenny Pickett to replace him with a older QB but the ting is I don't think Kenny can become a true top 10 QB in the future

[Hawkman]

Hextall Khan will blow the team up starting with Scam Heyward!



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Nope……starting with Tomlin!

[86WARD]

I don’t understand why "winning now" is treated like getting the plague. If you surveyed the entire team and asked, 'Do you want to win now?' I’m confident you’d get a unanimous Yes.

For real. If they want to win now, forever, what’s the problem?

Fans complain about the Steelers never signing free agents, then they do and they aren’t “good enough” and then they are good enough but then they are playing to win now.

Draft a QB. They did. But they didn’t get enough out of him and didn’t try long enough…but then if they did, they wasted too much time on said QB.

[polamalubeast]

It would have been a disaster for the Steelers if they wasted another season because of poor QB play.

[86WARD]

It would have been a disaster for the Steelers if they wasted another season because of poor QB play.

They saw they didn’t like the situation and they changed it. Is that not what we/some said was one of Tomlin’s weaknesses? That he stuck with players/coaches too long?

[tube517]

Good teams don’t need to rebuild, they are constantly replacing parts. Rebuild teams are bottom of the barrel teams. “Rebuilding is code for we don’t know what we are doing so we’re going to start over.”

What team has won, then “rebuilt” and then won again and then realized another rebuild is necessary and the. Won again after the rebuild.? Lol. Not many…if any…

Even in the down years of the mid 80s, they never did a full rebuild. Just try and win with what they had and stay the course. And they came very close to another AFC championship appearance with Bubby as QB in 1989.

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[Craic]

Good teams don’t need to rebuild, they are constantly replacing parts. Rebuild teams are bottom of the barrel teams. “Rebuilding is code for we don’t know what we are doing so we’re going to start over.”

What team has won, then “rebuilt” and then won again and then realized another rebuild is necessary and the. Won again after the rebuild.? Lol. Not many…if any…

Or, rebuilding is code for "We extended our SB window by resigning players with future monies and then had to tighten the belt until we got out from under salary cap hell." Rooneys, 2008-10 (SB window), 2011-15 (salary cap hell). 2016 start of rebuild. Interestingly, we still had pretty good teams through those years. But we all remember the horrid CBs and safeties during that time.

[Born2Steel]

We are in win now mode, just like every season. We did bring in a lot of FAs this offseason to help make us a better team. Our OL is still very young though. To really make a push vs playoff teams you need to be strong in the trenches. I think we have a good group on the OL, there are still mistakes at pivotal moments. Those mean more in the playoffs. We should make the playoffs. I think a first round win is 50/50. A second round win would be a freak of nature.

[fansince'76]

Even in the down years of the mid 80s, they never did a full rebuild. Just try and win with what they had and stay the course. And they came very close to another AFC championship appearance with Bubby as QB in 1989.

'84 and '89 were two of Noll's best coaching jobs.

[Mojouw]

For me there are four modes that NFL teams can be in:

1. Contending: While the roster may have holes or weak elements, the team has enough strengths to make the playoffs and get to the SB.
2. Reloading: Much of the team is able to contend and the team will likely make the playoffs but there are crucial roster weakness that need addressing through the draft or FA before most outside evaluators would view the team as having a good chance of reaching the SB.
3. Chilling in the Jeff Fisher Zone: Team hasn't experienced success in awhile and they are winning enough games to be viewed as being a playoff team. Either in the playoff hunt or make the WC round. But have no plan for moving forward from there.
4. Rebuilding: Their is usually a new GM and/or Coach in town. Ownership has made grumpy public statements. Veterans and anyone with a big salary number over the age of 25 has been traded for draft picks. Team is trying to build a core of players on both sides of the ball that are about the same age and are good enough to propel the team into Contending status. Most teams screw this up.

For most of the time the Steelers have been in either Group 1 or Group 2 for the Cowher and Tomlin eras. I only saw the end of the Noll era where the Steelers were hanging out in Group 3. Recently the Steelers have likely been in Group 4. Or maybe a sub-group of that called "We lost our HOF QB and while the rest of our team is pretty good...we need someone to run the dang offense".

I know that the SB trophies aren't pouring in 1970's style and there has been a playoff win drought....but the amount of regular season winning this team has been doing for like 3 decades is absolutely unbelievable. I mean I got buddies that are Lions, Packers, Vikings, and Bears fans. Those poor SOB's really know about Rebuilding. As Steelers fans we just don't.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I agree with you

They want to win now but this is not like they gave up so many future draft pick or cap space for just this year so they did not put all their eggs in the basket in "win now" mode ....The reason why edman said this was because they trade Kenny Pickett to replace him with a older QB but the ting is I don't think Kenny can become a true top 10 QB in the future

True, the term "win now" often involves scenarios that you mention which could put a team in cap hell or without quality draft picks that could make them bad for several years in a row until they get picks back and the dead money off the books.

The Steelers dont do that, but these next few years will be a short window where guys like Heyward, Fitzpatick, Watt, Wilson, Highsmith etc are central players to the success of the team, while younger guys like Porter, Pickens, Herbig, O linemen will need to get paid or let walk.

[polamalubeast]

True, the term "win now" often involves scenarios that you mention which could put a team in cap hell or without quality draft picks that could make them bad for several years in a row until they get picks back and the dead money off the books.

The Steelers dont do that, but these next few years will be a short window where guys like Heyward, Fitzpatick, Watt, Wilson, Highsmith etc are central players to the success of the team, while younger guys like Porter, Pickens, Herbig, O linemen will need to get paid or let walk.

I agree and that's a big reason why it would have been awful for the steelers if they wasted another season because of poor QB play....these players deserve a chance...

[Steeler-in-west]

Thats why getting a guy like Canada and pairing with a 1st round pick in a weak draft was a curious move considering we had all these stars on defense that wanted to make a playoff run. We wasted 2-3 years of their prime.

[Voice of Reason]

For me there are four modes that NFL teams can be in:

1. Contending: While the roster may have holes or weak elements, the team has enough strengths to make the playoffs and get to the SB.
2. Reloading: Much of the team is able to contend and the team will likely make the playoffs but there are crucial roster weakness that need addressing through the draft or FA before most outside evaluators would view the team as having a good chance of reaching the SB.
3. Chilling in the Jeff Fisher Zone: Team hasn't experienced success in awhile and they are winning enough games to be viewed as being a playoff team. Either in the playoff hunt or make the WC round. But have no plan for moving forward from there.
4. Rebuilding: Their is usually a new GM and/or Coach in town. Ownership has made grumpy public statements. Veterans and anyone with a big salary number over the age of 25 has been traded for draft picks. Team is trying to build a core of players on both sides of the ball that are about the same age and are good enough to propel the team into Contending status. Most teams screw this up.

For most of the time the Steelers have been in either Group 1 or Group 2 for the Cowher and Tomlin eras. I only saw the end of the Noll era where the Steelers were hanging out in Group 3. Recently the Steelers have likely been in Group 4. Or maybe a sub-group of that called "We lost our HOF QB and while the rest of our team is pretty good...we need someone to run the dang offense".

I know that the SB trophies aren't pouring in 1970's style and there has been a playoff win drought....but the amount of regular season winning this team has been doing for like 3 decades is absolutely unbelievable. I mean I got buddies that are Lions, Packers, Vikings, and Bears fans. Those poor SOB's really know about Rebuilding. As Steelers fans we just don't.

The Steelers have been in Group 3 for the last seven years. Tomlin is the poster boy for Group 3. I'll give you that this year they may have moved up to Group 2.