It is the JR Sport reshow here on The Infinity. Sports Network We know that the NBA's legal tampering period is open. We got people being traded, we got people signing contracts. But the day started up. with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have nothing to do with the NBA.
pretty much getting all the action started. We learn that they have acquired Johnu Smith. They've also brought on Jalen Ramsey. They they got rid of Maka Fitzpatrick as a result. This is a team that has added and changed plenty of pieces over the offseason with Slay and Metcalfe and, of course, Aaron Rodgers and even TJ Watt.
His contract And what may be of it kind of still hangs in a balance. To talk about the moves the Steelers have made today, what they've done, what we can expect moving forward. Right now we're being joined by Joe Rutter, who covers all things Steelers for the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Joe, how are you? Doing well tonight.
How are you guys doing? Awesome. Thank you. Really appreciate the time. We got the deal.
And once we had the deal this morning, Jalen Ramsey already had a a video uh announcing the trade, so this was something that was in the works uh for some time now. Are are you surprised that the Steelers were able to get both Jalen Ramsey and John U. Smith, which has been rumored for a while? Yeah, because this isn't, you know. You're used to the until recently, the you used to think of the Steelers as draft develop.
Um, wait till the later parts of free agency and maybe add some pieces here and there. They rarely made a trade, they just didn't make a big splash, they weren't that type of team, and they've just turned that. Reputation on the tier the last few years. And just look at the last few months, the guys who've made it, they've traded for. He gave mid cap.
They got rid of George Pickens. They've added Aaron Rodgers, Darius Slay.
Now they make this huge deal, getting rid of Megan Fitzpatrick and getting Jalen Ramsey and Johnny Smith. are really giving up just a little little bit in draft capital, not much. These just are definitely not the stealers that you're used to seeing. And on top of that, giving out big money, they added money to the Jalen Ramsey contract. They gave DK Metcalf a $150 million deal, and they gave Delaney Smith $12 million.
So, I mean, you know, this is the team that's. not afraid to make action and move, whereas before they kind of sat back and let others do that kind of stuff.
Well, Joe, is this all strictly because of who they have at quarterback now and Aaron Rodgers? It has a little bit to do with Aaron Rodgers, but I think it's more with the fact they haven't won a playoff game since the twenty sixteen season. They've been one and done the last for the last five years. They made the playoffs. They've gone out in the first round.
There's a lot of pressure on Mike Tallman. The organization wants to win. They want to win now. They want to make strides. And this is all part of that plan.
They're not no longer just. maintaining the status quo and trying to build for the future, there are definite signs this organization is going to do whatever it can and try to win now. And Joe Rutter is here with us from the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. When you talk about winning now, of course, they're going all in with the quarterback and all the additions and pieces that they have. When you think about Aaron Rodgers, who is on a year-to-year basis even saying that this is probably going to be his last season, if things don't work out for the Steelers, would they not have to hit a reset?
Are they really that confident with Will Howard going forward? What's the plan if Aaron Rodgers says I'm done?
Well, and I think they expect that to happen no matter what happens this year. And they positioned themselves, they've added a lot of draft capital for next year, which ironically is going to be held in Pittsburgh. I should say coincidentally, because I don't think one has to do anything with the other. But, you know, next year is supposed to be a much better draft class than this year's.
So I think what their plan is, you know, they could have enough capital. They've built up enough equity that they can move up next year in the draft if they want to and get the franchise quarterback. That they're looking for. They're content to go with Aaron Rodgers this year. Mason Rudolph's going to be the backup.
Will Howard, they'll develop along and see how he comes. But unless something crazy were to happen and he would have to get on the field and play well, I think they're setting themselves up to address the quarterback position in the draft next year. And uh in the meantime, saram in with as many good pieces as they can. When you think about the offense, we just heard a rumor last week that Aaron Rodgers wasn't happy with the New York Jets offense and their run game. We know the Steelers have kind of switched up their running back room and wide receiver now with D.K.
Metcalf, now bringing in also John U. Smith. How do you think Arthur Smith is going to round out this offense?
Well, I think they're going to look at trying to use John New Smith in a variety of ways. I don't think he's just going to be a straight pass-catching tight end. They have Pat Fryermuth available to do that. I think they plan on using Maybe John New Smith is a little bit in the backfield. They can put them out wide.
They can put them in the slot. They can use them in different areas. Because he's not, he doesn't have the size of most of the other Steeler tight ends. He's not a 280-pound guy, 6'4 or 5'. He's a smaller guy.
And I think they want to use him in a variety of ways and kind of make up for getting rid of George Pickens. They need a solid number two behind DK Metcalf. And there's nothing to say they can't use a wide tight end in that situation than a receiver, and I think they're going to plan to use. multiple tight end packages. and uh you know try to score points that way.
when you think about the defense or the defensive acquisition of Jalen Ramsey, what is he bringing to this team different from a Micah Fitzpatrick? What are the Steelers gaining with Ramsey? What have they lost with Minka?
Well, they're getting a great cover cornerback. You know, somebody that they can pair with Joey Porter Jr. on both sides. And you still have Darius Slay.
Now the question becomes: will Jalen Ramsey be used on the free safety? Will he place him in the slot? There's indications that the Steelers could use him in a variety of different ways. Right now, I would think Juan Thornhill would be given a chance to step up. and replaced Micah Fitzpatrick.
The Steelers signed him in free agency after he played in Cleveland last year. who's a former high pick of the Kansas City Chiefs. Yeah, I mean, I think with Micah Fitzpatrick, he is making a lot of money this year with a going to count about $22 million or more against the salary cap. And he really has one interception in two years. went twenty bucks straight games without one until snapping that last year.
And for a guy they're paying that kind of money and expect to make splashy plays in the secondary, he just didn't do that for whatever reason. And there were indications that there was a lot of communications breakdowns they talked about last year. And I think he might have been at the epicenter of that.
Well, moving forward, you think about one big star that there are rumors about him potentially moving on. It's TJ Watt. He's making a little more than twenty mil. We see some of the best edge rushers in the game are getting thirty five to forty million. How do you think his contractual situation is going to play out?
With today's trade happening. I say nothing's off the table now. I mean, I would have thought before this there's no way they're trading him. But if they get blown away by an offer, maybe they do. Maybe they do, you know.
part ways with TJ Watt. I I think that they have an offer out there to him. Jay Watt, the fact he hasn't accepted it shows that what he thinks of that offer. I think it's going to come down to whether he shows up to start training camp. or he does a hold in like he did a couple years ago when they had to reach a new deal.
I think the Steelers want to do everything they can to keep him with his team, and especially add him to this defense now that they've added Jalen Ramsey. they have a number. And the Steelers have been pretty much known to you know that they've got a way of doing business. They they have a value on each position. And unless they can get creative and make it work, I wouldn't be surprised to see CJ Watt traded I don't think it will happen, but based off what happened today, nothing would surprise me.
Wow. I mean, you you you think about TJ Watt and you think about the Steelers. He's the type of guy that you would expect to kind of finish his his career start and finish uh with the Steelers. You think it's a possibility. Wouldn't there be a massive fan revolt?
Why haven't they come to terms on a deal?
Well, there might be a fan revolt, but there's another segment that will tell you, quick to tell you, yeah, they've had TJ Watt for his entire career. He hasn't won a playoff game since he's been here. In the playoff game that he's played in, he was hurt for one against Buffalo a couple of years ago. He really hasn't done much. He hasn't been a standout player for them.
Yeah, he's put up great regular season stats. Won a Defensive Player of the Year award. Probably should have had two. But um yeah, come the postseason he really hasn't done all that much. And I think the fan base wants to see playoff wins as well.
And if Stealing TJ Watt is a way to make that happen. I think they would sign up for that any day. But then, but that would create a giant hole at outside linebacker on this defense, though. Yeah, Joe Rutter is here from the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Uh w what other moves can the Steelers make?
I mean, outside of moving TJ Watt, this is uh pretty much going to be the roster, no? I would think so. I still think there's a possibility they maybe try to add a veteran receiver. To the room before the start of training camp in three weeks. I think that's still, even though they got John New Smith now, I think they still maybe want to try to add another piece there.
So that wouldn't be surprising. There's not much left out there right now in free agency. But you know, they might kick the can on somebody like Akina Allen. You never know. You know, and look for anybody that's had any history in Arthur Smith's offense.
You like seeing the bring back. guys that he's working with before.
So that that could always be a possibility. But I think right now they're pretty much set. They've turned over a lot of this team. They only have four players left on offense. the playoff loss at Baltimore that play that will return to the same position they finished last season at.
So that's a lot of turnover right there, and they've gotten rid of four people on defense. They've they've remade a lot of this team.
Now you know, now they've got to put it together and see what happens to him. What are your thoughts on l let's say T J Watt is on the steam. What are your expectations for next year? Have they moved themselves into that kind of top tier of the AFC? Are they still kind of in that second run?
I think they're probably still in the second rung. I mean, it depends what Aaron Rodgers has left and how he can stay healthy the entire season. They've got some good young playmakers. They've drafted running back in the third round. They've got Jalen Warren taking on a bigger role.
But they do have kind of a void behind DK Metcalf at receiver, and they've got some good tight ends. But, you know, I think this offense is still going to be challenging score points, at least early in the season, while it all comes together. You know, they still probably have the third best quarterback in their division.
So that doesn't help. But I think they're better now than they were at the end of last season. And they made the playoffs and got you know had to go on the road then. I think they want to get a home playoff game. I think they're better positioned to do that this year, but they play in a very tough division, so it's not going to be easy.
How long before uh people start calling for Mike Tomlin to get the boot? It seems like a a ritual at this point in time, Joe.
Well, he's signing for three more years three years. I think it's through 2027. The Steelers don't like pay coaches not to be here, not to do their jobs.
So I think he'll be here to finish that out unless they come to some kind of mutual parting of the ways. But they have really made steps to really push their chips to the center of the table for this season. And there's going to be a lot of pressure on Mike Pullman if they don't get to the playoffs, win a game or two, get to the conference championship. He stuck his neck out and they've gotten a lot of guys he wanted to get like Aaron Rodgers. And if it still won't work, you know, that that's where the blame squarely falls.
We're going to see how this plays out. The Steelers certainly going to be a team to watch this upcoming season, and they got a big one to open up the year. Aaron Rodgers takes on his former team, the New York Jets. Hey, Joe, thank you so much for the time. Please tell everybody where they can follow you and your work.
Yeah, the Tribune Review in Pittsburgh, social media at X slash Twitter. It's at rib. Joe Rutter, R-U-T-T-E-R. Hey, Joe, thank you so much. We'll catch you on down the line, okay?
Sounds good anytime.
