It is unfair to imagine that Aaron Rodgers will land with the Steelers. As a result of something can occur with Rodgers. Even after the Vikings dedicated to J.J. McCarthy, additionally they concurrently left the door open for Rodgers. So … who is aware of?
However that is type of the purpose.
The Steelers selected this path for themselves. They usually’d be silly to have anticipated something completely different. (Rodgers did precisely this to the Jets.) So I would say the Steelers’ dedication to Rodgers is, unto itself, an indication of desperation. They determined to not re-sign Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Neither QB lit it up at a sustained clip. Neither was dangerous. And if longtime coach Mike Tomlin wasn’t incomes the fame of Jeff Fisher 2.0, I feel the Steelers may need settled for an additional 12 months with a kind of guys. However as a result of the Steelers win 10 video games each season and nil video games nearly each offseason, Tomlin appears to be urgent at QB.
It isn’t nearly Rodgers, by the best way.
The Steelers traded for receiver DK Metcalf, one of the crucial explosive playmakers within the NFL. His physicality and athleticism are what make him superlative, and he is 27 years previous, maybe within the closing years of his prime. It is a comparable story with cornerback Darius Slay, 34, a free-agent addition who’s fairly clearly previous his prime.
To be clear, I just like the additions of Metcalf and Slay. They’re premium gamers at premium positions. There’s all the time threat. I’d’ve preferred to have seen the Steelers bolster their offensive line, however perhaps that is coming within the draft.
However the Steelers are type of performing like their 10-win streak is a foul factor. It is truly an enviable place. Simply ask the Patriots or Browns or Jaguars.
The Patriots do not like dropping. This offseason exhibits they actually do not like dropping.
New England fired Invoice Belichick after his third sub-.500 season throughout his two-decade tenure with the group. In 2024, the Patriots fired their coach once more, this time jettisoning Jerod Mayo for a 4-13 file in his first season.
Below new coach Mike Vrabel, the Patriots started working in free company to show issues round. New England basically stated to its fan base: You wanna get nuts. Let’s get nuts. To this point, the Patriots have spent $220 million in assured {dollars} on the entire class (together with to retain their very own free brokers). On the subject of new gamers, New England is as much as $365.2 million in new contract {dollars} with $196.3 million assured. When including within the gamers the Patriots retained in free company, it comes out to $220.6 million in ensures.
So let’s take a look at the names: defensive deal with Milton Williams; receiver Stefon Diggs; cornerback Carlton Davis; linebackers Harold Landry and Robert Spillane; offensive linemen Morgan Moses, Garrett Bradbury and Wes Schweitzer; quarterback Joshua Dobbs; and edge K’Lavon Chaisson — amongst others.
New England largely rebuilt its protection in Vrabel’s picture after the Patriots allowed the Eleventh-most factors in 2024 (24.5). However I assumed they’d be extra aggressive on offense, the place they have been third-worst in scoring, with simply 17 factors per recreation. It is doable New England is not achieved including on Drake Maye’s facet of the ball.
What’s clear is that New England would not anticipate to get pushed round on the sector or within the standings within the years to return. The Patriots paid handsomely to be sure that would not occur anymore.
Previous to becoming a member of FOX Sports activities as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years overlaying the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Observe him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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