Former All-Pro Sees 'Huge Contenders' In Steelers Due To Aggressive Approach

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a strange team heading into the 2025 season as the NFL-world doesn't really know what to expect from the new-look roster. The offense made significant improvements at both wide receiver and quarterback, while the offensive line is also expected to take a significant step forward. Additional moves made throughout the roster have a large portion of the fan base feeling fairly optimistic for the outcome of the season, but no one will know what this team is truly capable of until the season is underway.

Opinions on the 2025 season vary quite a bit. Some believe the team can become legitimate Super Bowl contenders, while others believe Head Coach Mike Tomlin will finally have a losing season. Someone who is a believer in the 2025 Steelers is former All-Pro running back Maurice Jones-Drew. He spoke on the pregame show on Thursday on NFL Gameday, and he shared his thoughts on Pittsburgh. He believes the team can be a huge contender, which is pretty high praise.

"I believe they're a huge contender," Jones-Drew said. "The reason being is, the pieces they've added to win their division, right. You've added defensive tackles, corners, you've added these guys that, if you're playing the Baltimore Ravens, you've got to be able to do what? Stop the run. You have to stop the run. You've added that piece. If you're playing the Cincinnati Bengals, guess what else you have to do? You have to slow down that offense. You've added these pieces to go out and do these things."

One of the most important things to do during the regular season is win the division. Pittsburgh has not been able to do that since the 2020 season. It is the best way to go about getting a home playoff game, which would hopefully propel the Steelers on a deep postseason run. Jones-Drew believes Pittsburgh is in good position to do that, especially after what they have added to the roster to combat the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Pittsburgh got embarrassed on the ground against the Ravens during the playoffs at the end of the 2024 season. Baltimore nearly put up 300 yards in the win, and Cincinnati has arguably the best wide receiver duo in the league. Pittsburgh added big guys up front like Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black to help shut down various rushing attacks, and the addition of guys like Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey are going to help slow down elite wide receivers that could torch Pittsburgh through the air.

Jones-Drew expects a big jump from the defense, and scoring points to come a bit easier for the offense. Hopefully he is right in his predictions, because the fan base has been anxious for a singular playoff win for nearly a decade.

Steelers' Defense Is Expected To Be Dominant

Jones-Drew's prediction heavily relies on the defense stepping up and not crashing at the end of the year like it did in 2024. The unit needs to be strong throughout the entire season. If it can do that, it has the potential to be one of the best defensive units in the NFL. The former running back thinks if the defense is great, Pittsburgh has a chance to achieve its goal of winning a Super Bowl.

"To me, it's the defense that's gonna make the biggest jump," Jones-Drew said. "If they can have a great defense, they have a chance."

Tomlin also has high expectations for the defense going into 2025. This displays his confidence in the unit, and what exactly it has the potential to be.