Nobody will blame the Pittsburgh Steelers fans for thinking, what are Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan up to? They let Russell Wilson and Justin Fields join other teams, creating a void at the starting quarterback spot. And just when everyone assumed adding DK Metcalf was a sign of improvement, George Pickens was traded to the Dallas Cowboys.
It’s easy to worry about the team, which is among the few blue-chip franchises in the NFL. Tomlin has run the team with an iron fist since taking over, never experiencing a losing season.
However, the flurry of exits and the search for a quarterback point to the Steelers dropping out of the playoff race for the first time in a while. On paper, it’s a worrying trend and a future to look forward to. But what if it isn’t? What if most of the Steelers’ fans are not seeing the bigger picture?
Khan and Tomlin are playing the longer game. They are hoarding draft picks to rebuild the team next year. Perhaps former Steeler Ryan Clark was correct when he said that the Steelers need to hit the reset button.
Owner Art Rooney dropped a small teaser about their master plan to conquer the NFL once again in January.
Obviously, we will be looking at the draft—either this year or next year. [The quarterback position] has to be the priority.
Art Rooney said via 93.7 The Fan
According to the data from the Steelers’ official website, they have a total of 12 picks (owned and compensatory picks).
Pittsburgh Steelers projected 2026 draft picks:
How did the Steelers acquire the draft picks?
The Steelers owned one pick each in the first, second, and third rounds in the 2026 draft, scheduled to be held in Pittsburgh. They received a third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick courtesy of the Pickens trade, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter .
Khan admitted that the Steelers’ free agency decisions (letting Wilson, Fields, Donte Jackson , Dan Moore Jr. , and Najee Harris leave) were made keeping the compensatory draft picks in mind. The Steelers are set to receive a total of four comp picks in the 2026 draft. This will put the AFC North side near the top of the draft value chart.
By giving up Wilson and Fields, the Steelers bagged fourth- and fifth-round picks. Now, if they meet certain criteria, such as Wilson playing more than 10 games ahead of Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart, then the fifth will automatically turn into a fourth-rounder, making it three picks in the fourth.
The ball is in the Steelers’ court. If the idea is to tank, then they should forget about pursuing Rodgers at this point, even though all signs lead to him becoming their quarterback. Mason Rudolph and rookie Will Howard should be able to manage the quarterback room for one year.
There’s an upside to this theory, too. If either Rudolph or Howard can handle the pressure of starting nearly 17 games, then the Steelers can scratch off drafting a quarterback in next year’s draft and stick with them. If not, then, as Rooney mentioned, a quarterback would be their priority above any other position.
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