Preface:

While it is too early to be talking about next year while we are fighting for a playoff spot I wanted to talk about how the team’s contracts are set up for next year to be a pivotal year.

Omar Khan put up a masterclass last offseason with good signings (excluding Trubisky extension) and a great draft class. Another good offseason from the Khan man would make the Steelers strong contenders depending on how Kenny plays.

OC:

Matt Canadas contract is expiring this year and I am assuming the team will move on from him. My pick for OC would be Detroit’s running or passing game coordinator. Detriot’s offense fits how Mike Tomlin wants to play with a strong run game and minimal turnovers.

Cuts:

Easy Cuts - Chuks and Allen Robinson would save about 10 mil each.

Protentional Cuts - Mason Cole would save about 5 mil and Mitch Trubisky about 3 mil.

Free Agency:

With the cuts and key positions on rookie deals - QB, WR (Pickens), T (B. Jones), and CB (JPJ), we will have some money to play around with.

Steelers Expiring Contracts - L. Wallace, M. Adams, K. Alexander, C. Sulivan, M. Golden and others that aren’t that important. I’m assuming most of these guys walk but a few would be worth bring back depending on the deal.

Positions to Target - LT or RT depending on where they put B.Jones, C, CB2, and WR3. This corner free agency class is looking solid so I’m hoping we could snag a good player and turn this secondary from a liability into a strength.

Draft:

This early in we don’t know how the prospects or this team will look before the draft but we know our positions of need right now.

I would target CB, C, and LB in the first 3 rounds. If there is a center worth taking in the first I hope Khan does what he can to grab that guy and get the leader of our O-line for the future (I don’t want to be missing on Creed Humphrey and Tyler Linderbaum again when center was a big need those draft years).

In the later rounds go best player available but we do need a saftey as K.Neal and D. Kazees contracts run out in 2025.

Kenny Pickett:

I’m not sold he is the guy but unless he starts losing us games in the later half of the season I see the Steelers rolling with him into next year with a new OC. Kenny has glaring issues with accuracy, reading the field, and pocket presence and those can not be blamed on Matt Canada. But he is still young and can turn it around. How far this team goes depends on Kenny’s play and I’m hoping Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan set him up for success.

Conclusion:

I know there is a lot of negativity surrounding this team right now but, if we can finish strong this year and take that momentum into next year with another strong offseason and another year for our good young players to develop, our window is wide open. TJ, Cam and Minka aren’t getting any younger and we will have to sign our young players to big contracts soon. The AFC north and the AFC in general is looking very competitive and we are going to need good play from Kenny if we have playoff ambitions. If all goes right 2024 and 2025 are our years to make some noise!

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