The Pittsburgh Steelers have watched the Baltimore Ravens make major moves on a couple of occasions. Ahead of the 2024 season, the Ravens brought in superstar running back Derrick Henry, and that certainly made their offense a nightmare to try and slow down. Steelers fans have had to sit back and watch the Ravens continue to make wise offseason additions that improve their roster.
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Former Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons sets up near the line of scrimmage and prepares to rush the quarterback during a professional football game.
Apparently, they almost became an unstoppable defensive force, as superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons wanted to go play in Baltimore. The idea of Parsons joining the Ravens would have been devastating for the Steelers and the entire AFC North. Baltimore already boasts one of the most physical and well-coached defenses in the league, and adding a generational pass rusher like Parsons would have taken them to another level.
According to an article posted by ESPN, NFL insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano revealed that Parsons wanted to go play for the Ravens, but the Dallas Cowboys were focused on getting the greatest return, and the deal never happened. The Steelers were fortunate to avoid what could have been a nightmare scenario in their division.
"A few notes from the Parsons fallout," Fowler and Graziano said. "One team that inquired about Parsons' availability, but ultimately didn't pursue aggressively was Carolina. The Panthers made a call, but did not formally offer a trade package to Dallas. Carolina would have made sense because the Cowboys were looking for a premier defensive tackle, which Carolina has in Derrick Brown."
It wasn’t just the Ravens that Parsons wanted to play for. He was also very intrigued by the idea of joining the Kansas City Chiefs, and it’s hard to blame him for that.
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Former Dallas Cowboys superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons roams the field before training camp.
However, this shows just how fortunate NFL fans are that Parsons didn’t end up in Kansas City.
"In our reporting, multiple team execs believed that Parsons was intrigued by several teams in the process, including the Ravens and Chiefs," Fowler and Graziano said. "This was moot -- the Cowboys were focused on getting the best deal they could. And the Chiefs were never in it. But it's noteworthy nonetheless."
Instead, Parsons ended up being traded to the Green Bay Packers, where he will continue to dominate as one of the best defensive players in the NFL. Of course, Parsons biggest concern right now is getting to full health.
For Steelers fans, the close call serves as a reminder of just how quickly the balance of power in the division could shift. Avoiding Parsons in purple and black was a massive break, and it keeps the door open for Pittsburgh to remain competitive in what is shaping up to be one of the toughest divisions in football.
Steelers Can Win The AFC North In 2025
In the 2024 season, it seemed like the Steelers were going to walk away with the AFC North title. However, a late-season losing streak caused that to slip out of their hands very quickly. The Steelers entered the 2024 season being doubted, and Mike Tomlin almost had them winning what is widely considered the toughest division in football.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin (right) and Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh talk during warmups before the game at Heinz Field on September 30, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The way the 2024 season unfolded and spiraled out of control is certainly weighing heavily on the minds of Tomlin and the entire franchise. The Steelers have a very real opportunity to win the AFC North in 2025, and many fans are desperate to see that happen. Especially with the way the playoff loss to the Ravens went to end the year.
What would your reaction have been had the Baltimore Ravens found a way to land Micah Parsons? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.
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