Steelers Encouraged To Take Aggressive Approach To A Much Needed Rebuild: "Rip The Roster Down"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are barely treading water, and that has been the case for the last few seasons. The false hope and mediocrity has kept the fan base engaged, but that spell has worn off, which was made abundantly clear as "boos" and nefarious chants reigned down at Acrisure Stadium in Week 13 for the firing of Head Coach Mike Tomlin. The crowd noise cut through the broadcast so that even fans who didn't make the trip to Pittsburgh were able to experience the pure frustration that was voiced from the Steelers' fan base. Hopefully that showing inspires some change within the organization, which could come during the 2025 offseason if the season continues on its current path.

The Steelers are trending downward, and that is evident from the team's 6-6 record. What's more telling is that the franchise is 2-5 in its last seven games, and the losses have been frustrating as there have been instances where the team is clearly being out-schemed, while failing to make proper adjustments on both sides of the ball. Fans have been wanting a true rebuild for a few seasons now, and ESPN Analyst Ben Solak advised the team to do so in a recent article.

"The evidence that Mike Tomlin is the leader to pull them from this spiral is diminishing rapidly," Solak wrote. "While I remain confident that Tomlin is a good coach (look at how many of the Steelers' young players or veterans on small contracts are positive contributors), it's clear that his overarching organizational philosophy needs modernization. If there ever was an offseason to trade Tomlin, rip the roster down to the studs and start to rebuild, it's this one."

Tomlin has always been said to get the best out of his players. That comes from his coaching archetype as a true motivator and player's coach, but his schematic philosophy is arguably severely outdated. The Steelers continue to look like they are years behind the rest of the NFL on both sides of the ball, and there are plenty of instances of former and current players saying the team is predictable and easy to figure out.

Solak suggests the organization strip the roster down to the studs and look for a way to trade Tomlin. This would be an ideal approach, but it is easier said than done. Tomlin has a no-trade clause in his contract, which means he would need to approve any trade the franchise would make. It is unclear if he would want to coach anywhere else, so that is a potential hurdle that would need to be jumped. The most recent example of a coaching trade came in 2023 when the Denver Broncos acquired Sean Payton from the New Orleans Saints for a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-round pick, while also receiving a 2024 third-round pick.

A return like that for Tomlin ahead of a potential rebuild would be ideal, but he does not have the label of being an offensive mastermind that Payton carries. His value would be somewhat difficult to determine, but a first-round pick shouldn't be out of the equation.

Steelers Have Difficult Contracts To Move

Stripping the roster down would arguably be a great move for Pittsburgh. This would include getting rid of bad contracts, while also bringing in draft capital via trades. The only issue is the sheer amount of bad contracts Pittsburgh has on its books. Contracts like TJ Watt's and DK Metcalf's would be hard to move on from without eating some of the cap hit, while a player like Alex Highsmith could be moved as his deal is not nearly as daunting.

Another player that could be dealt is Pat Freiermuth. Trading him would take some big money off of the books, and it would be helpful in extending a player like Darnell Washington who is an asset in the running game. Pittsburgh could then look to fill a potential hole at tight end through the NFL Draft.

What do you think about Solak's approach to a rebuild in Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments below!

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