ESPN: Steelers Made Undeniable Mistake In 2026 Offseason That Will Truly Hurt The Offense

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2026 season and the success, or lack thereof, that occurs will depend a lot on quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The 42-year-old took months to finally decide that he wanted to commit to the team again. One of the biggest reasons as to why he simply didn't sail off into the sunset is because of the opportunity to play for Mike McCarthy one more time. There have been rumors for a long time that the two butted heads during their final seasons with the Green Bay Packers, but they have reunited in the Steel City with one goal in mind moving forward: a Super Bowl.

A lot of what happens for the Steelers will be because of a strong offense, or a weak one. The defense still has all of the talent in the world and will likely keep the collective in games, but the depth chart alongside Rodgers is looking relatively stout. It should be one of Pittsburgh's best offensive units in some time. It can't afford to be wasted if Rodgers is looking every bit of his age.

That's why Seth Walder of ESPN is extremely concerned about what the organization did in the 2026 offseason. In a recently published article analyzing each team's long breaks leading up until July, the analyst graded the Steelers at just a C+. His reasoning was rather simple, and it had everything to do with the four-time MVP signal-caller.

"There is strength to this roster, but the reason the Steelers are a long shot to contend for the AFC crown in 2026 is their quarterback," Walder wrote. "They chose to re-sign Rodgers on a one-year, $22.5 million deal. He is one of the all-time greats, but the last time he was even an above-average NFL quarterback was five years ago (granted, he was the MVP that season). The chances that he comes close to his previous level of greatness are very slim."

It's hard to argue with some of the points made, but it's also easy to note that Pittsburgh would probably be no better off with Will Howard or Mason Rudolph starting, especially in McCarthy's newly-implemented offense. The issue for Walder, however, is not about prioritizing Howard or Rudolph above Rodgers. He thinks the Steelers should have made a different move.

As he continued to knock the idea of bringing back the future Hall of Famer, Walder mentioned that Pittsburgh had free-agency options that would have put it in a better position to win now, and in the future.

"I understand the impulse to re-sign Rodgers and maintain a higher floor, but there was at least one realistic quarterback option who I felt was clearly superior -- Malik Willis, who comes with incredible upside," Walder noted. "Kyler Murray would have been preferable, too, but he was unlikely to choose Pittsburgh over Minnesota. Adding Drew Allar in the third round was a worthwhile dart throw at quarterback for the future."

It would have been very unlike the Steelers to sign someone like Malik Willis to a big-time contract, particularly because he hasn't fully proven himself at the professional level yet. As for Kyler Murray, it's easy to argue that Rodgers was still a better quarterback to focus on because of how well he knows McCarthy and his game plans.

Steelers Have To Be Hoping Rodgers Doesn't Take A Step Back

Father Time is a legitimate concern when it comes to Rodgers. He will turn 43 in December, so no one can be sure how his body will react to another full year playing in the NFL. It's unlikely that McCarthy would ruin their relationship by benching the quarterback, so Pittsburgh is going to be relying on him unless some kind of injury occurs. If the offensive line plays a little bit better and is stronger in pass protection, it might just work out.

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