Following the 2025 NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers made many changes: even though they made the playoffs, they parted ways with Mike Tomlin and began a new era.
Mike McCarthy was the hire, and they made a lot of other additions and exchanges in the months after the season came to a close.
Now, as July is about to begin, the Steelers received a letter grade from ESPN's Seth Walder for their 2026 NFL offseason. It was a bit lackluster of a grade, and it was due to Aaron Rodgers and Michael Pittman.
"Pittsburgh Steelers: C+," Walder writes. "... Move I disliked: Trading for Michael Pittman. ...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 is clearly not a fan of the Rodgers signing, which was a one-year, $22.5 million deal to bring Rodgers back for a second season, and what's likely the last of his Hall of Fame NFL career.
But, as fun a player to watch as Rodgers can be, "The chances that he comes close to his previous level of greatness are very slim," Walder writes.
Walder called the Pittman trade a "mistake," as the $24 million contract for Pittman is a bit too much, especially when they could've signed someone like Wan'Dale Robinson for $17.5 million per-year.
But, it wasn't all bad for the Steelers, as they still received a C+ grade, and not a D or an F. The Jamel Dean signing, a three-year, $36.75 million deal, was one that Walder liked.
Since other corners around the NFL earned more than what Dean got from the Steelers, the $36.75 million signing looks like more of a steal than it might seem in a vacuum.
Add in Nick Herbig's $100 million contract extension, and the Steelers' offseason was a very interesting one. Not to mention their 2026 NFL Draft class.
They lost out on Makai Lemon, with the Philadelphia Eagles jumping in front of the Steelers to take the standout USC WR.
Pittsburgh took offensive tackle Max Iheanachor in Round 1, then found their rookie WR in Alabama's Germie Bernard in Round 2. But the whole Lemon debacle, which played out on social media and TV, didn't exactly paint a great picture.
The Jaquan Brisker signing was a nice one, as was the Asante Samuel Jr. addition. Along with Dean, the Steelers' defense looks to be very promising for the 2026 season.
But, with a shaky offense, it's understandable why Walder wasn't the biggest fan of the offseason moves made by the Steelers.
A C+ grade for the Steelers for their 2026 offseason is a very fair grade, as they've made a lot of moves, some good, some bad, but overall, likely not enough to matter in pursuit of a Super Bowl, and not bad enough to land the No. 1 overall pick either.
