It’s finally here. The NFL regular season kicks off tomorrow night, and the Steelers will be on TV not long after on Sunday afternoon.
The preseason was cool, but September football is the real thing. The next few weeks won’t determine any postseason standings, but they’ll give us our first real look at the teams we’ve been speculating about all summer.
As a result, it’s the last gasp of preseason predictions season, and Read & React has a full slate ahead of the NFL’s Week 1 slate. We’ll be repeating
what we did last year: looking at some Steelers and AFC North superlatives before our schedules are consumed by NFL football this weekend.
But first, we’ll be following up on some Cam Heyward contract drama, which is coincidentally also what our first question of R&R was a year ago:
At this time last year, Cam Heyward’s contract drama resolved with a new deal ahead of the season opener. This time, it could carry over into Week 1. Will he suit up versus the Jets?
RB: Heyward answered with a vague “we’ll see” regarding his status for Sunday’s game, but Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin seemed a lot more confident in his Tuesday press conference that the veteran defender would be in the lineup against the Jets.
To me, this feels like Heyward is trying to hold onto any leverage he can with the Steelers, but he will almost certainly be on the field Sunday afternoon. At 36 years old and still trying to make a push for his first career Super Bowl ring, it doesn’t make much sense for Heyward to purposefully miss any part of the season.
And that’s not even getting into how the fan-favorite defender could tarnish his legacy in Pittsburgh.
Relative to how well he played last year, Heyward has a very strong case to want a raise from the Steelers. But sitting out the season opener feels like a step too far, and Heyward probably knows that as well.
If anything, I expect both sides to come to a last-minute agreement ahead of the season opener once again.
RP: I’m not going to pretend to know what’s in Cam Heyward’s heart, but working off of 14 years’ worth of reputation, I have to agree with Ryland. It would be surprising if Heyward is not out on the field on Sunday.
This summer’s Heyward contract saga remains perplexing. Last year, when Heyward signed his extension, we highlighted that the Steelers essentially agreed to give Heyward an advance by converting money from 2025 into a signing bonus to be paid out in 2024. The move had little risk for the team as it made Heyward easily cuttable in the event his injury-plagued 2023 season carried over into 2024. The added years to his contract were not for the benefit of Heyward, but rather to spread out the cap hit if Heyward had been cut this offseason.
Some of this drama is on Heyward for agreeing to such a deal, but it’s not like he had a ton of leverage considering how poorly his 2023 had gone. An interior lineman turning in an All-Pro season at age 35 is not exactly a normal, expected outcome, especially after suffering through groin and core injuries the year prior.
But Heyward did agree, seemingly with the understanding that the team would renegotiate this summer, or at the very least, do a similar contract conversion, if his play warranted it. It’s hard to blame him for thinking an All-Pro performance was anything less than him going above and beyond the expectations the team had for him.
That makes Pittsburgh’s reticence to throw a little extra money his way so confusing. The Steelers are well below the cap limit, and have demonstrated they will not be making any final big moves to acquire another wide receiver. They extended T.J. Watt with a market-resetting deal despite Watt having a “down year” by his lofty standards. They’ve extended Jaylen Warren. Hell, even Omar Khan got an extension this summer.
Heyward has been a model player for the organization, achieving accolades for his actions on the field and off it, including winning the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Last season demonstrated that he is still among the league’s best, and paying him a little extra in 2025 wouldn’t hurt the team’s long-term goals. His current contract has no more guaranteed money, and his base salary is barely more than $1 million. What’s the argument against throwing a few more million dollars his way when the team isn’t currently spending it and can easily structure it in a cap-friendly way?
Maybe they sneak in an agreement before Sunday, and this becomes a non-issue. But if they don’t, I gotta say it’s an odd way to treat one of the signature Steelers of the past decade, especially after he’s continuously rewarded the organization’s faith in him.
Steelers Superlatives
Most Impactful Addition
RP: There’s a world where we look back on this offseason in a year or two and say it was one of the rookies like Derrick Harmon, Kaleb Johnson, or Yahya Black. The Steelers also made blockbuster moves to add DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey, not to mention signing a future Hall of Famer in Aaron Rodgers.
All of those players would be worthy choices, but if the Steelers can get a full, healthy season from right tackle Troy Fautanu, he’s the runaway answer for me.
Fautanu was supposed to be the key addition in 2024, but injuries derailed his season. Without him, the Steelers’ run game was inefficient – 4.1 YPC, tied for 7th-worst in the NFL – and ineffective last season. This year, the Steelers have brought in Rodgers, who has an impressive resume but who isn’t as mobile as he was in his youth. It goes without saying that the offensive line play is going to be crucial if the Steelers hope to have an improved offense in 2025.
Fautanu has shown in brief flashes what kind of impact he can have in both phases of the offense. If he can positively impact Pittsburgh’s ability to keep Rodgers clean and churn out an effective running game, it’ll be hard to argue anyone else made a bigger impact.
RB: Fautanu is a great choice and would probably be mine as well. However, for my answer, I’ll stick firmly with the letter of the law and choose from only draft picks and 2025 free agent signings.
In that case, I’ll go with new cornerback Jalen Ramsey. It remains to be seen just how much the Steelers will net in their secondary swapping Ramsey for Minkah Fitzpatrick this offseason, but Ramsey, who will play much closer to the line of scrimmage, should make a more noticeable impact from down to down.
Ramsey played in just nine snaps in the Steelers’ preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, but he still logged three solo tackles and a memorable tackle-for-loss-turned-penalty. He’s an uber-aggressive playmaker who will always be around the ball.
I’ve repeatedly said it: It’s hard to stress just how big of an upgrade Ramsey will be in the slot over what the Steelers have had in past seasons.
Plus, his safety and boundary versatility should help the Steelers’ defense in a variety of looks this upcoming season. I can’t wait to see what he brings to the team.
Most Explosive
RB: Yeah, it’s DK Metcalf. He’s 6’4, 229 pounds, and ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash coming out of college. Calvin Austin III is great, but Metcalf is essentially two Calvin Austins in a trench coat running as fast as one Calvin Austin. He’s one of the most insane size-speed freaks in the league.
Metcalf’s acceleration is uncanny for someone his size, and while he isn’t the perfect wide receiver, he’s all but guaranteed to get behind defenses for some big plays in the 2025 season.
RP: I like Bickley’s answer, but for the sake of variety, this category is where I’ll put Jalen Ramsey.
Metcalf has tantalizing speed for his size, but Ramsey wasn’t exactly struggling to keep pace with Metcalf in all their years as NFC West rivals. The two faced off in seven games from 2019-2022, with the Rams winning four of those matchups. Metcalf finished with less than 60 yards receiving in four of those seven games and failed to score a touchdown in five.
Ramsey is arguably the best corner of his generation, and if his utilization during training camp is any indication, he could be in for a reinvention in 2025. The Steelers will use Ramsey as a nickel defender in subpackages, at safety in base, and he’ll likely see some time outside as well if we are to believe Tomlin’s proclamations that Ramsey will follow the opponents’ best receiver. He’s expected to blitz more in addition to roaming around the formation. I’m looking forward to his playmaking abilities being put on display this year, and there are few things more explosive than a generational defensive back creating chaos for opposing offenses.
Most Reliable
RP: I’ll go with second-year center Zach Frazier. There isn’t a ton to say here that isn’t obvious to those who’ve been paying attention. Frazier became a Day 1 Starter for Pittsburgh and was immediately among the league’s best, culminating in PFF grading him as the sixth-best center in the NFL. Frazier already looks like the next up in a rich history of Pittsburgh centers.
RB: When I think of reliability and the 2025 Steelers, the first thought I have is kicker Chris Boswell, who nailed 41/44 field goal attempts last year en route to a well-deserved first-team All-Pro nod.
He had not one, but two instances where he was the team’s entire offense in a win last season, going six-for-six against both the Falcons and Ravens – and going three-for-three from 50-plus yards in each game.
Kicker is not a glamorous position, so Boswell will never be in the running for an award like team MVP. Therefore, when something like “most reliable” comes up, I’m giving the Wizard of Boz his flowers.
Best Fantasy Football Asset
RP: I’m a big believer in Johnson at his price (a consensus seventh-round pick), but I like to be certain as much as possible in fantasy, and I can’t confidently guarantee Tomlin won’t bring Johnson along slowly through September and October if Warren and Gainwell stay healthy.
I’m certain that DK Metcalf ( a consensus fifth-rounder) will get a lot of targets, what I’m not certain of is how well his connection with Rodgers will translate to fantasy.
Tight Ends Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith could potentionally cannabalize each others’ fantasy production.
As for Aaron Rodgers, is he going to:
A) be any good
B) cede volume to the Steelers running game?
C) surrender once and for all to the cold, ever-reaching embrace of Father Time?
There’s just too much uncertainty.
The asset I’m most certain about? The Steelers D/ST.
Just look at this opening slate of quarterbacks:
- WK1 – Justin Fields
- WK2 – Sam Darnold
- WK3- Drake Maye
- WK4 – JJ McCarthy
- WK6 – Joe Flacco/Dillon Gabriel/Shedeur Sanders
You’re telling me the Steelers can’t get some sacks and turnovers out of that bunch? And depending on how the season shakes out they could have more favorable matchups against:
- WK9 – Daniel Jones/Anthony Richardson
- WK12 – Caleb Williams
- WK15 – Is Tua injured?
- WK17 (Championship Round) – Whatever the Browns have going on at this point
Sign me up.
RB: DK Metcalf feels like the obvious answer here, but I think the Steelers’ running backs could be sleepers – especially Jaylen Warren early on as he’ll get the majority of snaps to open the season.
While the Steelers look primed to use a running back by committee approach in 2025, there’s still some built-in rushing volume in the Arthur Smith offense. But it’s the Aaron Rodgers addition that should help the Pittsburgh running back room’s fantasy value the most.
Rodgers loved to dump the ball off to his running backs in 2024 – Breece Hall had 57 receptions and the Jets running backs combined for 85 catches in total. In PPR leagues, this should mean profit.
Warren could be worth stashing to start the season, with Kaleb Johnson being a strong addition as his role grows over the next few months.
Most Entertaining Interview
RB: I might come to regret this choice, but the first name that came to mind is Aaron Rodgers. Keep in mind the prompt is “entertaining,” and I think there’s a good chance Rodgers will give Mike Tomlin a run for his money when it comes to creative phrasings in postgame press conferences.
Rodgers has been playing in the NFL since 2005 and has a lot of media experience. He answers questions with a mix of professionalism and a dry sense of humor that’s seemingly a hit with his teammates. I think we’ll get some memorable sound bites from the future Hall of Famer in 2025.
RP: Sorry, Bickley, but that’s a wild answer. I think most of us have been in a situationship or two where talking wasn’t necessarily the primary focus of the relationship. That’s certainly been the case for me with the Steelers’ starting quarterbacks since last summer. While I was over Russell Wilson’s manufactured uber-positivity schtick long before he got here – I live in the Seattle area after all – Rodgers is on the opposite end of the spectrum, with just as many eye-roll-inducing soundbites.
No, this year, my new favorite interview is Yahya Black. We don’t have a ton of sound bites from him yet, but what we have heard from him has been delightful.
Here he is, encouraging us all to free the gut and “let it hang.” That came up again during an appearance on Cam Heyward’s podcast, where Heyward and Keanu Benton were already trying to give the rookie a nickname inspired by a former Steelers legend.
While on that same episode of Heyward’s podcast, he shares a funny story about being drafted, and has the awareness and politeness to double-check how salty his language was allowed to be.
And even when he’s left speechless, Black has a way of making the people around him laugh.
Black also isn’t above taking a moment to support his community and appreciate life’s simple pleasures. Here is attending a local high school football game and taking in a beautiful sunset.
All in all, Black seems like a fun hang, and his instinct to crack a joke when a microphone is put in front of his face definitely earns him points in my book.
So I put it to you, Steelers beat reporters: get us more Yahya Black interviews. It’s what the Founding Fathers would want.
Late Bloomer (Player that will have a stronger second half of the season)
RB: This feels like the Kaleb Johnson category even if a couple of Steelers rookies could fit the description.
Johnson was listed as RB3 in the Steelers’ Week 1 depth chart – I cannot stress enough how not worried I am about this – but it does show that the rookie still has some room to grow. He’ll especially have to work on his pass protection and receiving ability if he wants to start cutting into Kenneth Gainwell’s snaps.
However, Johnson also offers something that neither Gainwell nor Jaylen Warren have: a big frame and no documented fumbling problems. An up and down preseason means Johnson probably won’t see significant snaps early on, but I think he’ll carve out a bigger role for himself as the season rolls on.
RP: This is the Kaleb Johnson category, no doubt about it. I’m already on record that I take issue with the idea that Johnson had an “up-and-down” preseason. No shots at Bickley here — I’ve heard plenty of Steelers fans share that take — but when the Steelers line did his job, Johnson proved reliable.
The Steelers’ backup offensive line played abysmally against Jacksonville, but got better as the preseason progressed. After that initial game, Johnson averaged 4.5 and 4.8 YPC, respectively, in the final two games of the preseason. Johnson’s 3.04 yards after contact per attempt was the fourth-best figure in the league for backs that had at least 20 carries in August, and his 90.1 score in PFF’s elusiveness metric was second best. The eight missed tackles he forced were tied for the most in the league by a running back, regardless of the number of carries.
Bickley is spot on in pointing out that Johnson’s larger frame sets him up for a role that Warren and Gainwell just can’t fill. The Steelers might slow-play him in the first half of the season, but I’m also highly skeptical that his RB3 designation on the depth chart is something we should take seriously. Tomlin isn’t above playing games with the media and opponents with depth charts, and I just can’t see a world where Johnson isn’t a big part of the Steelers’ plans this year. Warren’s 149 carries in 2023 are his career high, and his body was breaking down in 2024, when he managed just 120. Gainwell has never had more than 114 combined touches in a season. I lean towards Johnson at least getting north of 200 touches by seasons end, at minimum. Maybe I’m drinking the Kool-Aid, but I just don’t think the Steelers picked a big-framed, outside zone proficient running back just to have him collect dust on the bench.
AFC North Predictions (Non-Steelers)
Breakout Player
RP: This may come as a surprise, but I’m actually going to pick a Brown. Rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger out of UCLA was a fun study during the draft cycle and a player I bemoaned going to a division rival. He has a cool story as a zero-star recruit who was obsessed enough with the sport to walk-on with UCLA. He would end his college career by leading the Big Ten in tackles in 2024 and becoming a second-round pick. Linebacker is a tough position to adjust from college to the NFL, but the Browns have already named him a starter and I expect him to rack up a ton of tackles.
Honorable mentions: Malaki Starks (Ravens safety), JaJohntay Wester (Ravens punt returner), Tahj Brooks (Bengals running back), Harold Fannin Jr. (Browns tight end)
RB: Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins was a name I really liked last year entering the draft, and he turned in an incredibly promising rookie year with the Steelers’ AFC North rival in 2024. There were worries about how the 173-pound corner would hold up in the NFL, but Wiggins played in 15 games and his aggressive style of play and incredible closing speed were on display.
Wiggins was part of the Ravens’ turnaround from the worst secondary in the NFL to possibly the best last season, and the group – now with Malaki Starks and Jaire Alexander in the fold – should start on the right foot this year. Wiggins had some rough moments last season but finished the year strong, and I think he carries that momentum into a breakout 2025.
Two honorable mentions: former Washington Huskies teammates Troy Fatuanu (Steelers right tackle) and Roger Rosengarten (Ravens right tackle).
Biggest Headache (Offense)
RB: The Steelers’ defensive collapse against the Ravens’ run game in January’s wild card round was so bad that Pittsburgh turned around and drafted two defensive linemen and a run-stuffing outside linebacker in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson are each elite runners of the football, and on the same team they become even harder to defend. Pittsburgh held both at bay in the teams’ first meeting last season, but gave up a combined 519 yards on the ground in the following two matchups.
Following the draft, the Steelers look like they have more readymade treatments for that headache in 2025. In fact, they’ve historically played Lamar Jackson well. But after the humiliation to end last season, the Ravens’ rushing attack is the boogeyman No. 1 for the Steelers defense heading into the new NFL year.
RP: Ryland is on the money with this one. Baltimore’s running game embarrassed Pittsburgh late last season, and the scars they left were apparent by how the organization went about addressing the run defense this offseason.
But with that answer taken, I guess I’ll go with the 2024 triple crown winner, Ja’Marr Chase.
Through four seasons, Chase has 395 receptions, for 5,425 yards and 46 touchdowns. To put that another way, he’s averaging a stat line of 108-1,488-13 a season.
To use the parlance of our times: The dude’s a PROBLEM.
In the Steelers first meeting with the Bengals last season, Chase caught six balls for 86 yards and a touchdowns. The second time around? He put up 10 catches for 96 yards and another score.
If that’s not a headache, I don’t know what is.
Biggest Headache (Defense)
RB: Myles Garrett was my answer last year, and he had a combined four sacks in his two matchups with Pittsburgh in 2024. While there’s reason to expect the Steeler offensive line to improve this season, it’s still far from an elite unit and Broderick Jones remains a question at left tackle.
Garrett, as much as Steeler fans love to hate him, is one of the most elite defenders in the NFL. He’s the biggest defensive headache Pittsburgh will face in the AFC North this year.
RP: Garrett is a safe answer, as would be Trey Hendrickson with the Bengals, but I’m also going to repeat my answer from last year: Ravens’ safety Kyle Hamilton.
The Ravens reset the market this year for safety when they made Hamilton the highest paid at his position. And for good reason. Hamilton is a weapon on defense, capable of fullfilling nearly every role a defensive back could play for an NFL defense. In three games agaisnt the Steelers, Hamilton allowed a total of five catches for 25 yards and no touchdowns. He also added 21 tackles.
And with the Steelers emphasizing tight ends this year, Hamilton is likely the Raven that will be tasked with shutting them down.
We’ll have more AFC North superlative predictions coming in a staff article later this week!)
Join in on Steelers R&R by sharing your takes on this week’s topics. What are your thoughts on the Cam Heyward situation? Your picks for Steelers superlatives? Spiciest AFC North takes? Let us know in the comments! Feel free to pitch future questions in the comment section or on Twitter/X: tag @_Ryland_B or @RyanParishMedia.
