It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for a weekly Steelers links roundup at BTSC. But first, let’s take a look around the AFC North:
- Ravens to sign former Colts center Danny Pinter (Baltimore Beatdown)
- Bengals still interested in Joe Flacco, despite Josh Johnson signing (Cincy Jungle)
- Browns FA: Grading the signing of Zion Johnson (Dawgs by Nature)
Now, onto some Steelers news and discussion:
Steelers legend, Hall of Famer Rod Woodson ‘tired’ of Aaron Rodgers waiting game: ‘They need to move forward’
(From NFL.com’s Grant Gordon): “Is he gonna play? Listen, I get kinda tired of it,” Woodson said during a recent appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. “Listen, if he’s gonna play, say he’s gonna play, he’s gonna come back. And the team shouldn’t wait for Aaron Rodgers. They need to move forward.”
While it’s safe to say the Steelers
have a better idea of what the Aaron Rodgers plan is moving forward than those outside the circle, another offseason of will-he, won’t-he with the veteran quarterback can be a bit annoying. Rest assured, Steelers great and Hall of Fame Rod Woodson feels the same way.
Joey Porter Jr. recruited him, his mom cried happy tears — Jaquan Brisker’s Steelers homecoming is a feel-good story
(From PennLive’s Nick Farabaugh): Brisker has lots of quirks that identify him as someone who grew up in Pittsburgh. He calls the locally-iconic Pittsburgh pizza shop, Mineo’s, the best in the city. While he did not go to Latrobe to see Steelers training camp, he recalled playing there in high school while at Gateway. Brisker is even calling back to his hometown roots by wearing the No. 3, his high school number.
An outspoken player on the field, Brisker is also sentimental. Behind the scenes, he is someone who embraced the role of. being a captain while at Penn State. His journey went through the JUCO ranks, starting at Lackawanna College before transferring to the Nittany Lions. That built character, and it made his second NFL contract that much sweeter.
A worthwhile piece from Farabaugh on the Steelers’ newest safety, who has plenty of Pittsburgh connections.
WR Michael Pittman fired up to join ‘gritty’ Steelers: ‘Pittsburgh is my style of football’
(From NFL.com’s Bobby Kownack): “I don’t want to give up his secret sauce, but it was very positive and diversifying the things that I can do,” Pittman said of chatting with McCarthy. “Because, obviously, in Indy, I played a certain role there. You were asked to play a certain role. Like, you gotta do it. So [now I’m] just getting back to where I have more of a diverse route tree.”
I found this tidbit on Michael Pittman Jr. interesting. While the receiver has had nothing but positive things to say about his time with the Colts, he does seem interested in having a more diverse role with the Steelers. Playing in a stacked skill position group with Indianapolis in 2025, he wasn’t a central piece of the passing game.
Kenneth Gainwell reveals why he left Steelers
(From WPXI’s Chris Ward): When speaking with the Tampa Bay media on Thursday, Gainwell explained why he left the Steelers for the Bucs.
“It was a great option for me,” Gainwell said. “I wanted to be here last year, but you know, I am just happy to be here now. It was a great opportunity for me back in the South where I am from and just come here.”
It remains to be seen whether or not the Steelers made a push to keep Gainwell, but it appears that Tampa Bay was a dream destination for the running back last year. While contract size still seems to be the top factor in whether or not a player signs with a franchise, their team fit preferences also play a role.
Steelers first round target may slide after alarming health update
(By Still Curtain’s Blaze O’Block): Even with that addition, there is still room to add more talent at the position, and the Steelers drafting a wide receiver in the first round is still not out of the question. One potential prospect who could have been in play at pick number 21 may now see his draft stock slide to Day 2 after news surfaced of a recent knee procedure that could raise some red flags for teams considering investing a first-round pick.
On Monday, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that KC Concepcion recently underwent a knee scope that was described as routine and preventative. The procedure is not considered serious, and he is expected to be fully ready for the rookie minicamp.
Concepcion has been gaining buzz as a Steelers’ first-round pick option in 2026 as his instant separation skill set complements the Pittsburgh wide receiver room well. Reportedly, he had a knee issue which could affect his draft stock, although Steelers general manager Omar Khan hasn’t shied away from picking prospects with injury histories in the past.
Concepcion recorded 61 for 919 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025 with Texas A&M.
Steelers give new additions a warm welcome
(From Steelers.com’s Teresa Varley): “He’s a players’ coach,” said Dowdle. “He’s a great leader. He can lead his team. He is from Pittsburgh, so I know he loves that. You have your guy here. It would mean more to him to hold that trophy up here in Pittsburgh.
“Pittsburgh is a great football place. When you hear Pittsburgh, you think football.
“Even when I played for Coach McCarthy back in Dallas, when we were talking about Pittsburgh, when we came here and played he would tell us about the atmosphere, the fan base. Getting back with Coach McCarthy, that was a big factor.
Similarly to Mike Tomlin before him, McCarthy has a reputation as a players’ coach in the NFL, and his presence on the Steelers seems to have been a draw for some free agents.
Steelers Captain Cam Heyward Re-Elected to Prestigious NFLPA Post
(From SteelersNow’s Alan Saunders): Heyward was first elected to the executive committee on a two-year term in 2024. He was re-elected this year to serve a one-year term.
… The union is expected to select a new executive director this offseason. While players must be active in the NFL to serve on the executive committee, the executive director is expected to be the long-term leader of the union.
Heyward returns to a NFLPA leadership role ahead of a big season for the players’ union. He recently signed an extension with the Steelers, signaling he’ll be playing his age-37 season in Pittsburgh.
The NFLPA’s Board of Player Representatives named former Browns center JC Tretter as the executive director on Tuesday, a move that hasn’t been received that well, to say the least, from current and former players.
Ten best moves of 2026 NFL offseason so far: Trades, free-agent signings boost Rams, Dolphins, Steelers
(From NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha): 10) Pittsburgh Steelers trade for WR Michael Pittman Jr. Pittsburgh still needs to figure out what to do with its quarterback situation (again), but there’s no question that the job should be more attractive with Pittman coming to town following a trade with Indianapolis. … Pittman will make life easier for everyone with his ability to do the dirty work on underneath routes. Is that enough to keep Aaron Rodgers from walking away from football? Who knows? This much is clear: the Steelers will have a better passing game for whomever ends up under center.
The Steelers’ Micah Pittman Jr. trade has been drawing praise as one of the best moves of the offseason up to this point. Pittman caught 80 passes for 784 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025.
5 Steelers who could get the next big contract extension
(From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac): Boswell, 35, enters his 12th season with the Steelers and would appear to be the most likely to receive a contract extension, one that would put him at or near the top of the league at his position.
… But it might be a crowded free-agent market in 2027 because four other top-paid kickers will be unrestricted free agents after this season, including Brandon Aubrey of the Dallas Cowboys.
The two-time Pro Bowler is entering the last year of his four-year, $20 million contract with the Steelers. He made 27 of 32 field goal attempts and 42 of 43 extra point attempts in 2025.
Should the Steelers extend Chris Boswell?
Boswell’s current $5 million per-year average ranks 12th among NFL kicker salaries, but over the past several seasons he’s been one of the best — if not the best — at his position. He’s been largely automatic, and one of the most important factors in Pittsburgh’s winning season streak under Mike Tomlin.
If not for being a kicker, Boswell — the sixth-most accurate kicker in NFL history — would probably have a strong case for multiple team MVP awards at this point. He’s mastered the difficult kicking conditions of the Steelers’ Acrisure Stadium, and has kicked with over 80% accuracy from 50-plus yards over his career.
Although Boswell is getting up there in age, he plays a position where he can still be a quality player for several seasons post-age 35.
Plus, the kicker market just isn’t that expensive. The Texans recently made Ka’imi Fairbairn the league’s highest-paid specialist at $6.5 million per year, just $1.5 million more than Boswell’s current average.
The Steelers should do right by extending one of their most reliable players in recent years, giving Boswell a raise and locking up the star kicker for the next few years. Even if Boswell wants to become the league’s highest-paid kicker, it won’t be much of a cap burden at all for Pittsburgh. This shouldn’t be a difficult decision.
Should the Steelers extend Chris Boswell? Join the BTSC community and let us know in the comments!
