Dan Graziano of ESPN did not hold back on the Pittsburgh Steelers during Thursday's episode of Get Up . He thinks the Steelers have overrated their roster over the last few years, especially on defense.
"I don't think the defense underachieved; that defense was getting old and played like an old defense last year," Graziano said. "Are they going to make major changes on that side of the ball? It doesn't look like it."
Mike Greenberg respects that the Steelers do things differently in regards to likely bringing 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers back.
"They're sort of the opposite of what sports have become today, and there's a part of me that respects it," Greenberg said. "Which is they're looking and saying, 'Our best chance to win as many games as we can is probably Aaron Rodgers , so rather be as bad as we can, which I understand why what fans want. Rather than that, I'm going to go out and try to win as many games as we can."
Graziano replied, "You have to be honest with yourself about what you have. I think the Steelers overrated their roster the last couple of years. And think, 'Oh, we're a quarterback away from contending with the rest (of the league). I don't think that defense is that anymore."
The Steelers had the most expensive defense in the league last year, spending $162.8 million. The defense certainly did not live up to expectations and fell well short of the "historic" expectations.
Former Steelers free safety and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark chimed in and said it looks like the Steelers are staying status quo on defense. Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward signed a contract extension that will reduce his salary cap hit in 2025. Heyward, who turns 37 in May, will now play under a two-year contract worth a total of $32.25 million for 2026 and 2027,
"They already re-signed Cam, so it seems like they're going to try to reload with the players that they had last last year," Clark said.
Clark also added that the Steelers have changed their philosophy in recent years when it comes to building through the draft.
"Another thing you have to realize, the Steelers are totally opposite of what they used to be. They were a draft, develop and re-sign team. Now they've become a team that goes big-game hunting."
Clark makes a valid point. The Steelers did not draft well at the end of Kevin Colbert's tenure with the Steelers. Omar Khan has had some solid draft hauls in his first three years but getting fresh young talent is much needed. The Steelers certainly played like an old defense last year.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Have the Steelers Overrated Their Roster?
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