ESPN Analyst Calls This the Weakest Steelers Roster Under Mike Tomlin Following George Pickens Trade
The Pittsburgh Steelers are typically focused on immediate success, but several of their moves this offseason suggest a shift toward building for the future. Most notably, the reported trade of wide receiver George Pickens for a 2026 third-round draft pick has led many to believe the team has weakened its roster for the 2025 season.
ESPN analyst Matt Miller expressed strong concerns about the current state of the team, writing on X (formerly Twitter):
“This is the worst Steelers roster of the Mike Tomlin era.”
Given the current uncertainty surrounding quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Miller’s criticism seems valid—particularly when evaluating the offense. Mason Rudolph is currently expected to lead an offense featuring DK Metcalf and a collection of lesser-known receivers, which doesn’t inspire much confidence. Running back Jaylen Warren is solid but not elite, and there’s limited expectation that rookie Kaleb Johnson can carry a heavy load right away.
Should Rodgers officially sign and if the offensive line shows notable improvement, there’s a path for the offense to outperform last year’s. But that outcome depends on several optimistic assumptions.
Defensively, there’s less concern, though the unit is aging. T.J. Watt turns 31 in October, Cam Heyward just hit 36, and Minkah Fitzpatrick will be 29 in November. The team did strengthen the defense by adding players like Darius Slay, Derrick Harmon, Juan Thornhill, and Jack Sawyer, all of whom are expected to contribute immediately.
Historically, there have been other weak Steelers rosters, such as in 2019 after Ben Roethlisberger’s injury or during the 2021–2022 transition period when the offensive line overhaul failed and the team cycled through quarterbacks like Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett. Some of the early 2010s defenses also lacked high-end talent.
If Aaron Rodgers doesn’t join the team, the 2025 roster could rank among the least competitive of Mike Tomlin’s 19-year tenure. That said, reports suggest Rodgers may still sign sometime this month, which could dramatically shift the outlook for the season.
