From Aaron Rodgers to George Pickens, what's the Steelers' plan?

In a vacuum, there is a logical explanation for every one of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason moves. GM Omar Khan has made a series of good decisions.

On the trade market, the Steelers splashed by adding receiver DK Metcalf, an elite playmaker who essentially cost a second-round pick. Why the heck not?

In free agency, they made several deals with depth players, but the highlight was signing veteran cornerback Darius Slay. He's a star for their defense at a premium position. Again, why the heck not?

The Steelers drafted DT Derrick Harmon, RB Kaleb Johnson and DE Jack Sawyer over the first four rounds. Harmon might end up being the best defensive tackle in the draft class. Johnson is supposed to be the second coming of Najee Harris, whom the Steelers let walk in free agency. Sawyer was a terrific value in Round 4, and he’ll go into that impressive pass-rush pipeline behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Pittsburgh passed on Shedeur Sanders four times (along with everyone else), but the Steelers did draft a QB: Will Howard out of Ohio State. So yeah, why the heck not?

On Wednesday, the Steelers agreed to terms on a trade sending receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. Pickens was reportedly a huge headache for Mike Tomlin. And that’s saying something, because Tomlin put up with Antonio Brown for nine years. Tomlin sold high on Brown, Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and, perhaps, now Pickens. Plus, it explains further why the Steelers traded for Metcalf and drafted receiver Roman Wilson last year on Day 2. And if the Steelers were going to sell on Pickens, it makes some sense to add to their warchest of 12 picks in 2026, when they'll be equipped to