PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin hasn’t spoken publicly in more than two months despite a couple of things happening with the Pittsburgh Steelers since the end of the season.
It’s not unusual for Tomlin to go to radio silent.
Actually, it’s an annual thing for Tomlin to wait until the NFL owners’ meetings to speak about his team during the AFC coaches’ breakfast on Monday morning — an event that he’s always fashionably late for, seemingly by design.
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Tomlin will break his silence on Sunday at the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes in Orlando, Fla., where he will sit down with a handful of outlets and go over in great detail — for the only time this offseason — the direction of the organization since the season ended with yet another first-round playoff loss.
General manager Omar Khan and owner Art Rooney II are also expected to talk, so we should get a good cross section of the what, when and why of the offseason.
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Here are 10 things we need to see from the Steelers or hear from Tomlin, Khan and Rooney during the meetings, knowing that legitimate answers will be few and far between. But you have to ask, right?
1. Was going after Russell Wilson always the plan?
I’m sure Tomlin will make it sound like a quarterback the caliber of Wilson being available at such a meager price ($1.2 million) forced them to at least reach out to him, but it should be entertaining to see how he spins the reason why Wilson is now the Steelers’ starting quarterback. Looking back on it now, it makes sense. When Ben Roethlisberger retired two years ago, Tomlin was said not to want to start over with a young quarterback, then the Steelers drafted Kenny Pickett. Having a chance to go with a proven leader and winner with experience has to be at the top of the list of why the Steelers decided to reach out to Wilson in the first place. Surely the price tag was enticing, but that couldn’t have been everything. Tomlin’s face at Wilson’s introductory news conference said more than he will likely say with his words.
Follow-up: What sold you on Wilson, is he the sure-thing Day 1 starter and can you envision an extension looming?
Mike Tomlin loving himself some Russell Wilson. pic.twitter.com/E3AU34Q7zU
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) March 16, 2024
2. What is the long-term plan with Justin Fields?
Fields was acquired for a conditional sixth-round pick a day after the Steelers traded Pickett. He’s owed just over $3 million for this year, and a decision will have to be made about his future with the team within the next six weeks — whether to pick up a fifth-year option that is expected to be around $25 million for 2025, extend him, or let it ride and see what the year brings. Fields is uber-talented but needs some polishing. Do the Steelers view him as the potential franchise quarterback of the future or a cheap option as a backup? Once again, there is a limited possibility that Tomlin and/or Khan will speak in absolutes about Fields other than an opportunity presented itself to get a former first-round quarterback with potential.
Follow-up: What would have to happen for Fields to be the Week 1 starter and could you envision a Fields-specific package in the offense?
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3. How did having “full faith” in Kenny Pickett turn into trading him within weeks?
What led to the quick turnaround from Tomlin calling Pickett the No. 1 quarterback heading into the offseason to Khan saying he had “full faith” in Pickett to trading him five days after Wilson tweeted that he was signing with the Steelers? Deep down, Tomlin has to feel betrayed by Pickett. There wasn’t a chance that passed during his first two seasons that Tomlin didn’t speak glowingly of Pickett. From the “football justice” quote to calling him a “winner,” Tomlin loved Pickett. What changed from then until now? Nobody could’ve foreseen Pickett being so angry that he requested a trade after putting together one of the best preseasons in team history a few months earlier.
Follow-up: At what point did Tomlin know something was wrong and Pickett had to be moved?
Kenny Pickett on the report he refused to dress as the 3rd QB for the Steelers v Seattle
Says he feels how it’s being portrayed is not true and everything that week went as it was planned #Eagles pic.twitter.com/EbUQUzBbfa
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) March 18, 2024
4. What is the plan at center? And if it is in the draft, how can you be sure your guy will be there and he’ll be ready to start Week 1?
With all the focus put on Wilson, Fields, linebacker Patrick Queen and the potential courting of Brandon Aiyuk/Terry McLaurin, there’s a huge issue facing the Steelers on the offensive line. They have no experienced center, and the free-agent market has pretty much dried up. There has to be a plan that goes beyond Nate Herbig, who has fewer than 60 career snaps at center, or moving James Daniels out of the right guard spot he played well last season to a position he hasn’t played since 2019. It has to be more of a plan than just hoping Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson is there at pick No. 20 or West Virginia’s Zach Frazier falls to them with pick No. 51. Even if one of them falls, can you count on them starting in Week 1? That would be short-sighted, but maybe that is the plan.
Follow-up: Is Spencer Anderson and/or the return of Mason Cole an option?
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5. What attracted you to Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator?
Unlike other organizations, the Steelers don’t make new coaching hires available to the media, let alone the head coach who hired him. Even though Smith was hired as offensive coordinator nearly two months ago, Tomlin has yet to talk about the why and how that went into it. With only two others publicly known to interview for the position, why did Tomlin and the organization go with Smith over an up-and-comer? Smith had great success at Tennessee and surely his penchant for running the ball with the Titans and the Falcons played a large part in it. Will Tomlin acknowledge that?
Follow-up: How much input did Smith have in reshaping the quarterbacks room and why did Tomlin feel the need to add quarterbacks coach Tom Arth and promote Mike Sullivan to senior offensive assistant?
The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded wide receiver Diontae Johnson and pick No. 240 to the Carolina Panthers for cornerback Donte Jackson and pick No. 178.
More details 🔗:https://t.co/xnUEM6lqZK
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) March 13, 2024
6. Why did you trade Diontae Johnson?
Johnson was looking for a trade. Those rumors were rampant at the NFL combine and came to fruition shortly after. The question is why? Was it Johnson’s long-term future being unsure or was it some of the noise he made inside the locker room last year, his occasional lack of effort on the field and back-to-back incidents with teammates during and after games? Johnson would have counted $15.8 million on the salary cap, so flipping that to the Panthers saved significant money on the cap. The Steelers are without a true No. 2 receiver behind George Pickens, and going all in with Wilson at quarterback, it doesn’t seem prudent to dump a quality receiver without a good reason.
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Follow-up: Does granting Johnson’s wish to be traded set a bad precedent?
7. When does the Tomlin contract extension come?
It has already been said that Tomlin will sign an extension at some point. But when will it be and will it be for multiple years? Surely Tomlin will dismiss the question, but it needs to be asked. It wouldn’t be smart to go into the 2024 season with a lame-duck head coach. I know it’s just a matter of time, but is that time just before the start of camp again?
Follow-up: Did any of the free agents ask about Tomlin’s long-term future with the organization?
8. Is Cam Heyward in the plans beyond this year?
Heyward battled through multiple injuries last season and his play, when he was on the field, noticeably suffered. He’s fully healthy this year, yet he will turn 35 in May and he’s on the books for $22.4 million. That’s second most in terms of cap money for one player and the fifth-highest cap hit in terms of NFL defensive linemen. There’s no doubt Heyward can still play at a high level, but that cap hit is significant. Will the Steelers try to extend him, ask him to take a pay cut or let him ride the contract out? If the plan is to extend him, surely that will be said by either Tomlin or Khan. If not, the silence will speak volumes.
Follow-up: Does depth need to be added to the defensive line and how much confidence does Tomlin have in defensive end DeMarvin Leal?
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9. Are you satisfied with your cornerback position?
Joey Porter Jr. is the clear-cut No. 1 and trade acquisition Donte Jackson seemingly will be the No. 2. Can Corey Trice be a player at this position despite having no experience and coming off an ACL injury? If not, will there be a major addition at some point soon? The Steelers are in better shape at corner than at this time last year, but they at least need to add depth.
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Follow-up: What has to happen for the Steelers to bring back Patrick Peterson?
10. Rules changes in play?
There is business to take care of at the owners’ meetings, notably on the competition committee. The biggest rule up for vote will be outlawing the hip-drop tackle because of player safety. The Steelers proposed pushing the trade deadline back a week and closer to the middle of the season. The Steelers don’t usually propose rule changes, so why do they feel so strongly about this one?
Follow-up: This one goes out to Rooney — will the Steelers play Week 1 in Brazil?
(Photo of Mike Tomlin: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)
