After massive changes hit the Pittsburgh Steelers organization this offseason, it should come as no surprise that some of the roster benefited while others struggled. For one reason or another, a player could have won the offseason as the team didn't address a specific need or allowed them to make their job comfortable. Positive press is another way that a player could have emerged as a winner.
When it comes to the opposite side of that coin, the losers of the offseason for the Steelers are clear.
Either their position was heavily addressed during free agency or the NFL Draft. For those who lost during that part of the calendar, they could've also seen players outperforming them at OTAs or minicamp. The losers in Pittsburgh saw their standing with the team shrink over the past several months.
Pittsburgh Steelers winners and losers on the roster from the offseason are clear
Winner: Aaron Rodgers
No member of the Pittsburgh Steelers was a bigger winner than Aaron Rodgers. Not only was he welcomed back and forced the team to wait months for a decision once again, but the veteran quarterback got a raise. The Steelers are playing the same old tune of just trying to stay in the mushy middle by bringing Rodgers back.
Hopefully, he can help the young quarterbacks develop this season.
Winner: Patrick Queen
After weeks of trade speculation, Patrick Queen came out on the other side victorious. It appeared likely that Pittsburgh would invest in a starting-caliber inside linebacker at some point during the offseason, but that didn't happen. Not only does Patrick Queen not have to worry about not getting traded, but he is in a spot on the roster where he should be a massive contributor on defense.
Winner: Mike McCarthy
Few were thrilled with the Steelers' hire of Mike McCarthy as the new head coach of the franchise. He will probably produce more of the same mediocre teams as Mike Tomlin, but at least he's offensive-minded. After some questions surrounding his hire, both media coverage and word from the locker room have praised McCarthy. He has gained plenty of positive attention after a shaky start.
Winner: Nick Herbig
Breaking the bank is always something a player would love to accomplish in the NFL, and that's exactly what Nick Herbig did. His massive contract extension will create some internal drama when the Steelers have to decide which veteran to get rid of next offseason.
Extending Herbig points to Alex Highsmith or T.J. Watt, probably leaving the roster in 2027 through a massive trade.
Loser: Mason Rudolph
You could name every quarterback on the roster besides Aaron Rodgers as a loser this offseason. Mason Rudolph might be the one in the worst shape heading towards training camp. The Steelers know what type of player he is, but they hope Will Howard and Drew Allar can emerge as the backups this season. Unless they keep four players at the position, Rudolph will be the one getting cut.
Loser: Kaleb Johnson
Bringing in Rico Dowdle to partner with Jaylen Warren is a clear sign to Kaleb Johnson that Mike McCarthy isn't a massive fan of his. Also factor in how much the Steelers seem to like Eli Heidenreich, and Johnson might be in serious roster trouble. Pittsburgh would be making a bold decision by cutting Johnson this year, but it is an outcome that you cannot completely rule out at this juncture.
Loser: Broderick Jones
The ongoing injury concern surrounding Broderick Jones is not only affecting his outlook on this season, but also his career.
He had a massive neck injury last year, which has forced the Steelers to make decisions this offseason to secure their roster. It's unknown when, or if, Jones will get back to full health. By the time he gets cleared to return to football, his starting job will be long gone.
Loser: Roman Wilson
Unless he produces a magnificent preseason and carries that into the upcoming campaign, Roman Wilson's fit with the Steelers isn't obvious. He showed promise leading up to the season last year, only to disappoint many. It led the team to add upgrades throughout the offseason. With Mike McCarthy now in the mix, hopefully that will change Wilson's career around for the better.
Loser: Will Howard
Bringing back Aaron Rodgers is a losing battle for Will Howard. The second-year quarterback received plenty of praise from Mike McCarthy and Rodgers, but the team doesn't trust him to be a starter this season. The Steelers are at a point where Howard must earn his roster spot over Mason Rudolph, unless they keep all four. Will Howard's stock is shakier than most fans want to believe.
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