It isn’t enough to focus on the now in the NFL. Sure, winning immediately has benefits. But so does establishing a successful future. The Pittsburgh Steelers have been behind the eight ball in recent seasons. A slew of risky gambles cost the franchise more progress than expected.  While Omar Khan and his front office work to recover, analysts are taking notice of the declining stock.Â
According to ESPN’s Aaron Schatz, Ben Solak, Louis Riddick, and Seth Walder, the Steelers' future isn’t too bright. They rank 30th in projected power rankings for the 2027 through 2029 seasons.Â
It’s a tough pill to swallow. And a little further from the truth than fans believe. Especially when Pittsburgh’s recent changes are considered innovations rather than weaknesses.Â
The panel of experts rated each team based on the quarterback situation, the remaining (non-QB) roster makeup, the front office, and the coaching staff. When it came down to Mike McCarthy’s squad, the numbers weren’t too pretty.Â
Especially when evaluating the quarterback and coaching.Â
Aaron Rodgers (42) isn’t the youngest gunslinger in the NFL. Still, he’s a future first-ballot Hall of Famer with a mile-long list of accolades. But when evaluating Rodgers’ impact on the team past 2026, it’s easy to see why Pittsburgh ranked poorly in the quarterback category. The truth is, Rodgers can only offer tutelage past this season. And it’s up to two young QBs to soak in the knowledge.Â
Pittsburgh Steelers cannot afford to sleep through ESPN's future projection warning
Drew Allar and Will Howard showed promise in preseason debuts. But they still lack meaningful football experience. If you take the aging veteran out of the picture, the Steelers are left with two rookies trying to figure it out as time passes. That’s not ideal for any franchise.Â
Developing the next franchise QB falls on the coaching staff. But apparently, the analysts do not believe Pittsburgh’s leaders are the sharpest in the league. They earned a 69.5 score, ranking 31st out of 32 teams.Â
Ouch.Â
Initially, the ranking felt like a huge slap in the face. Especially for a franchise whose coaching swap was nationally televised. Mike McCarthy’s transition into Pittsburgh has been viewed as a breath of fresh air by most. But it’s still too early to see if the switch will bring positive change. I believe McCarthy’s staff is equipped to outproduce Mike Tomlin’s 2025 results.Â
Patrick Graham's defensive innovations mixed with McCarthy's play-calling are promising. But we won’t know until it happens.
ESPN’s rankings were harsh. But their outlook is understandable. It relies on fact over faith. Questionable decisions made by the front office (27th) cost the franchise time. We know they have work to do. Right now, they must make do with what they have.
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