The Pittsburgh Steelers have been the model of consistency in recent years. Much to the dismay of some of their fans, they've refused to dip below the middle of the pack for decades. And while Mike Tomlin, the face of that run, has moved on, the most recent architect of the team is still around.
General manager Omar Khan has certainly made some savvy moves in his four years in charge of the Steelers, but he has a few glaring mistakes on his resume.
A close-up look at the worst contracts currently on Pittsburgh's books reveals an alarming and far too predictable trend: Khan consistently overpays for aging veterans rather than leaning on younger talent.
Pittsburgh Steelers' worst contracts skew heavily toward aging veterans
3. Jalen Ramsey: 3 years, $84.7 million
Pittsburgh swung a massive trade to bring Ramsey over from the Miami Dolphins. They soon gave him a raise, bringing his total cap hit to an alarming number. The veteran cornerback was still playing at an All-Pro level at the time, but he was already 30 years old. Cornerbacks are rarely productive into their 30s, and the dropoff in play at the position often comes without warning.
Committing that much money to a player who was already at the end of his prime could have been acceptable if the Steelers were one piece away from being contenders. They weren't, and now Ramsey's contract is limiting their financial flexibility.
2. Aaron Rodgers: 1 year, $22.5 million
$22.5 million for a starting quarterback isn't egregious. In fact, it's one of the cheapest contracts in the league for a veteran starter at the position. But that doesn't justify the deal.
Even if signing Rodgers in 2025 was a relative success, it's clear that he isn't enough to make this team truly competitive. The gamble was worth making a year ago, but Khan knows what he's getting in 2026. Rodgers could keep the Steelers from bottoming out this season, but he won't make them contenders.
1. T.J. Watt: 3 years, $123 million
Watt will be remembered as a legend in Pittsburgh, and rightfully so. He has been one of the best edge defenders in football for the better part of a decade. But giving a market-setting contract to a 30-year-old defender was a risk that Khan didn't need to make.
The veteran defender's production dipped last season. Even if he's still an impactful player, he isn't living up to his cap hit. Unfortunately, this deal may continue to look worse as time goes on.
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