With the offseason almost officially underway, all eyes are on the ways that the Steelers can improve this team. Traditionally, I conduct one mock offseason per year that comes out shortly before the start of the new league year.
However, I wanted to run two simulations this year.
My usual ideal mock offseason will come out soon, don’t worry, but for this mock offseason, things take a darker turn. I’m mapping out what the worst-case scenario is for this team.
Please note that this mock offseason will be grounded in reality. They aren’t going to hand out major contracts to no-name players. That said, there are a couple of ways that building this roster turns into a disaster.
As always, I will be using a variety of tools to construct this nightmare offseason. For contract structures and cap space, we will be using Over the Cap’s calculator. For offseason additions, we will be using Pro Football Networks simulator. And finally, for the draft, we will be using PFF’s simulator.
Without further ado, here is the Steelers nightmare offseason.
Nightmare Pittsburgh Steelers mock 2025 offseason
Steelers' cap-clearing roster moves
Following the release of Preston Smith, Over the Cap has the Steelers sitting at just over $60 million. While this nightmare mock is truly the worst-case scenario, the cap-clearing moves are as you would expect.
Cole Holcomb, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Dean Lowry are all cut, clearing an additional $11 million in cap space. Where this turns sour is by first keeping Larry Ogunjobi. Ogunjobi has been one of the most lackluster signings in recent years, and the team would be wise to invest in the position as opposed to sticking with a declining veteran.
The other notable difference is that this team does restructure the contract of Minkah Fitzpatrick. Given the surplus of cap space, any restructures this year seem unnecessary, and redoing Fitzpatrick’s contract is a mistake.
While it lowers his cap space this year by almost $7.12 million, it kicks the can down the road another year. Given how average his play has been though, that makes cutting him next year that much harder.
After these moves, the team has roughly $78.5 million in cap space.
Steelers free agent moves
Looking first at some re-signings, the Steelers change their stance on the running back room in the hopes that this group finally gets the running game going. Najee Harris is given a new deal worth $27 million over three years as well as extending an original round tender to Jaylen Warren.
Unfortunately, the Raiders are more than willing to offer Warren a new contract, and with Harris paid, the team has to let Warren walk.
The quarterback question comes up next, and the team goes in an entirely different direction than what they had last year. Fresh of a disastrous stretch with the Jets, the Steelers turn around and make Aaron Rodgers their guy. He is inked to a deal that pays him $50 million over two seasons.
At receiver, Chris Godwin is deemed the guy on a $60 million deal over three seasons. While Godwin himself isn’t a horrible player, he has struggled with injuries and needs to work out of the slot. The fit as a whole just doesn’t make sense to me.
Pittsburgh decides to steal from a rival and sign Nick Chubb to a two-year deal worth $10 million. While Chubb was once one of the best running backs in the league, he looked washed last year and wouldn’t be worth bringing aboard no matter the cost.
Finally, the team opts to give Rasul Douglas a deal to be the second cornerback on the team. He gets $36 million over three years. While he had a nice rebound a few seasons ago, he has struggled with injuries and is on the tail end of his career. Given his cost though, it would mean a young option like Cory Trice not seeing snaps going forward.
READ MORE: 5 wide receiver options for Steelers with Tee Higgins officially off the board
Finally, while not an addition, the Steelers give George Pickens a mega-contract worth $120 million over four seasons. I’ve officially jumped off the Pickens train, and a deal like this would be a major risk for the team.
After this spending spree, the team would have $36 million leftover in cap space. Why am I stopping here? You’ll need close to $10 million for the draft class and this team likes to keep a good deal in reserve for the season. I also didn’t add in your lower-level free agents to fill out the depth chart (I will in my complete mock, I promise).
Steelers' nightmare draft
Before the draft even kicks off, the Steelers call the Rams and acquire veteran receiver Cooper Kupp for this year's fourth and seventh-round pick.
I don’t hate the idea of bringing in Kupp, but with Godwin already added, you bring in another injury-prone slot receiver. Unless Pickens is traded, Kupp is a hard sell for me.
Steelers Nightmare Mock Round 1: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
This team wants to win on the ground, and even with Najee Harris back in the fold, the Steelers feel the need to add another first-round back to the fold. Omarion Hampton is a fine prospect who can serve as a great third down back for any team.
For the Steelers though, using another first-round pick on a back with Harris still around is disgusting. It is hard to justify a first-round to most backs, but using your top pick on Hampton would be a disaster for the team.
Steelers Nightmare Mock Round 2: Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
I don’t hate Darien Porter as a prospect. He has that rare build that this team covets and looked capable during the pre-draft process so far. Having paid Douglas to be a starting cornerback and with Trice still around, it feels like far too crowded of a room, even if Porter fits the mold on paper.
Steelers Nightmare Mock Round 3: Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
I think quarterback is squarely on the table for the Steelers in this draft, even if it doesn’t come in the first round. That said, Dillon Gabriel is a very scheme-specific passer who needs the right system to succeed. It would be a hard sell in the third round for the team.
Steelers Nightmare Mock Round 5: Tim Smith, DL, Alabama
There isn’t anything inherently wrong with Tim Smith. He should be a capable nose tackle or at worst depth there for his rookie deal. The issue is that this defensive line class is star-studded, and the Steelers have a need here. Instead, they wait until the fifth round to add anyone, missing out on the real star prospects.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 7: Kyren Lacy, WR, LSU
You can’t blame the team for not trying. They add the third new receiver to the room, and while Kyren Lacy is talented on the field, he has a massive amount of baggage off the field. I don’t care that it is a seventh-round pick, this would be a horrible pick.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 7: Jeremy Crawshaw, P, Florida
Ideally, Cameron Johnston comes back from his injury to punt for the Steelers next season. If not, Corliss Waitman did more than enough to warrant punting for the team again. Drafting someone would be a massive overreaction.
While this offseason will, hopefully, not come to fruition, it is my most realistic nightmare of how the team could address their needs. Rodgers at quarterback would be a mess, wasting money on players that don’t fit the direction of the team, and a refocus of the running back room would be a train wreck.
Worse yet, this team misses out on one of the deepest defensive line classes in recent memory, instead keeping the same crew together for another year with little change. I will be horrified if this mock offseason even remotely comes to pass.