While Harmon fills a huge need on the defensive line, it does not address the biggest need for the organization on a short-term or long-term basis. That need, obviously, is quarterback.
As of Thursday night the Steelers’ quarterback room includes only Mason Rudolph and Skyler Thompson.
They did not retain Russell Wilson or Justin Fields from last year’s team, missed out on almost every other free agent or trade option, and for the second offseason in a row are looking at a complete overhaul of their quarterback room.
On a short-term basis, they continue to play the waiting game with free agent Aaron Rodgers. But even if he makes a decision to play this season — and play in Pittsburgh — he is on the wrong side of 40, may not be any good anymore and would be a gigantic distraction due to his off-field presence and personality.
On a long-term basis, they have no real quarterback prospects on the horizon and do not even have a second-round pick this season to try and secure one of the quarterbacks that has slid down the draft board after trading it for wide receiver DK Metcalf.
Do they still believe in Rodgers as a one-year stop-gap? Are they setting their sights on a potentially deeper 2026 quarterback class, with the draft being held in Pittsburgh?
Those are all very realistic possibilities.
Sanders is far from a sure thing, and there is a reason he has fallen down the draft board. He does not possess an elite arm or athleticism, and his biggest strengths are more intangible (toughness, smart, accuracy) than game-changing traits. He might not pan out, but if he does, he would have raised the Steelers’ season more than any other position would have.
The Steelers have not won a playoff game in eight years despite regularly being there, and the lack of even an above-average quarterback is the biggest reason why. Until they fix that position it does not matter what their defensive line, offensive line or wide receiver positions look like.
