The opinions found in Asked and Answered do not reflect the views of the Steelers organization.
Let's get to it:
TIMOTHY ESHELMAN FROM LEWISBURG, PA: Which team's draft class has the most Hall of Fame members and how many do they have?
ANSWER: Your question is timely because it gives me a final opportunity to tout the 1974 Steelers Draft Class as the best in all of professional sports, which is one of the stories told in conjunction with the 2026 NFL Draft being in Pittsburgh on April 23-25. During that 1974 NFL Draft, the Steelers selected WR Lynn Swann in Round 1, LB Jack Lambert in Round 2, WR John Stallworth in Round 4, and C Mike Webster in Round 5 to end up with 4 Hall of Fame players from a single class. That's the NFL record, with three franchises tied for second-best by drafting 3 Hall of Fame players. The Cowboys Class of 1964 included S Mel Renfro, WR Bob Hayes, and QB Roger Staubach; the Packers Class of 1958 included FB Jim Taylor, LB Ray Nitschke, and G Jerry Kramer; and the Browns Class of 1957 included FB Jim Brown, G Gene Hickerson, and DT Henry Jordan. It's worth noting that Henry Jordan's Hall of Fame career only got started after he was traded by Browns Coach Paul Brown to Vince Lombardi's Packers at the start of his third season. And finally, when the Steelers signed South Carolina State's Donnie Shell as an undrafted rookie when the picking ended and he developed into a Hall of Fame strong safety, that made 5 Hall of Fame players from the team's 1974 Draft Class.
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PAT FLYNN FROM OAKDALE, PA: What player position (not a named player) would you draft in the first round of the upcoming draft and why?
ANSWER: In my opinion, on the first round of the upcoming draft I would be looking for a playmaker who could develop into the kind of guy capable of having an impact on the outcome of games. I am not necessarily opposed to picking players at positions that advance the process of team-building, strengthen the foundation, but those guys don't have to always be selected in the first round.
ERIC GEHRT FROM DANVILLE, IL: Why so many rumors about drafting quarterbacks and none of Will Howard getting a shot? Is it his lack of accuracy in practice playing into this?
ANSWER: First of all, don't let rumors elevate your blood pressure. Coach Mike McCarthy is on record as saying he believes Will Howard can be developed into an NFL starting quarterback, and so Howard will get a chance to prove McCarthy right once training camp begins at Saint Vincent College. I personally don't believe there will be anything that happens between today and then that's going to change that.
GREG SMITH FROM GAINESVILLE, FL: My question is about a player I think is an unsung hero of the 2000s teams: James Farrior. Can you shed some light on how good James was with the team and his stats with the Steelers?
ANSWER: Signed as an unrestricted free agent from the New York Jets in 2002, James Farrior played 10 seasons with the Steelers, and he started all of the 154 regular season games in which he appeared. He recorded 30 sacks, 8 interceptions and 53 passes defensed, forced 12 fumbles and recovered 10. He was voted to 2 Pro Bowls, and in 2004 Farrior was a first-team All-Pro and was second in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year. Beyond the numbers though, Farrior was a special and effective leader, because veterans respected him and the younger players trusted him to show them how to be professionals and take care of their bodies. Farrior's value to the teams that advanced to 3 Super Bowls and won 2 of them with him as a starting inside linebacker should never be underestimated. He was the Defensive Captain for 7 straight seasons (2004-2010).
ROB STOKOE FROM JAMESTOWN, NY: What do you think of an 18-game season with the caveat that each player (kickers and punters excepted) must sit for one game?
ANSWER: Absolutely hate that idea. Hate it.
BOB JACKSON FROM PITTSBURGH, PA: As a boy rooting for the Fighting Illini in the mid-1960s, Preston Pearson was a reserve guard on the basketball team who made a meaningful contribution to the team. Following his college basketball career, I was surprised that he became a fine player for the Steelers for a few years, before playing for the Dallas Cowboys. How did it come about that he joined the Steelers and how did he end up with the Cowboys?
ANSWER: At the University of Illinois, Preston Pearson was a pretty good basketball player but never played a down of football. Because Pearson was athletic, could jump, was quick, and was willing to mix it up physically, Baltimore Colts Coach Don Shula picked him in the 12th-round (298th overall) in the 1967 NFL Draft and tried him at defensive back. When HB Lenny Moore retired after the 1967 season, Pearson was moved to halfback, and he also turned out to be a good kickoff returner. In May 1970, Pearson and DB Ocie Austin were traded to the Steelers in exchange for LB Ray May. Pearson and Frenchy Fuqua were the Steelers starting backs in 1970-71, but in 1972 the team made Franco Harris its No. 1 pick, and when Pearson was injured in the fourth game Harris took off on what would be a Hall of Fame career. After the 1974 season, the Steelers waived Pearson, and he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys, where he played for 6 more seasons. Pearson won Super Bowl IX with the Steelers and Super Bowl XII with the Cowboys.
MISTY WOODCOCK FROM LOUISVILLE, KY: In the history of Asked and Answered, who are the top five individuals who have had their questions answered by you? Just curious if my Dad falls in the top five? His name is Milton Manion Sr.
ANSWER: I have kept no such scorecard, but I do recognize the name of Milton Mannion Sr. If I told you to go ahead and just tell him he's in the top 5, he wouldn't buy it because my impression of him through the questions he submits is that he's a regular reader.
RON MACKEY FROM NEW CASTLE, PA: Should the Steelers draft a QB for competitive reasons and/or depth? I believe we need another young gun to challenge Will Howard, because Mason Rudolph definitely isn't the answer.
ANSWER: If your opinion is that Mason Rudolph doesn't belong on an NFL roster, I would disagree with that. But right now the Steelers have 2 QBs under contract. I believe Aaron Rodgers will sign, and the team will need 1 more to have 4 for training camp. I believe the fourth will come via the upcoming draft. Then competition will sort things out.
MICHELLE McKILLOP FROM PLUM BOROUGH, PA: With Pittsburgh not having a starting quarterback and after drafting Will Howard last year, why is Will Howard being written off before he even gets a chance? I believe he should be given an opportunity to show what he can do.
ANSWER: I don't know who has "written off" Will Howard, but I know it's not Coach Mike McCarthy, and his is the opinion that matters most. As I explained in an earlier answer here, Howard will "get a chance" starting at training camp. It's less than a 1-hour drive from Plum Borough to Latrobe, and if you'd like you could come and see him getting that chance for yourself.
LEE JOHNSON FROM MIDLAND, VA: Thanks for all you do and also for not doing "mock drafts." I think they are such a waste of time. With that said, most would agree that Joe Greene was the best pick in Steelers history. But in your opinion who was the second? I would have to say it was Franco Harris.
ANSWER: Based on the fact the Steelers decided to retire Franco Harris' No. 32 as the second member of the team of the 1970s to be so recognized, I would agree with you.
DENNIS SLEEGER FROM YORK, PA: It is said that Coach Mike McCarthy is a good developer of quarterbacks. Do you think it's worth the draft pick to take Drew Allar in the third round? I believe he didn't have good coaching at Penn State and could develop into a good starting quarterback in the NFL. Your opinion?
ANSWER: My opinion is that spending a Day 2 pick on a quarterback who has some nice physical skills but never played well against top competition is not the way to execute a draft. That kind of player sounds more like a Day 3 pick to me. It's my opinion that a quarterback who maybe isn't the biggest guy with the strongest arm but steps up and plays well against top competition in big games has a better chance of being developed into an NFL quarterback.
RICHARD GOODELL FROM PORT BYRON, NY: I know a lot of players do not reside in the Pittsburgh area during the offseason. Many go back to the college they attended to work out there or wherever they call home. Are players who are under contract allowed to work out at the team facility during the offseason?
ANSWER: Yes.
GENE MORMILE FROM MAHOPAC, NY: I'm reading and hearing all the talk around the Steelers first-round selection being used to fill a need for a WR or an offensive lineman. Nothing is being said about the need for an inside linebacker. We signed Cole Holcomb as a backup, and after Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen there's a big drop-off. What do you think of C.J. Allen from Georgia?
ANSWER: The best I can do is to present the scouting report Lance Zierlein wrote for NFL.com about C.J. Allen, a 6-foot-1, 230 pound inside linebacker from Georgia.
• OVERVIEW
"Green dot" linebacker and team captain more capable of rowing the boat than making big splashes. Allen plays with toughness and control, sorting through run fits with patience and leverage in pursuit. He has average trigger quickness and pursuit speed, which forces him to work harder to get to junction points when facing climbing blockers. He has adequate size and strength with good hand strikes to play off blocks. He doesn't blow up blocks or disrupt on the other side of the line all that often, though. He's an effective blitzer with average man-cover talent and is capable on all three downs. Allen is a dependable starting "Mike 'backer" who raises the floor of a defense.
• STRENGTHS
Doesn't unnecessarily rush through his scrape process.
Mirrors running backs from his perch with proper leverage.
Usually secures gap leverage when taking on blocks.
Pops and plays off the block to make tackles.
Disguises and times up his blitz take-offs in A- and B-gaps.
Technique and body control provide rare tackle-finishing success.
Stays square and keeps eyes on the prize through the tackle.
Quick close-outs from zone limit yards after the catch.
• WEAKNESSES
Isn't going to make as many high-value plays as you might expect.
Average anticipation to play ahead of blocks.
Needs to meet lead blocks deeper in the hole.
Hip tightness inhibits stride length and pursuit speed.
Needs to slip more blocks to make more tackles.
Will have trouble making plays on the ball in man coverage.
