The opinions found in Asked and Answered do not reflect the views of the Steelers organization.
Let's get to it:
STEFAN PISOCKI FROM WILMINGTON, DE: Mike Webster was voted to 9 Pro Bowls; Dermontti Dawson was voted to 7 Pro Bowls; and Maurkice Pouncey was voted to 9 Pro Bowls. Now, Zach Frazier is developing into a top tier center. In the Super Bowl era, has any team drafted and developed centers better than the Steelers? It seems to me that it's not even close, but I may be biased.
ANSWER: The only Super Bowl era team to have anything close to the Steelers' history at the center position would be the Miami Dolphins. Mike Webster and Dermontti Dawson were back-to-back full-time starters at the position who both went on to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame – Webster in 1997 and Dawson in 2012. For the Dolphins it was Jim Langer – a full-time starter from 1972-79 and a member of the Hall of Fame's Class of 1987 – and Dwight Stephenson – a full-time starter from 1982 until his retirement in 1988 and a member of the Hall of Fame's Class of 1998. But what sets the Steelers' history of centers above and beyond every other franchise is how their two Hall of Famers were preceded by Ray Mansfield, who came from the Eagles in a 1964 trade as a defensive lineman, was moved to center in 1966 and started 139 regular season games there over the next 11 years, along with the Immaculate Reception game, Super Bowl IX and Super Bowl X in the postseason. And then after Dawson, the Steelers had Jeff Hartings (2 Pro Bowls and a starter in Super Bowl XL) at center from 2001-06 before they spent a No. 1 pick in the 2010 Draft on Pouncey, who should be in the Hall of Fame conversation for the next several years.
- Download and listen to the Asked & Answered Podcast here: Apple Podcast | Spotify
KEITH MILLER FROM CANTON, NC: I'm sure the Steelers will double-dip at the wide receiver position this offseason (including the draft and/or free agency). Do you see any other positions they will double-dip?
ANSWER: Other areas could be the defensive backfield – cornerbacks and safeties – and possibly offensive tackle, depending upon Broderick Jones' prognosis.
WILLIE KALASKIE FROM COLORADO SPRINGS, CO: It's my understanding that Mike Tomlin sat on the NFL's Competition Committee. With his departure, does that responsibility automatically revert to Coach Mike McCarthy as the new Steelers head coach?
ANSWER: It does not. Commissioner Roger Goodell personally appoints the members of the NFL Competition Committee from a group of coaches and team executives.
LARRY LAWHEAD FROM GLEN CARBON, IL: There was a question in a recent installment about field goals of 60-plus yards being worth 4 points. I'd like the league to consider the opposite. Currently, an extra point has the same difficulty as a 33-yard field goal attempt. But a field goal from a lesser distance is still worth 3 points. How about when a team gets to the opponent's 15-yard line and settles for a field goal it's worth only 1 point, instead of 3?
ANSWER: You're missing the big picture. Say the offense takes possession at its 15-yard line and moves the ball down the field to a first-and-10 at the opponent's 15-yard line. A running play gains 1 yard, and 2 incomplete passes later it's fourth-and-9 from the 14-yard line. After moving the ball that far and maybe converting multiple third downs along the way, that team deserves the opportunity to come out of its possession with 3 points.
DAVID THEISEN FROM NEW YORK, NY: This is the most turnaround with coaching and players I can recall in recent history. Historically speaking, how have teams in similar positions turned out the season following that kind of turnover?
ANSWER: All of the turnover on the coaching staff is a direct result of the Steelers having to find a replacement for Mike Tomlin, and that kind of hire hadn't had to happen since 2007 when they were having to find a replacement for Bill Cowher. Keeping your question about Steelers history in such situations, Bill Cowher's inaugural team finished 11-5 and won the AFC Central Division; and Mike Tomlin's inaugural team finished 10-6 and won the AFC North Division.
MARK RICE FROM LAS VEGAS, NV: With Pittsburgh possibly having 12 picks in the upcoming draft, and if the Steelers use them all will they be able to sign any undrafted rookies? I've never been a big NFL Draft watcher, so why is the draft broken into 7 rounds over three days?
ANSWER: You may not be "a big NFL Draft watcher," but I can assure you that millions are, and their numbers keep growing every year. The NFL Draft is spread over 3 days because it has become an event that's attended by hundreds of thousands of people and that's watched by millions more. It generates revenue because people are buying what the NFL is selling. If the Steelers end up with 12 picks and use them all, their offseason roster cannot exceed 90 players. So that would impact the number of undrafted rookies the team could sign.
JERRY CHRZASZCZ FROM PROVIDENCE FORGE, VA: Do you think the Steelers will trade 2-3 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft for picks in the 2027 NFL Draft so they have more ammunition to move up for a QB?
ANSWER: That sure sounds good, but the cost in draft capital to do that could be prohibitive. I couldn't imagine a team wanting to acquire third-day picks in 2026 and being willing to give up second-day picks in 2027 in exchange. And if you're trading third-day picks in 2026 for third-day picks in 2027, that's not getting you any closer to moving up for a shot at a franchise quarterback.
RAYMOND CHASON FROM CONNEAUTVILLE, PA: We have big Darnell Washington at tight end now. How does he compare to Eric Ebron when it comes to height and weight?
ANSWER: Darnell Washington is 6-foot-7 and weighs a bit north of 300 pounds. Eric Ebron, a tight end who came to the Steelers as an unrestricted free agent in March 2020 after 6 years with Detroit and Indianapolis, was listed at 6-4, 253.
KEITH YOUNG FROM SHAWNEE, OK: Do you think the Steelers will sign Nick Herbig and keep him?
ANSWER: Joining the Steelers as a No. 4 pick (132nd overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft, Nick Herbig will be entering the final season on the 4-year contract he signed as a rookie from Wisconsin. Traditionally, the Steelers don't work on contract extensions until after the draft, and where we are in the NFL calendar right now is before the start of free agency. One of the big questions here in my mind is whether Herbig wants to bet on himself by playing out the 2026 season and then assessing his potential value on the open market on the eve of unrestricted free agency in 2027. The Collective Bargaining Agreement gives him that option.
DAVID LUCE FROM HENDERSON, KY: With the potential release of Kyler Murray at the start of free agency: If the Steelers decide to sign him (and that is a big IF), and if Arron Rodgers decides to come back, what do you think will happen to Mason Rudolph? Or do you think that if the Steelers sign Murray they will not re-sign Rodgers?
ANSWER: I don't think there would be any interest by the Steelers in having a depth chart at quarterback containing both Aaron Rodgers and Kyler Murray for 2026. And I'm even more certain that neither Rodgers nor Murray has any interest in being teammates in 2026.
