The opinions found in Asked and Answered do not reflect the views of the Steelers organization.
Let's get to it:
BOB PURAT FROM NEWTOWN, PA: Derrick Harmon is listed a defensive tackle but most people speak of him as playing defensive end with the Steelers. In most of the highlights I've seen of him he's lined up in the A-gap and creating a great push into the backfield. Could he possibly play nose tackle, because he looks to be hard to move or stop creating a force to have to deal with in the center of the line?
ANSWER: I wouldn't get too hung up on any of this – what "people" are saying about Derrick Harmon's position; where he lines up; or what is his listed position according to a roster or a flip card. There are a lot of different defensive alignments and personal packages, and I don't believe it's going to be possible or worthwhile to strictly categorize Harmon, especially before the pads go on for his rookie season in the NFL. Joe Greene always was listed as a defensive tackle, but when the Steelers invented/developed the stunt-4-3 alignment, Greene was put over the center at an angle. That didn't make him a nose tackle.
- Download and listen to the Asked & Answered Podcast here: Apple Podcast | Spotify
KEITH MILLER FROM CANTON, NC: I know nothing is final yet, but with the recent trade of George Pickens and the projected compensatory picks, it looks like next year we have the following picks: 1,2,3,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6, and 7. This raises many questions. Most picks in one year ever? Are they loading up to replace players on an aging defense? Loading up to trade for a high draft pick? Do they need five or six new starters? Is this a short-term or long-term plan?
ANSWER: If all of those projected compensatory picks you listed become reality, the Steelers would have 12 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. As for that being their most picks in an NFL Draft ever, I remind you the Steelers were participating in these things when NFL Drafts contained 12 rounds, 17 rounds, 20 rounds, 30 rounds, and even 32 rounds. But if you're asking if 12 selections is the most ever in a 7-round draft, then the answer is yes. The only year that came close would be 1999 when the Steelers had 11 picks in that 7-round draft. As for your other questions, we're going to have to wait and see how things play out. And remember, more than one thing can be true at the same time.
DAN WALSH FROM BOARDMAN, OH: It seems to me the Steelers are very good at weeding out players, such as Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell, and now George Pickens, and so far none of these kinds of players had a decent career after leaving. My question is who was the player who did manage to star after leaving? My thoughts are Mike Vrabel and Emmanuel Sanders.
ANSWER: Mike Vrabel and Emmanuel Sanders both were productive/successful after leaving Pittsburgh, as was Chad Brown. Vrabel left as an unrestricted free agent because the Steelers had Jason Gildon and Joey Porter at OLB and there was no obvious route for him to secure playing time. Sanders left as an unrestricted free agent following the 2013 season because the Steelers had signed Antonio Brown to a lucrative contract extension and there wasn't going to be big money for 2 wide receivers. Both Vrabel – a member of 3 Super Bowl winning teams in New England and a first-team All-Pro in 2007 – and Sanders – 2 Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl win with Denver after the 2015 season – did have successful careers after leaving Pittsburgh. Brown left as an unrestricted free agent following the 1996 season, and in 107 games with Seattle he had 48 sacks, 3 interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries, and 3 defensive touchdowns. He was voted to 2 Pro Bowls and was first-team All-Pro in 1998.
MATTHEW MAGUIRE FROM ERIE, PA: Which draft class or season stands out to you as the most underrated in Steelers history?
ANSWER: The Steelers 1974 Draft Class is acclaimed as the best in NFL history, and rightfully so because it added 5 Hall of Fame players – 4 draft picks and an undrafted free agent – to a roster and proved to be the finishing touches on a team that would go on to win 4 Super Bowls over the next 6 seasons. But in my opinion, the team's 1971 Draft Class was great in its own right. While it didn't match the HOF power of the 1974 group, it added 7 players over the 17 rounds who combined to win 24 Super Bowl rings during the 1970s. Those players included WR Frank Lewis, LB Jack Ham (HOF Class of 1988), G Gerry Mullins, DE Dwight White, TE-OT Larry Brown, DT Ernie Holmes, and S Mike Wagner.
MIKE ROBERTS FROM ELIZABETHTOWN, KY: What are your thoughts on the George Pickens trade?
ANSWER: I think that getting a second day pick in the 2026 NFL Draft for a player going into the final year of his rookie contract and has never been voted to a Pro Bowl is a good return. I understand Steelers fans wanted more of a return, but this is what Buffalo got when it traded Stefon Diggs to Houston in April 2024, and Diggs was coming off 4 straight seasons in which he went over 1,000 yards receiving and was voted to 4 Pro Bowls and once was first-team All-Pro: Buffalo sent Diggs plus a No. 6 pick in 2024 and a No. 5 pick in 2025 in exchange for a No. 2 pick in 2025. In light of that, I believe what the Steelers received for Pickens was pretty good.
WILLIAM YOUNG FROM BADEN, PA: When are details for 2025 Training Camp going to be released? My brother-in-law and I have never been there and would like to go.
ANSWER: This is just a guesstimate on my part, but I would start looking for details of training camp – dates and times of practices – at some point in the latter half of June. At least that's the time frame when those details have been announced the last couple of years.
JEFF FRANKS FROM TOLEDO, OH: Now that George Pickens has been traded, do you see any scenario in which we sign a legit No. 2 WR, or do we roll with who we have, and who becomes the No. 2 in your opinion?
ANSWER: With the first wave of unrestricted free agency over, I don't know whether there are any players left who would satisfy you as a "legit No. 2 WR," but General Manager Omar Khan said on May 9, "If there's an opportunity to add a playmaker on offense, regardless of whether it's a receiver or whatever it is, we're gonna look into it. And if it makes sense, it makes sense. But there are always good players available."
As for how the depth chart at wide receiver works out, that's something to be determined at training camp and during the preseason. "We wouldn't have done this if we didn't feel good about the receiver situation, about our depth here," Khan said. "You know, I know people make a comparison about last year. It's not even close to being the same.
TIM AIKEN FROM SISTERSVILLE, WV: I find it interesting that the Browns selected two quarterbacks in the recent draft. I'm sure that has happened before, when the draft used to have many more rounds, but since the draft has been limited to 7 rounds, has any other team selected two QBs in the same draft year?
ANSWER: Actually, that has happened quite a few times since the draft went to 7 rounds starting in 1994. Here they are in chronological order, and apologies if I missed any:
• Washington in 1994: Heath Shuler in Round 1; Gus Frerotte in Round 7
• Carolina in 1995: Kerry Collins in Round 1; Jerry Colquitt in Round 6
• Cincinnati in 1999: Akili Smith in Round 1; Scott Covington in Round 7
• San Francisco in 2000: Giovanni Carmazzi in Round 3; Tim Rattay in Round 7
• Houston in 2003: Dave Ragone in Round 3; Drew Hensen in Round 6
• Denver in 2004: Matt Mauck in Round 7; Bradlee Van Pelt in Round 7
• N.Y. Jets in 2006: Kellen Clemens in Round 2; Brad Smith in Round 4
• Green Bay in 2008: Brian Brohm in Round 2; Matt Flynn in Round 7
• Carolina in 2010: Jimmy Clausen in Round 2; Tony Pike in Round 6
• Indianapolis: Andrew Luck in Round 1; Chandler Harnish in Round 7
• Washington in 2012: Robert Griffin III in Round 1; Kirk Cousins in Round 4
• Pittsburgh in 2022: Kenny Pickett in Round 1; Chris Oladokun in Round 7
• New England in 2024: Drake Maye in Round 1; Joe Milton in Round 6
