I HATE The Pickens Trade But The Steelers Won't Regret It | Steelers Almighty Podcast | Episode 53

Big Ben Roethlisberger often finds himself in the shadows of the game's elite quarterbacks, yet Terrell Suggs boldly claims he’s the most underrated QB of all time. When we dive into the stats, it's hard to ignore Ben’s impressive legacy: he ranks 5th all-time in passing yards with 64,088, 8th in touchdown passes with 418, and 5th in completions with 5,440. Notably, he’s secured more Super Bowl rings than legends like Drew Brees, Brett Favre, and Aaron Rodgers, while matching the tally of Peyton Manning and Eli Manning.

As the Steelers look towards the future, the team is strategically setting itself up for a high pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. With 12 picks currently in their arsenal, Pittsburgh has ample capital to move up and secure a quarterback they truly believe in. The upcoming QB market is shaping up to be promising, featuring potential prospects like Arch Manning, Garrett Nussmeier from LSU, Cade Klubnik of Clemson, LaNorris Sellers from South Carolina, Drew Allar of Penn State, and even Nico Iamaleava from UCLA—although his status remains uncertain. Carson Beck from Miami also adds to the list of intriguing candidates. While Will Howard could be in the mix, his performance won’t dictate the plans at the quarterback position. The Steelers recognize the importance of fostering competition; history shows that only two quarterbacks drafted on day three since 2010 turned out to be successful.

Patrick Queen needs to elevate his game to truly become the playmaker the Pittsburgh Steelers expect him to be. While he led the team with 129 tackles, including 65 solo efforts, he also recorded 20 missed tackles, ranking 185th according to PFF. His speed and ability to rush the passer are notable assets, but they weren't enough to overshadow his struggles. Throughout the season, Queen often found himself out of position, leading to inconsistent performances in both run and pass coverage. As he navigated his first year donning the green dot, communication issues were evident, contributing to an average pass coverage grade.

George Pickens' trade raises questions about whether his production matched the problems he faced during his time with the Steelers. With 174 catches for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns, Pickens showcased undeniable talent while navigating the challenges of playing alongside five different quarterbacks, none of whom could be classified as stellar. His journey has been marred by over $250k in fines over his first three years, stemming from concerns about his effort on run plays and pass routes, along with controversial interactions, like fighting fans and liking negative posts about teammates. Despite these issues, Pickens has demonstrated an exceptional ability to catch poorly thrown passes and make spectacular plays, proving his elite hands when focused. His numbers reflect signs of talent that could shine even brighter with better quarterback play and a more consistent offensive scheme.

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0:00 Table of Contents
1:44 Big Ben
9:42 QB Plan
21:55 Halftime
23:18 Patrick Queen
29:30 George Pickens
40:15 Outro
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🚨 Become an Almighty! JOIN Steelers Almighty as a member! 🚨 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgIrOw8M4dNVs-WcMSaZUxA/join

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