Daily News & Links: Dream Matchup for Steelers in Ireland; Where Do the Steelers Rank in Cap Space?
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🏈 Tom Blair of NFL.com thinks the Buffalo Bills would be a dream matchup for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Ireland.
“This matchup might seem a tad lopsided now, with the Bills having just narrowly missed a trip to Super Bowl LIX, while the Steelers are coming off another one-and-done playoff appearance. Pittsburgh also doesn’t currently have a starting QB under contract for 2025, clouding the team’s ceiling heading into the talent-acquisition portion of the offseason,” Blair wrote. “But based on Mike Tomlin’s track record, one thing seems all but certain, no matter what happens: Somehow, by the time this game is played, the Steelers will be a game or two over .500, hovering somewhere in the crowd of potential AFC contenders.
“And while we don’t yet know who will be under center for Pittsburgh opposite Josh Allen, we can look forward to watching the NFL’s newest MVP battle against a past hardware-winner. Injuries forced T.J. Watt to miss the Steelers’ two most recent games against Allen, including a 31-17 loss in the 2023 Wild Card Round, with the QB rocking a combined TD-to-INT ratio of 7:1 in those contests. The last time these two stars shared a field though, in Week 1 of the 2021 season, Watt cooked, racking up two sacks, including one strip-sack, kick-starting his record-tying run to that year’s Defensive Player of the Year award. With Watt there to help make life miserable for Allen, Pittsburgh became one of just five teams in the past four years to beat the Bills in a regular-season game in Buffalo. Presuming the 30-year-old pass rusher continues to be a force in 2025 (and barring a shift in strategy for the Steelers heading into the final year of his current contract), Watt figures to present an interesting test of Allen’s growth and development.”
🏈 The Steelers currently have $60.3 million in cap space, which is the fourth-most in the AFC. Overall, the Steelers have the eighth-most cap space in the NFL, according to Over The Cap.
🏈 Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Zach Mettenberger has been named the head football coach of Father Ryan High School in Nashville, Tennessee. Mettenberger was promoted after serving as the school’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2024.
Mettenberger, who was a sixth-round draft pick out of LSU in 2014, lone season with the Steelers was in 2016.
🏈 Chris Canty and Stephen A. Smith argued on First Take if Aaron Rodgers is a good fit for the Steelers.
I ain’t saying Aaron Rodgers is washed, but if it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, then damn it, it’s a duck,” Canty said.
🏈 The Steelers released a statement on the passing of legendary Penguins play-by-play announcer Mike Lange.
“We send our condolences to the family and loved ones of Mike Lange. May he rest in peace,” the Steelers official account on X wrote.
🏈 Steelers wide receiver George Pickens posted a photo of himself on Instagram doing some sight seeing in the mountains.
🏈 Of the 22 running backs with 600+ carries since 2021, Najee Harris ranked 22nd in yards before contact per rush (1.01), via TruMedia. His 3.9 yards per carry was also tied for second-worst among those RBs with only Ezekiel Elliott lower (3.8).
🏈 NFL insider Adam Caplan would be very surprised if Russell Wilson returns to Steelers.
🏈 Louis Riddick of ESPN is really high on Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough. He thinks he will be the steal of the draft.
STEELERS NOW CONTENT FROM FEB. 20
🏈 Becker: Four Free Agents Steelers Should Go All In On
🏈 Report: Steelers ‘Very Much Interested’ in AFC North Rival’s RB
🏈 Steelers Afternoon Drive: What is the Worst-Case Scenario for Offseason?
🏈 Former Steelers Player Enters Medical Marijuana Business
🏈 HOF WR Thinks George Pickens Needs Veteran Mentor
🏈 Fowler: ‘Internal Optimism’ Steelers Will Re-Sign Justin Fields
🏈 Are the Steelers the Best Place for Justin Fields to Play in 2025?
🏈 Steelers Named ‘Best Fit’ for Free-Agent 1,000-Yard Rusher
🏈 AFC North Rival Named Top Landing Spot for Steelers Guard
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