Mike McCarthy’s first offseason with the Pittsburgh Steelers has already seen him make some major coaching changes from the Mike Tomlin era. However, there has not been a lot of player movement; in fact, the front office decided to extend two key pieces on the defensive end in Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington last week. Both of them cost the team around $149 million in cap space. Although they add to the depth and solidity of the roster, a Pittsburgh sports reporter has raised questions around their ceiling as players.

“Right now, Herbig and Washington are fringe starters, both on the cusp of becoming true key players within the franchise,” wrote Noah Hiles for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I think both will end up having solid NFL careers. They’ll be guys who will provide reliable production year after year. But both have a clear ceiling. I don’t expect either to be a star, which seems to be a running theme among essentially all of the draft picks and other acquisitions throughout the Khan era.”

Herbig received a new five-year, $103.67 million contract offer, which includes $42 million in guarantees. As for Washington, the Steelers offered him a five-year contract extension for $45.674 million. While they are neither the highest paid in the league nor on the team, Hiles is unsure whether they will have the same peak as other legends of the franchise.

Speaking of legends or future Hall of Famers, Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt’s names come up at the top of the Steelers’ list. The two have served the franchise for years, producing some magical numbers throughout their careers. Together, they have had 12 All-Pro selections and 15 Pro Bowl nods shared between them. Watt also won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 after recording 22.5 sacks that season. Despite never having won the Super Bowl, these two have led the Steelers to multiple postseason berths.

Although Herbig and Washington have performed well, right now it does not seem like they will be able to match the effectiveness of Heyward and Watt, which is why their contract value could be questionable if they don’t step up next season.

General Manager Omar Khan has managed to do a good job in the draft, picking players like Herbig and Washington. He also selected George Pickens in 2024. Unfortunately, Pickens left the franchise last season and recorded his best stats to date with the Dallas Cowboys last season. While Pittsburgh has good depth with lots of young players, mostly below 28, none of them are on the All-Pro level. In three seasons, Herbig recorded 16 sacks, with 7.5 coming last year. Washington, on the other hand, has only had two touchdowns in three seasons as the tight end, although his role on the team is a little different from the traditional TE.

While the two are still developing, the coaches and fans still rely on Watt and Heyward, who have been with the team the longest. However, both Watt and Heyward have only a few years left in them. Following that, there are hardly any names to which they can pass the baton. Besides, it is not just the defense; McCarthy may face the same issue with the offense in the coming months.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense also lacks future stars

The Pittsburgh Steelers have splashed a lot of money this offseason. But will it sum to the level of success they desire? They have lost their last seven postseason games, with the latest one coming against the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round game in January. While the defense clearly seems to lack All-Pro-level players other than veteran T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward, the offense is also not far off in that regard.

The Steelers have the likes of Michael Pittman Jr. and D.K. Metcalf, who can show up with big performances. Pittman obviously is their most recent acquisition, which is why a lot of eyes are going to be on him. Metcalf’s did not match the expectations of fans. He recorded 850 passing yards and six touchdowns on 59 receptions, but considering this is his lowest since his NFL debut in 2019, they will be hoping it improves this season.

Despite the stats not looking strong, McCarthy seems to put a lot of faith in Washington. He said, “I’ve been very, very impressed with him. He’s done everything we’ve asked.” It remains to be seen whether the TE can perform in the upcoming season and repay the faith McCarthy and the Steelers have shown in him by offering the extension.

They do have Aaron Rodgers playing as their quarterback. However, he has already announced that this is going to be his last season. His backups are Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and rookie Drew Allar. Surprisingly, none of them has anything impressive to show on their resume as of now.

With the offense and defense both looking veteran-heavy, the Steelers will be hoping their recent draft picks and other young players step up this season. They have had consistent playoff appearances, but what is concerning is that once the veterans retire, will the young guns be able to sustain the brilliance?