If you scroll back through the Colin Cowherd archives on our website, you’ll notice a theme over the years. He has been incredibly consistent about criticizing the Pittsburgh Steelers for prioritizing defense and not spending any money on offense. That’s what makes his latest Steelers free agency take so puzzling.
“I don’t like what the Steelers did,” Cowherd said yesterday via The Herd on FS1. “I think they massively overpaid for what they already have — a high-maintenance wide receiver. I think DK Metcalf and George Pickens share some of the same qualities, and they gave five years, $150 million and a second-round pick for DK Metcalf. I don’t like that at all.”
There are some fair points laced throughout that overall opinion, but he’s now ragging on the team for finally doing what he’s been calling for.
I will admit, I was against the idea of the Steelers trading for Metcalf before it happened for some of the same reasons Cowherd listed, but I don’t agree at all that they overpaid. Young and productive WR1s have been traded for much greater draft capital over the last several years. A second-round pick for Metcalf makes sense, especially with a weaker-than-normal draft class at the position.
As for the contract, $33 million APY in new money places him near the top of the list of highest-paid wide receivers, but what happens when Ja’Marr Chase signs for $40 million APY this offseason? The WR market will shift, and by the second or third year of Metcalf’s five-year deal with the Steelers, he will look like a bargain as long as he stays healthy and productive.
It wasn’t just the Metcalf trade that Cowherd took issue with either.
“They also lost Najee Harris, their left tackle to Tennessee, I just don’t like the Steelers’ offseason at all,” he said.
Najee Harris took a one-year deal worth up to north of $9 million in incentives with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Steelers don’t usually bake in those kinds of incentives, and it’s not a wise time to overpay at the position with a historic incoming draft class at running back. The Steelers should have plenty of options to fill Harris’ role, and with a young and improving offensive line, they could pretty quickly surpass his level of efficiency within their offense.
Dan Moore Jr. signed a massive contract with the Tennessee Titans with $50 million guaranteed and $30 million through the first year of the four-year $82 million deal. There is no way the Steelers were paying that when they have two first-round tackles from the last couple drafts.
There are definitely still issues with the Steelers’ roster. They badly need to figure out their quarterback situation. But you can’t fault them for making a splash and finally getting a long-term WR1 in Pittsburgh.
