Welcome back to your Pittsburgh Steelers mailbag. As always, we’re here for the next hour to answer whatever is on your mind. First mailbag in awhile post-camp, glad to finally return to the regular Thursday routine.
To your questions!
Stephen Jacobson: Hey Alex! How do you see the Cam Heyward saga ultimately playing out? Im guessing some portion of his 2026 roster bonus paid up front. Your thoughts?
Alex: Hey Stephen! I think *something* gets done. Dave and I have gone back and forth on pushing forward the roster bonus or guaranteeing next year’s salary. I think Cam wants a raise now. More money in his pocket today.
Ultimately, I don’t foresee him missing regular season games. I sure hope it doesn’t get to that point. For a guy who wants playoff success to stamp his legacy, that isn’t serving anyone well. I see some sort of contract “tweak” before Week 1.
Black And Gold Mafia:
Alex you can choose one for your starter…
2021 Ben Roethlisberger
2024 Justin Fields
2025 Aaron Rodgers
Alex: Ooh, good question. I assume I can’t wrangle the question and choose 2024 Justin Fields for 2025 with the benefit of being in the Arthur Smith system for a full season. That was one reason why I was interested in Fields returning. I’m sure you’re asking in a vacuum, singular campaign, who is the best. I’ll say Rodgers. Even with his flaws, he has the most arm talent (velocity + accuracy) of the group and has taken historically great care of the football. Fields’ legs and running game component is attractive but he’s not close as a passer to where Rodgers is today. And ’21 Ben didn’t have the arm of Rodgers or the legs of Fields.
Brian: Hey Alex! We keeping talking about Cam but what about Boswell? Do he sign a new contract? personally, pay them but precedent for future contracts…..
Alex: No extension for Boz because he’s two years out and that would break precedent. They can move money up from 2026, though the issue is they can only move so much money. Will it be enough to make him happy? And if Heyward sees that, I assume he’ll want the same. But he should get an “advance/raise” of some sort. Pretty confident in believing that.
Michael Harms: Hey Alex, Regarding the ILB position. Its Queen and Wilson to start. But what are the roles. Last year it seemed obvious with Roberts the run stopper, and Wilson would come in on obvious pass situations. What are the roles here between Queen, Holcolmb, Wilson, Harrison. And will Queen move to that run stopper role more now that Roberts is gone?
Alex: This year, they want Queen and Wilson to be the guys. No three-man rotation. And camp is very clearly showing that’s how it’ll start. Now, if the run defense struggles, if Wilson slips, then they could filter Harrison in. But I don’t see Harrison eating into Wilson’s playing time like Roberts did last year. Harrison isn’t quite as thumping against the run like Roberts and Wilson has taken another step forward.
So Harrison, Holcomb, etc – they’re all backups.
kelly ohl:
Alex,
What are you thoughts on Kaleb Johnson so far? Seems to be a lot of concerns on the national media side for a 3rd round pick. Thanks for ALL your great work.
Alex: Yeah, little bit too much freakout after one game. Par for the course this time of year. He had a nice start to camp. I don’t have many reservations about him as a runner. He can run the ball. The concern should be about everything else. If he can catch (he’s had some drops), if he can block (got better in camp but ways to go), and overall, is he someone Aaron Rodgers can trust. That’s a big work in progress and could limited his snap count.
