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Steelers TE Donald Parham Out For Season After Torn Achilles

June 5th, 2025 at 2:10pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

JUNE 5: Parham has officially been placed on injured reserve. As a result, his season is over. Parham will hit free agency next spring with his value having taken a notable hit.

JUNE 3: Steelers tight end Donald Parham will likely miss the entire 2025 season after suffering a torn Achilles in OTAs, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The former Charger signed with the Steelers in February on a one-year deal for the veteran minimum. He was expected to slot in as tight end depth behind starter Pat Freiermuth, but will now spend the season on the sidelines, leaving Pittsburgh thin at the position.

The Steelers only have two other tight ends with any NFL experience: 2023 third-rounder Darnell Washington and 2022 sixth-rounder Connor Heyward. Both have primarily served as blockers in the NFL – Heyward as a hybrid TE/FB and Washington as a jumbo-sized inline blocker – though the latter showed up at OTAs 10 pounds lighter, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show. Pittsburgh’s undrafted rookie tight ends, DJ Thomas-Jones and J.J. Galbreath, will now have the opportunity to make a strong impression this summer and push for a roster spot.

Parham’s injury could also intensify the Steelers’ renewed pursuit of Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith. Pittsburgh was already looking to add an offensive playmaker before the season and now has an even stronger need at tight end.

In the event that Smith stays in Miami, the Steelers may have to pivot to a veteran free agent. MyCole Pruitt logged 271 snaps in Arthur Smith‘s offense last year, and 19-year veteran Marcedes Lewis recently revealed that he wants to sign with a new team for the 2025 season.

Parham, meanwhile, won’t see the field for a second consecutive season. After four years as a rotational option with the Chargers, he was released last August during final roster cuts. He landed on the Broncos’ practice squad, but was not elevated a single time during the regular season.

Steelers’ T.J. Watt Expected To Sign Extension Before Week 1

June 4th, 2025 at 10:30pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Steelers are continuing extension talks with T.J. Watt, and according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the four-time All-Pro is expected to put pen to paper before the regular season begins in September.

Watt has yet to attend Pittsburgh’s OTAs as he awaits a new contract. The team reportedly submitted an offer earlier this week, but Watt seems to be pursuing a stronger deal after an explosion in edge rusher pay this offseason. Maxx Crosby got $35.5MM per year from the Raiders in March, and a few days later, Myles Garrett‘s extension with the Browns reset the market with a $40MM APY.

Watt’s current contract — one agreed to days before the 2021 season — is worth just over $28MM per year, so he should be in line for a significant raise after two consecutive top-five finishes in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He will turn 31 during the 2025 season, which could raise age concerns in Pittsburgh, but Garrett is only a year younger with 3.5 fewer sacks since 2023. Watt has also been durable despite a high snap share; he has started 44 straight regular-season games dating back to 2022, though an MCL sprain at the end of the 2023 season sidelined him for the playoffs.

The 2017 first-round pick has been one of the league’s best pass rushers for his entire career, including a 22.5-sack performance in 2021 that tied Michael Strahan‘s single-season record. Watt’s 31.5 sacks over the last two years trail only Trey Hendrickson, who is at an impasse in his own extension negotiations with the Bengals. Hendrickson is also entering his age-31 season but took longer to reach Watt’s level of elite production. If one of the two can agree to new terms with their team, it might clarify the market and lead to a resolution for the other.

Another consideration for Watt is D.K. Metcalf‘s four-year, $132MM contract, which surpassed the future Hall of Fame OLB’s current deal to set new franchise records in per-year and total money. The current edge rusher market should allow Watt to beat Metcalf’s $33MM APY, but setting a new high in total money will require a four-year deal though Watt’s age-35 season in 2029.

As Dulac notes, edge rusher production tends to drop after age 30, so guarantees will be a sticking point in negotiations. The Steelers typically shy away from post-Year 1 guarantees, but they made an exception for Watt on his current contract. Watt’s 2021 extension included a team-record $80MM in fully guaranteed money with guaranteed salaries in 2022 and 2023. That will set a precedent for similar terms on an extension that would guarantee Watt’s salary in 2026 and 2027. Ultimately, the two sides’ ability to reach an agreement will likely come down to the Steelers’ willingness to pay Watt as an elite edge rusher for the rest of his career.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/4/25

June 4th, 2025 at 7:46pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor moves across the NFL:

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Jacksonville Jaguars

Miami Dolphins

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Gill becomes the 13th wide receiver on the Browns roster. While that certainly seems like a lot, keep in mind that the Browns need to run drills for four quarterbacks and some receivers aren’t able to participate at the moment. An undrafted receiver out of Fresno State last year, Gill spent the last two months of the season on the Browns’ practice squad.

The Eagles add another undrafted rookie to their group in Adeyi. The speedy, diminutive wideout spent his final two collegiate seasons at Sam Houston State. He had 30 catches for 271 yards and a touchdown, with another score on the ground. He returned punts for the Bearkats in 2024, as well.

2025 NFL Cap Space, By Team

June 4th, 2025 at 8:57am CST by Sam Robinson

This week started with a point on the NFL calendar that has been important for decades. Although teams have not needed to wait until June to make their most expensive cuts in many years, they do not see the funds from post-June 1 designations until that point.

With June 1 coming and going, a fourth of the league has seen the savings from post-June 1 releases arrive. That has affected the NFL’s cap-space hierarchy. Here is how every team stands (via OverTheCap) following June 2 changes:

  1. New England Patriots: $67.34MM
  2. San Francisco 49ers: $53.49MM
  3. Detroit Lions: $40.12MM
  4. New York Jets: $39.8MM
  5. Las Vegas Raiders: $36.16MM
  6. Arizona Cardinals: $32.11MM
  7. Dallas Cowboys: $32.11MM
  8. Pittsburgh Steelers: $31.88MM
  9. Seattle Seahawks: $31.21MM
  10. Tennessee Titans: $30.16MM
  11. Green Bay Packers: $28.94MM
  12. Cincinnati Bengals: $27.08MM
  13. Los Angeles Chargers: $26.83MM
  14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $26.63MM
  15. Jacksonville Jaguars: $26.54MM
  16. Philadelphia Eagles: $25.79MM
  17. New Orleans Saints: $22.62MM
  18. Washington Commanders: $21.13MM
  19. Indianapolis Colts: $20.09MM
  20. Los Angeles Rams: $19.44MM
  21. Baltimore Ravens: $18.95MM
  22. Carolina Panthers: $18.69MM
  23. Minnesota Vikings: $18.49MM
  24. Cleveland Browns: $18.2MM
  25. Houston Texans: $16.3MM
  26. Denver Broncos: $16.23MM
  27. Chicago Bears: $14.76MM
  28. Miami Dolphins: $13.81MM
  29. Kansas City Chiefs: $10.75MM
  30. Atlanta Falcons: $5.02MM
  31. New York Giants: $3.82MM
  32. Buffalo Bills: $1.69MM

The Jets saw their situation change the most from post-June 1 designations, as $13.5MM became available to the team after its Aaron Rodgers and C.J. Mosley cuts. Teams have up to two post-June 1 designations at their disposals. Five clubs — the Jets, Browns, Ravens, Eagles and 49ers — used both slots. Only three other teams made a post-June 1 cut before that seminal date. The eight that made these moves will have dead money split between 2025 and 2026.

Baltimore used the cost-defraying option to release Marcus Williams and Justin Tucker, while Cleveland — in Year 4 of the regrettable Deshaun Watson partnership — used it to move on from Juan Thornhill and Dalvin Tomlinson. As the Eagles’ option bonus-heavy payroll included two hefty bonus numbers for Darius Slay and James Bradberry, the reigning Super Bowl champions released both 30-something cornerbacks. Together, Slay and Bradberry will count more than $20MM on Philadelphia’s 2026 cap sheet. As for this year, though, the Browns, Eagles, Ravens and 49ers respectively saved $9.85MM, $9.4MM, $6.3MM, $6.4MM and $5.6MM, according to Spotrac.

The Jaguars made a mid-offseason decision to release Gabe Davis, doing so not long after trading up to draft Travis Hunter — with the plan to primarily play him at wide receiver — at No. 2 overall. Off-field issues, coupled with a down 2024 season, made Tucker expendable — after the Ravens drafted Tyler Loop in Round 6. The Vikings moved off Garrett Bradbury‘s contract and will replace him with free agency addition Ryan Kelly, while Mason lasted two seasons paired with C.J. Stroud‘s rookie deal. The 49ers made it known early they were moving on from Javon Hargrave, while 2024 trade addition Maliek Collins also exited the team’s D-tackle room.

Derek Carr‘s retirement being processed Tuesday also changed the Saints’ funding. The team will spread the dead money ($50.13MM) across two years. Even with the number being reduced this year, the Saints will be hit with the second-highest single-player dead money hit (behind only the Broncos’ Russell Wilson separation) in NFL history as a result of the Carr exit. The Saints will only be responsible for $19.21MM of that total in 2025. As they did with Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox‘s retirements last year, the Eagles will also process Brandon Graham‘s hit this way.

Eight of this year’s post-June 1 releases remain in free agency. The Patriots added Bradbury to replace the now-retired David Andrews, while the Vikings scooped up Hargrave. As the Steelers await Rodgers’ decision, they added two other post-June 1 releases in Slay and Thornhill. Tomlinson joined the Cardinals not long after his Browns release.

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin Not On Hot Seat

June 3rd, 2025 at 11:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

The longest-tenured active NFL HC, Mike Tomlin continues to move closer to Chuck Noll‘s duration number in Pittsburgh. The four-time Super Bowl winner logged 23 seasons; Tomlin is now in Year 19. He received another extension — a three-year deal — last June.

Another season without a playoff win followed, further establishing a trend for a franchise that has settled into a sector with a historically high floor. Of course, the Steelers have not enjoyed a particularly high ceiling in many years. They have not won a playoff game since a six-field goal performance edged the Chiefs, who used that home loss as a launch point to trade up for Patrick Mahomes, in the 2016 divisional round. The Steelers are 0-5 in the postseason since.

[RELATED: Steelers Denied Bears Permission To Meet With Tomlin]

Tomlin, 53, received assurances in January — after a 10-3 start ended with five straight losses, the last a one-sided wild-card defeat in Baltimore — he would be back for a 19th season. While the Steelers have drifted into strangely desperate territory during this months-long Aaron Rodgers pursuit, the extended courtship does not indicate Tomlin is coaching for his job. On the contrary, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac indicates the accomplished HC’s seat is not particularly hot.

The dynamics of this situation have generated interest for years, as Tomlin’s popularity among Steelers fans appears to be waning — as January one-and-dones mount — while national respect remains. The Super Bowl-winning HC, of course, has never experienced a losing season in his lone HC gig. He has done well to navigate undesirable QB situations for several years, dating back to the 2019 season Ben Roethlisberger largely missed with an elbow injury that effectively ended his prime. Tomlin reaching a 10-7 mark with Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph in 2023 proved quite impressive, and the Steelers — who carried a minus-20 point differential into those playoffs — were within one score of the No. 2-seeded Bills until midway through the fourth quarter.

Famously having employed only three HCs since 1969, the Steelers give their power brokers plenty of time to operate. Kevin Colbert was in place for 23 years as Steelers GM or de facto GM, and it would stand to reason Omar Khan is not on a hot seat entering his fourth year in the role. He and Tomlin have continued to fortify a high-end defense, after the unit’s work had dipped a bit during the “Killer B’s” period, that has kept the operation afloat during this period of quarterback uncertainty. Though, the Steelers have also seen their QB situations produce undesirable results for a while.

That has led to this Rodgers waiting period. The Steelers are still banking on the 41-year-old passer to end his lengthy free agency stay and sign; Rodgers and Tomlin have been in contact during most of the offseason. As of last weekend, however, the team did not have true assurances Rodgers would ultimately commit. Rodgers has dropped hints, as he makes public appearances while not being part of the Steelers during OTAs. A prediction that a late-May signing would commence proved inaccurate.

The Steelers acquired an additional 2026 third-round pick (via the George Pickens trade), as a pursuit of a hopeful long-term QB option looms for next year, but Rodgers is the team’s main focus — to the point this pursuit is overshadowing the steady AFC North outfit’s offseason — for 2025.

The Steelers also won a playoff game in 2015, an Andy Dalton-less wild-card contest in Cincinnati marred by late Bengals penalties, but followed their Super Bowl XLV appearance with one-and-done showings in 2011 and 2014. A stretch with three postseason wins in 14 seasons is not a great look for a head coach; though, having zero losing seasons in that span certainly is. Pittsburgh has opted for stability, but it will be interesting to see if this Rodgers- or Kirk Cousins–led season changes Steelers ownership’s view of the situation. Tomlin has certainly earned the benefit of the doubt, even as frustration mounts, and a 20th season will mark the next milestone. How much longer should the team proceed in this direction?

Dolphins, Steelers Resume Talks On Jonnu Smith; TE Has Discussed Miami Extension

June 3rd, 2025 at 11:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Dolphins-Jonnu Smith saga keeps going. After a report indicated Miami was not expected to unload Smith, ESPN’s Adam Schefter indicates talks between the Dolphins and Steelers on the veteran tight end are back on.

Smith has expressed a desire to stay in Miami, but he is angling for a new contract. The sides have talked about a new deal, per the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, Omar Kelly and Isiaah Smalls Jr., though it does not sound like an extension is close. While Mike McDaniel said Tuesday he wants Smith on the 2025 roster, a player who rebounded from down New England years is underpaid relative to his recent production.

“Jonnu is a very important player and person to me, and the guys,” McDaniel said, via Kelly. “The thing that we can stand on is his professionalism and how he goes about his business. There are times that business can play a part, for sure. And a team can make it as complicated as they like if they have a lot of time to focus on what’s going on with Jonnu. I’d encourage them to focus on what’s going on in their game.”

Entering the second season of a two-year, $8.4MM deal, Smith is coming off an 884-yard season. As Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle‘s production decreased during a disappointing Dolphins season, Smith provided a spark. As he heads into an age-30 season, time is running short for the former Arthur Smith charge (in Tennessee and Atlanta) to capitalize on his prime form.

A Schefter report earlier today noted Smith was unlikely to be moved. A trade would certainly deal a blow to the Dolphins’ ability to complement Hill and Waddle at tight end, and as McDaniel and Chris Grier‘s seats do not appear particularly cool, dealing a quality tight end without a clear path to replacing him would be quite the risk.

Smith is staying away from the team until at least mandatory minicamp, and Kelly adds the Dolphins viewed the first of these rumors — which emerged last week — as a leverage play from Smith’s camp. That would indicate suspicion these are not genuine trade talks, though we have now heard them surface on multiple occasions. It would seem odd if that were a leverage play on the player’s side, as the Dolphins would obviously need to pull the trigger on a deal. But here we are, as this situation has now generated is approaching the Jalen Ramsey matter for update volume.

Arthur Smith could use Jonnu Smith in a Steelers offense lacking proven auxiliary playmakers, though Pat Freiermuth presently stands as the team’s top D.K. Metcalf complementary piece following the George Pickens trade. Pittsburgh also rosters Darnell Washington at tight end, making these Jonnu Smith talks rather interesting.

The Steelers clearly want to add another weapon to their offense after sending Pickens to the Cowboys. The repeated links to Smith suggest that he is their top target, but they have been in touch with multiple teams in recent weeks.

Pittsburgh’s persistent pursuit of Metcalf dated back to the 2024 trade deadline and was eventually rewarded in March. However, the team may have trouble extracting Smith out of Miami if the Dolphins don’t think they can find a suitable replacement by the start of the season.

Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.

Steelers To Host WR Gabe Davis; No TE Jonnu Smith Trade Expected

June 3rd, 2025 at 9:48am CST by Adam La Rose

Gabe Davis‘ free agent tour will continue this week. The veteran wideout will next meet with the Steelers, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Davis will fly to Pittsburgh tomorrow and visit the team on Thursday. That will mark his third known meeting with an interested team. The former Bill and Jaguar has taken a visit with the 49ers and Giants so far. Neither of those produced a deal, but in the case of at least New York, team and player have remained in contact.

With nothing imminent on either of those fronts, Davis will continue to gauge his market deep into the offseason. The 26-year-old expectedly departed Buffalo in free agency last year, but his debut campaign in Jacksonville did not go according to plan. Taking on $20MM in dead money in the process, the Jags’ new regime moved forward with a release last month (doing so with a failed physical designation).

Evaluating Davis’ knee will of course be a key aspect of his visits before signing a new deal. In the case of the Steelers, it comes as no surprise this meeting has been arranged. Pittsburgh is known to still be in the market for a pass-catching addition of some kind in the wake of the George Pickens trade. D.K. Metcalf will operate as the team’s new No. 1, with incumbents Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson in line to take on increased roles in 2025. Veteran Robert Woods has already been added via free agency, but with nearly $32MM in cap space the Steelers could easily afford another signing.

On another note, Schefter reports Pittsburgh is not expected to swing a trade for Jonnu Smith. The veteran tight end emerged as a potential target last week, and a swap sending him to the Steelers would allow for another reunion with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The presence of fellow tight end Pat Freiermuth for 2025 and beyond would make a Smith trade at least somewhat redundant, however. After a franchise-record campaign with the Dolphins in 2024, Smith’s preference is to remain in Miami.

With that appearing likely to be the case, Pittsburgh’s attention will return to the receiver spot in terms of adding a pass-catching presence. Depending on how this week’s visit goes, that move could turn out to be a Davis signing.

Steelers Have Submitted T.J. Watt Extension Offer?

June 2nd, 2025 at 9:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

With OTAs underway, T.J. Watt has yet to work out an extension agreement with the Steelers. At least one offer appears to have been made in this case, however.

During a recent episode of the Kaboly + Mack podcast, Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show reported that a “pretty significant” extension offer has been submitted to Watt (video link). It is unclear when it was made, but the offer is on the table at this point. Without a deal being signed, though, a gap clearly still exists between team and player in this situation.

Kaboly added it is unknown whether or not the current offer outpaces the extension Myles Garrett signed with the Browns this offseason. That four-year, $160MM pact ended speculation about his future in Cleveland – which was of course driven in large part by his trade request – and reset the edge rush market. Watt was once the league’s highest earner at the position, with that being the case for the first two years of his existing contract (four years, $112MM). A raise is in store once again, although it remains to be seen if surpassing Garrett’s deal will be required.

Team and player have expressed a desire to continue their relationship beyond 2025. That led to an expectation Watt would join the list of high-profile pass rushers receiving a new deal this offseason. The former Defensive Player of the Year remains a pending 2026 free agent at this point, though. Age (30) will be a key consideration in this case. Watt has nevertheless led the NFL in sacks three times since 2020 and has earned at least second-team All-Pro honors in five of the past six seasons.

The Steelers do not have a long history of committing guaranteed money beyond the first year of an extension for non-quarterbacks. Watt’s 2021 deal (signed days before the start of the campaign) represented an exception, but it will be interesting to see how far the team is willing to go on another monster extension. The seven-time Pro Bowler saw his sack total drop to 11.5 in 2024, and he was held off the statsheet in that regard for the team’s final four games last season.

An April social media post led to increased speculation about Watt’s situation, and he is among the veterans currently skipping OTAs while extension talks take place. Pittsburgh also has the likes of Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and – on a full-time basis starting this year – DeMarvin Leal as experienced pass rushers. Rookie Jack Sawyer will compete for a depth role in 2025, but much of the team’s success will depend on Watt’s production. That, in turn could be influenced by the nature of extension negotiations, a process which will clearly need to continue.

Steelers Moving DeMarvin Leal To OLB

June 1st, 2025 at 5:15pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

After struggling to find a positional fit in the NFL, Steelers third-year defender DeMarvin Leal will likely move to outside linebacker in Pittsburgh this season.

Leal largely played as a jumbo-sized edge rusher in college at Texas A&M, but an uptick in interior snaps in his last season led to projections of a full-time switch in the pros. He added weight for such a role as a rookie, but bounced between interior and edge work in his first two years. Leal primarily played outside linebacker in 2024 before landing on injured reserve with a neck injury.

Now, the 2022 third-rounder is poised to make that move permanent. He has been lining up at outside linebacker at the Steelers’ OTAs, per Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show, and will likely slot in as a backup behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.

Interestingly, Leal is “noticeably bigger” than last season, according to Kaboly. His weight has fluctuated somewhat since entering the league, but he is currently listed at 290 pounds on the Steelers’ website, which might not be up to date. Given his draft billing as an oversized edge defender, gaining weight to play OLB in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 defense doesn’t quite make sense, especially since Leal wasn’t already an elite athlete for his size.

Though he’s on the other end of the OLB weight spectrum, Highsmith has been mentoring Leal through his position switch.

“He got some experience as a rookie, and he has that experience from a couple of years ago that helps him be versatile,” said Highsmith (via Kaboly). “He is a guy who you try to continue to help to get better.”

Aaron Rodgers Yet To Offer Steelers Assurances Of 2025 Deal?

May 31st, 2025 at 9:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2025 offseason has been filled with connections between Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers. No signing has taken place yet, with nothing appearing to be imminent at this point.

Considering how Pittsburgh has handled the quarterback spot this offseason – reuniting with Mason Rudolph, not pursuing other starting-caliber free agents and waiting until the sixth round of the draft to add a rookie – many have assumed an agreement of sorts is in place between team and player in this situation. Rodgers himself hinted at that during his latest public remarks on the subject. However, it appears no assurances have been received in Pittsburgh’s case.

During a recent appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Rodgers has “not affirmatively told the Steelers that he’s coming” (video link). Pittsburgh has clearly operated as though the 41-year-old will sign at some point, with owner Art Rooney II and head coach Mike Tomlin practicing patience for a decision to be made. Rodgers (who was at one point under consideration from the Giants and preferred to sign with the Vikings this spring) has not committed, at least publicly, to playing at all in 2025. The expectation still remains, though, that a Steelers deal is forthcoming.

The four-time MVP’s only free agent visit took place at the Steelers’ facility, and at least one contract offer has been made. Rodgers worked out with trade acquisition D.K. Metcalf earlier this offseason, one in which he has remained in contact with Tomlin. Each of those signs have contributed to the ongoing assumption he will handle starting duties for Pittsburgh in 2025 as the team prepares for a high draft investment next spring. That could still prove to be the case, but mandatory minicamp looms as a potential deadline for an official commitment to be made.

The Steelers have already begun OTAs with Rudolph – who was made aware of the possibility Pittsburgh could add an established starter in free agency – in the QB1 spot. Minicamp is set to begin June 10, and that could be seen as a point at which the team moves forward with its incumbent quarterbacks (along with, potentially, another veteran added late in the offseason). If the Steelers were to take that route, Kirk Cousins would increasingly become a name to watch.

As Rodgers’ offseason continues to include a pressing matter related to a member of his inner circle, May has come and gone without a Steelers deal coming to pass. A resolution on that off-the-field matter would presumably accelerate his decision, something which has apparently still not been explicitly been communicated to the team yet.

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