The Terrible Podcast - Steelers Podcast via Steelers Depot

Season 15, Episode 129 of the Terrible Podcast is now in the can. In this Friday morning episode, Ross McCorkle sits in for Dave Bryan and joins me to share his thoughts on the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2025 NFL Draft class. We discuss each of the team's seven selections and how they can improve the roster. We discuss DL Derrick Harmon's Year One role, how EDGE Jack Sawyer fits into the Steelers' defense, and how seventh-rounders ILB Carson Bruener and CB Donte Kent can make the team. Our draft conversation also touches on the notable undrafted free agents Pittsburgh added and why their UDFA class was unusually strong. Ross and I also briefly touch on the one roster move the Steelers made since our Wednesday show, releasing linebacker Thomas Rush. We end the show by looking around the AFC North to evaluate the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, and Cleveland Browns and offer a loose ranking of which classes were best and worst. Mixed in-between draft talk is a discussion of the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2025 offensive line and how much confidence we have in LT Broderick Jones, entering a critical third year in the NFL. This 77-minute episode also touches on several other minor topics not noted in the recap. Steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 13, Episode 138 of The Terrible Podcast is now in the can. In this Friday morning show, Alex Kozora and I get right to talking about the latest to come out on the Pittsburgh Steelers when it comes to the team’s OTA practices these last few days. We talk quite a bit about the rookie cornerbacks, Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice Jr., in addition to discussing things that veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson has said these last few days. Steelers tackle Dan Moore Jr. is getting practice snaps on the right side in OTAs, so we discuss that bit of news. We also discuss what else is newsworthy concerning the Steelers now that their second week of OTA practices has concluded. We talk some about three position groups we feel the team could quite possibly address moving forward into the summer. Might Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Isaiah Simmons be a plausible trade candidate for the Steelers? We discuss that topic quite thoroughly in this show as well. In the middle of this show, Alex and I are joined by former Steelers longtime scout Mark Gorscak, who is now transitioning into other professional areas in his life. We have a great 40-minute interview with Gorscak that you won't want to miss. He answered quite a few questions from us concerning the inner workings of the scouting process and much more. Make sure you follow Mark on Twitter at @gors55, if not already doing so. Later in the show, Alex and I answer a few questions we have received from listeners over the last several days. We mix in other Steelers talk throughout this episode that is not noted in this recap post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 14, 2026 - For Episode 1,835 this Saturday afternoon, Joe Clark explains why he thinks Rico Dowdle could be an upgrade over Kenneth Gainwell in the running back room. ⁠⁠steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 13, 2026 - For Episode 1,835 this Friday afternoon, Alex Kozora discusses the difficult spot Steelers RB Kaleb Johnson is in behind Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle on the depth chart. ⁠⁠steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 13, 2026 - Season 16, Episode 106 of The Terrible Podcast is now in the can. In this Friday morning show, Alex Kozora and I get right into discussing the Pittsburgh Steelers agreeing to terms with free agent S Jaquan Brisker on Thursday. We go over Bricker's best fit in the Steelers' defense, his contract, injury history, and his pros and cons after four NFL seasons. With Brisker now in Pittsburgh, along with a few other new secondary players, Alex and I discuss Steelers veteran DB Jalen Ramsey and his status with the team. We go over why Friday the 13th is a big day for the Steelers and Ramsey when it comes to commitment level related to his contract. We discuss the plausibility of Ramsey being cut or traded by 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Several more of the Steelers 2026 unrestricted free agents have now found new homes as WR Calvin Austin III, TE Connor Heyward, and S Miles Killebrew all agreed to terms with new teams on Thursday. We go over the details related to the loss of those three players during this Friday show. With free agent QB Kyler Murray signing with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, Alex and I discuss Pittsburgh being the only realistic landing spot for QB Aaron Rodgers this offseason. We discuss Rodgers' potential contract with the Steelers should he indeed re-sign with the team this offseason. Later in this show, Alex and I revisit the finer details of the one-year contract extension that Steelers DT Cameron Heyward signed this past week. Specifically, Alex and I look at the financial details related to the 2027 contract year for Heyward. During this Friday show, Alex and I learn of another Steelers' pre-draft visitor. We discuss that player briefly. We also go over where several members of the Steelers scouting department have been spotted at various pro days this past week. This 67-minute episode also discusses several other minor topics not noted in the above recap and we end this show by answering several emails we received from listeners. steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 12, 2026 - For Episode 1,834 this Thursday afternoon, Josh Carney says that the Michael Pittman Jr. trade is a clear win for the Steelers by moving down just 16 spots late in the draft, even if the extension is a bit much. ⁠⁠steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 12 – Ep. 93: For today's episode, Joe Clark and Ross McCorkle discuss the first week of free agency and the Steelers' various additions, losses, and retained players. Next, we sift through the Patrick Queen rumors and try to decipher if there is any credence to the idea. We also try to answer the question of how to replace him if he does end up getting traded. Finally we discuss the latest Will Howard hype in Pittsburgh and debate whether it's real or not. To end the show, we answer a listener question about how free agency shifted draft needs. Thank you for joining us for this 38-minute episode, and we hope to see your thoughts in the comment section. Call the hotline at (412) 254-3145 and leave us a question for a chance to have it answered in a future episode. You can also text the line if you don't wish to have your voice on the show! Follow us on Twitter: Ross: @Ross_McCorkle Joe: @jclark1233 Steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 11, 2026 - For Episode 1,833 this Wednesday afternoon, Alex Kozora shares the concern over the Steelers not maximizing the initial wave of free agency. ⁠⁠steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 11, 2026 - Season 16, Episode 105 of The Terrible Podcast is now in the can. In this Wednesday morning show, Alex Kozora and I get right into discussing the Baltimore Ravens reneging on their trade with the Las Vegas Raiders for EDGE Maxx Crosby because of a failed physical. We have quite a bit to say on that topic. The Ravens have since decided to sign former Cincinnati Bengals EDGE Trey Hendrickson as an unrestricted free agent, so Alex and I obviously have comments on that AFC North transaction. The Steelers agreed to terms with P Cameron Johnston and S Darnell Savage to cheap one-year contracts on Tuesday, so Alex and I go over the additions of those two players. We also discuss the projected contract numbers for both players. Alex and I then proceed to discuss the erroneous report on Tuesday night concerning the Steelers agreeing to terms with untendered free agent Dallas Cowboys OL Brock Hoffman. We discuss Jordan Schultz deleting that report and the chances of the Steelers still being able to get Hoffman signed after the start of the new league year. Steelers DT Cameron Heyward was in the news on Tuesday thanks to him getting a one-year extension from the team. Alex and I go over the finer details related to Heyward's contract extension and how it essentially was just the veteran defensive linemen receiving a $2 million raise for the 2026 season. We also discuss Heyward's 2026 salary cap number decreasing by nearly $5.5 million and why that happened. While several contract details related to newly signed players have yet to surface, I give a rough estimate at where the Steelers currently sit when it comes to salary cap space based on several educated guesses. Later in this show, Alex and I discuss where the Steelers currently sit on the 2027 compensatory draft pick standings. We talk about how the Steelers might exit this offseason with just one compensatory draft pick ultimately being awarded to the team a year from now. This 83-minute episode also discusses several other minor topics not noted in the above recap and we end this show by answering several emails we received from listeners. steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 10, 2026 - For Episode 1,832 this Tuesday afternoon, Josh Carney says that the big splashes on the first day of the legal tampering window hopefully don't block the Steelers from swinging big at WR or CB in the draft. ⁠⁠steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 10, 2026 - Season 16, Episode 104 of The Terrible Podcast is now in the can. In this Tuesday morning show, Alex Kozora and I get right into discussing the additions the Pittsburgh Steelers made on Monday, the first day of the 2026 legal tampering period. Alex and I talk quite extensively about the Steelers trading for WR Michael Pittman Jr. and their signings of CB Jamel Dean and RB Rico Dowdle. We go over what is known about the contracts given to all three players and what we have seen on tape from all of them. We also grade each of the player additions. The Steelers also re-signed CB Asante Samuel Jr., ILB Cole Holcomb and DL Esezi Otomewo on Monday so we talk about all three of those new deals during this show. The Steelers also lost three of their own free agents on Monday in G Isaac Seumalo, RB Kenneth Gainwell, and CB James Pierre. We discuss the three deals those players signed with new teams during this show. Alex and I move forward to discuss the positions the Steelers might target as they move forward into the legal tampering period. We also go over a few individual players the team might consider signing. There’s been a lot of recent smoke concerning the Dallas Cowboys possibly wanting to trade for Steelers ILB Patrick Queen, so Alex and I address that topic during this show. We go over why the Steelers might be willing to trade Queen, what they might be looking for as compensation for him, and what the team's plan might be if he's ultimately dealt before March 15. The Steelers officially received their 2026 compensatory draft picks on Monday, so Alex and I recap those. We also address where the Steelers stand right now as far as 2027 compensatory draft pick values go as we head into Tuesday. The Baltimore Ravens have lost quite a few of their own free agents so far, so Alex and I address that topic. We also address why Steelers C Zach Frazier and TE Darnell Washington are pretty happy with what they both observed on Monday. This 90-minute episode also discusses several other minor topics not noted in the above recap. steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 9, 2026 - For Episode 1,831 this Monday afternoon, Ross McCorkle reacts to the Steelers' two big moves to start the 2026 legal tampering period and what it means for their draft plans. ⁠⁠steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 9, 2026 - Season 16, Episode 103 of The Terrible Podcast is now in the can. In this Monday morning show, Alex Kozora and I get right into discussing the Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly re-signing two of their own unrestricted free agents in CB Asante Samuel Jr. and ILB Cole Holcomb. We go over the reported contract terms for each player and discuss if the Holcomb re-signing could result in ILB Malik Harrison being cut soon. It sounds like free agent CB James Pierre might have a healthy market should the Steelers not re-sign him by Wednesday afternoon, so we discuss that bit of news that came in on Sunday. The Baltimore Ravens are trading for former Las Vegas Raiders EDGE Maxx Crosby as of this weekend, so Alex and I discuss the compensation given and whether that was a good decision made by the AFC North team. The cornerback position group appears set to have a new APY leader by the middle of the week and with that expected to happen, Alex and I discuss what that will likely mean when it comes to an offseason contract extension for CB Joey Porter Jr. We go over Porter's perceived market value floor entering the start of the NFL league year. We also discuss the career earnings for Porter's father, Joey Porter Sr. The annual NFL free agent tampering period gets underway on Monday at noon and because of that, there's a lot of news to pass along related to several teams. We go over the headlines of trades and re-signings that we know about while this show was being recorded. Alex and I discuss whether the Steelers will ultimately restructure the contract of OLB T.J. Watt this offseason and the pros and cons related to that topic. We also discuss when a Watt restructuring will likely happen this offseason if it even happens at all. Alex and I close this episode out by going over several high-profile players around the NFL that we will be watching closely throughout the next few days when it comes to the legal NFLK free agent tampering period and beyond. This 54-minute episode also discusses several other minor topics not noted in the above recap. steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 8, 2026 - For Episode 1,830 this Sunday afternoon, Dr. Melanie Friedlander talks about why the safety position could be a key focus for the Steelers in free agency. ⁠⁠steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 7, 2026 - For Episode 1,829 this Saturday afternoon, Joe Clark discusses why he expects the Steelers to target an offensive tackle early in the 2026 NFL Draft. ⁠⁠steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 6, 2026 - For Episode 1,828 this Friday afternoon, Alex Kozora wonders what Aaron Rodgers' motivation was for his Wednesday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. ⁠⁠steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 6, 2026 - Season 16, Episode 102 of The Terrible Podcast is now in the can. In this Friday morning show, Alex Kozora and I get right into discussing the Pittsburgh Steelers officially parting ways with TE Jonnu Smith on Wednesday. We review what went wrong during Smith's one season in Pittsburgh and possibly why. Will the steelers cut ILB Malik Harrison prior to Wednesday and they don't, does that mean he is sure to be on the 53-man roster in 2026? We address his situation with the start of the 2026 league year getting close. QB Aaron Rodgers was a guest on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, so Alex and I recap all that the veteran quarterback said and didn’t say during that long appearance. We go over Rodgers not yet making his decision on his 2026 status and what all he hoped to accomplish as part of his Wednesday interview. We also review what Rodgers had to say on Wednesday about new Steelers HC Mike McCarthy and QB Will Howard during his long interview. Should we be concerned if Rodgers hasn’t made his thoughts known for 2026 by Monday, or Wednesday? Alex and I discuss that aspect of this second waiting game with the veteran quarterback. Will the Steelers show any interest in possibly signing soon-to-be free agent QB Malik Willis next week? As we wait for the answer to that question, Alex and I discuss the perceived market value of Willis based on a recent projection by former NFL agent Joel Corry of CBS Sports. On the heels of Alex releasing his free agent wish list for the Steelers for 2026, we go over all of his choices. We discuss the projected market prices for several of the players on his list and I add in the few other free agent players I think the Steelers should pursue starting next week. Late in this Friday show, Alex and I get the news that the Steelers have their first pre-draft visitor, former Miami OT Markel Bell, in for the 2026 offseason. We make sure to review that news in addition to the Friday morning news of the Las Vegas Raiders planning to cut QB Geno Smith next week. This 108-minute episode also discusses several other minor topics not noted in the above recap and we end this episode by answering several emails we have received from listeners. steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 5, 2026 - For Episode 1,827 this Thursday afternoon, Josh Carney doubles down on it being time for the Steelers to make the decision for Aaron Rodgers and move on in free agency. ⁠⁠steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 5 – Ep. 92: For today's episode, Joe Clark and Ross McCorkle discuss all the latest on Aaron Rodgers from his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, including a ringing endorsement for the Will Howard hype that's been reverberating around Pittsburgh all offseason. Next, we each give three takeaways from the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine after spending the week in Indianapolis. We also preview free agency including the possibility of trades, positions to target, quarterbacks of interest and more. To end the show, we answer a listener question about the need at offensive tackle. Thank you for joining us for this 42-minute episode, and we hope to see your thoughts in the comment section. Call the hotline at (412) 254-3145 and leave us a question for a chance to have it answered in a future episode. You can also text the line if you don't wish to have your voice on the show! Follow us on Twitter: Ross: @Ross_McCorkle Joe: @jclark1233 Steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 4, 2026 - For Episode 1,826 this Wednesday afternoon, Alex Kozora discusses why it's so unfortunate OT Broderick Jones suffered a significant neck injury, cutting short a promising 2025 campaign. ⁠⁠steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices