CLEVELAND, Ohio — We have the 2025 Browns schedule, and now it’s time to look at what each of the teams they will play this season has changed ahead of the season.
I will provide these opponent breakdowns over the next several weeks leading up to the start of the season as we look at the biggest addition, subtraction, best draft pick and what they all mean for when they play the Browns.
Next up in our series is the final AFC North team the Browns will get their first look at in 2025: the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns go to Pittsburgh in Week 6 and will host the Steelers in Week 17.
The Steelers made the playoffs in 2024, their fourth postseason appearance in five years. But like each of the previous three, they lost in the wild card round in a 28-14 defeat to the Ravens in Baltimore.
The hopes of extending Mike Tomlin’s streak of .500 seasons or better to 19 now rest on the right arm of Aaron Rodgers. Can he find some of his old form in Pittsburgh, or will his recent struggles continue?
Here is a look at the Steelers offseason.
Check out links to earlier posts in this series at the bottom of this post.
**Biggest addition: Rodgers.**
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Even though the Steelers traded for Jalen Ramsey on June 30, nothing the Steelers did was more significant than adding the future Hall of Fame quarterback.
The 41-year-old Rodgers did not have the type of success with the Jets that he was expected to have. Whether it was because he was recovering from his torn Achilles from the year prior or if age is catching up to Rodgers, 2024 was not a good year for him, completing 63.0% of his passes for 3,987 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
The Steelers lost both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to free agency this offseason, which almost forced them to wait on Rodgers.
Rodgers is pretty much a one-year stopgap for Pittsburgh as it waits to find the franchise quarterback of the future while at the same time trying to extend Tomlin’s streak.
**Biggest subtraction: WR George Pickens.**
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When the Steelers traded for D.K. Metcalf and signed him to a four-year extension worth $132 million, the writing looked like it was on the wall for Pickens. The former second-round pick was traded to the Cowboys on May 7 in exchange for two draft picks, including a third rounder in 2026.
Pickens clearly has a lot of talent with 174 catches for 2,841 yards and 12 TDs. But there have been plenty of instances of Pickens having issues on and off the field.
Metcalf is an upgrade on Pickens, but the Steelers could have used both to give Rodgers plenty of help, even if it meant losing Pickens after the season for nothing.
**Best draft pick: RB Kaleb Johnson.**
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While the Steelers took Oregon DT Derrick Harmon with their first-round pick, I was even more impressed with their selection of the former Iowa running back 62 picks later.
A native of Hamilton, Ohio, Johnson rushed for 1,535 yards and 21 touchdowns last season for Iowa. I liked them getting a running back, especially after losing Najee Harris to the Chargers, and Johnson was great value in the third round. Johnson is very good at generating chunk plays and runs with patience, prompting Le’Veon Bell comparisons.
The Steelers were 11th in the NFL in rushing offense last season despite being 25th in yards per carry (4.1). Johnson’s efficiency as a runner should help the latter improve.
**What it means in their matchups with the Browns**
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The Browns and Steelers have split their season series three years in a row with the home team going 6-0 in those games. Even though the addition of Aaron Rodgers brings name recognition, I’m not sure just how much better it makes Pittsburgh.
Rodgers has had double-digit interceptions in each of his last two full seasons — 2022 and 2024. In fact, his 11 in 2024 are almost twice as many as all Steelers passers had (six).
So on the surface, it doesn’t seem like an ideal fit for a Steelers team that has had success by cutting down on turnovers in recent years. These two games against Rodgers and the Steelers should give the Browns more opportunities to take the ball away, which has to be a point of emphasis this season.
This is also a good place to mention how much Pittsburgh has tried to revamp its secondary. The Steelers signed veterans DeShon Elliott and Darius Slay to help a group that finished 25th against the pass. This could ultimately be where these games are decided between whether Pittsburgh’s additions improve the back end or if Cleveland’s revamped passing game can have success.
**Catch up on the series**
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