It’s official. Antonio Brown is an Oakland Raider. Oakland was able to pick up a superstar who can help them get back to where they want to be. Brown did not hide the fact that he wanted to be traded. The franchise believed that it was the right move moving forward.

The Titans, Redskins, and Bills all showed interested in the star receiver. In the end, Brown will be a Raider. For the Steelers, it might be time to start rebuilding.

Le’Veon Bell will not wear the black and gold next season either. Bell and Brown are considered two of the best players at their position in the league. Losing both in one offseason is not a winning formula.

The Steelers failed to make the playoffs this season for the first time since 2013. They finished second in the AFC North behind the Baltimore Ravens.

Heading into 2019, they will be losing 1,000+ yards and double-digit touchdowns both on the ground and in the receiving game. That is not easy to overcome. With an aging quarterback, Pittsburgh needs to start looking long term, and rebuilding the team back to championship form.

Rebuilding Process

Article Continues Below
More Pittsburgh Steelers News
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin answers questions from the medianduring the NFL Annual League Meeting at The Breakers.
Mike Tomlin’s leadership put into question by Steelers legendSteve Silverman ·
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens in an AFC wild card game at M&T Bank Stadium.
Steelers rumors: NFL Insider hints at Mike Tomlin’s firing amid desperationBenedetto Vitale ·
Jan 11, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) reacts after a catch against the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth quarter in an AFC wild card game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
George Pickens replaced by Steelers star at Pittsburgh youth camp he bailed onBen Strauss ·
One mystery player in the middle, Aaron Rodgers, Alex Highsmith around him, Pittsburgh Steelers logo in the background
1 perfect Pittsburgh Steelers move to fill out roster before 2025 training campEnzo Flojo ·
steelers, steelers trade, pittsburgh steelers, cordarrelle patterson
1 obvious Pittsburgh Steelers trade candidate entering 2025 training campGarrett Kerman ·
Dec 15, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) warms up before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
DK Metcalf a ‘big reason’ Aaron Rodgers signed with the SteelersMike Gianakos ·

Two out of the three Killer B’s will be buzzing around new stadiums next season. Losing Brown and Bell means that the Steelers will have to have younger players step up. James Conner already did so this past season in Bell’s absence. JuJu Smith-Schuster has shown the ability to be a top wide receiver for a team. The Steelers have to feel confident about their young talent. There will still be an adjustment period when players are going from second options to first.

On the defensive side of the ball, Pittsburgh also features some strong, young players. T.J. Watt is carrying the family name very nicely. He is quickly turning into a leader and dominant force for the Steelers. Cameron Heyward and Joe Haden are also big names on the defensive side of the ball for the Steelers.

The position that needs to get younger is quarterback. Ben Roethlisberger will enter next season at 37 years old. He has always been a top-tier quarterback with great talent around him. He will be under a microscope as fans wait to see what he can do with an entirely new supporting cast.

The Steelers drafted Oklahoma State product Mason Rudolph in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. This caused some hard feelings from Roethlisberger. He is an aging quarterback who gets hit a tremendous amount, and could get hurt at any point. Taking a young quarterback who can sit back and learn was a wise move. Nothing new for the Steelers given the success of their front office. It is only a matter of time until Roethlisberger decides to hang them up.

When that happens, the Killer B’s will be a thing of the past. The bright side is that they can come up with another cool nickname for other members of the team. Is there a better name in the league than JuJu Smith-Schuster?

This Brown trade sparked the feeling that the Steelers will be heading in a new direction. With Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield in the division now, the Steelers will have competition for many years to come. That direction should be getting younger and rebuilding.