It's Wednesday, which means it's time for another edition of our weekly Steelers and AFC North links roundup. Let's start with a quick tour around the division before diving into the black and gold.
In Baltimore, the Ravens have a rookie scouting report that's turning heads: Zion Young is bringing a violent edge to the defensive line. Over in Cincinnati, the Bengals might have landed one of the offseason's biggest bargains in Kyle Dugger. And in Cleveland, the Browns are seeing a clear role emerge for Emmanuel McNeil-Warren heading into 2026.
Now, onto the Steelers—and there's plenty to talk about. First up, a feel-good story with a familiar name. Former Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier, whose promising career was cut short by a spinal injury in 2017, has found a new home in the organization. After serving as a scouting assistant and a coaching intern in 2024, Shazier has officially taken on the role of alumni relations assistant. It's a natural fit for a player who has always been a leader, and now he's helping coordinate the franchise's alumni network. For Steelers fans, seeing Shazier stay connected to the team is a reminder of what makes this organization special.
On the field, the quarterback situation is generating buzz. At the team's rookie minicamp, third-round pick Drew Allar was the only quarterback on the field—no practice squad players, no veterans, no Aaron Rodgers. And that was by design. Head coach Mike McCarthy wanted to push Allar, giving him 35 snaps in team drills to see how he'd handle the load. "We kind of gauged it yesterday to see how we'd work through it, and he's a big part of it," McCarthy said. Allar was viewed as a project coming out of the draft, but the Steelers are clearly eager to dive into that challenge. With no other quarterbacks around to share the reps, all eyes were on the rookie—and he didn't disappoint.
As the offseason continues, the big question on everyone's mind: who should the Steelers extend next? With key players like T.J. Watt already locked in, the front office has some tough decisions ahead. But for now, the focus is on building chemistry and developing young talent like Allar. Stay tuned for more updates as training camp approaches.