Projected Steelers TE1. Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback.
Tight end usage is a staff upgrade. Pittman is a real target add.
- ADP
- 18.08 (212)
- Target
- 18.08
- Move
- 0
- As of
- 2026-08-25
What changed
8 real changes. The rest held.
Play caller
Was 2025 Steelers staff / Tomlin
Now Mike McCarthy calls; Brian Angelichio OC
McCarthy pass lean, West Coast timing, familiarity with Rodgers from Green Bay.
Head coach
Was Mike Tomlin (fired)
Now Mike McCarthy (hired 2026)
Offense-first HC replacing a defensive lifer.
Scheme & pace
Was Tomlin-era mix
Now McCarthy pass lean, push the pace
More dropbacks if Rodgers is upright.
Pass blocking
Was Fautanu / Frazier building blocks
Now LT Troy Fautanu, LG Mason McCormick (slid from RG), C Zach Frazier, RG Spencer Anderson (first-time starter), RT Dylan Cook (first-time starter)
Two first-time starters on the right side. Frazier is the interior lock.
Run blocking
Was McCormick at RG; Fautanu/Frazier
Now McCormick slides to LG; Anderson and Cook are first-time starters
Right side is new. Not a McCarthy note.
Pass catchers
Was 2025 Steelers WRs
Now Michael Pittman Jr. acquired; McCarthy historically targeted WRs with Rodgers
Pittman is a real target add.
Tight end
Was 2025 TE room
Now Angelichio is a former tight ends coach — usage should hold
Tight end usage is a staff upgrade.
Backfield
Was 2025 Steelers backs
Now Rico Dowdle signed; pass-lean McCarthy
Fewer designed runs if the script goes pass.
Continuity
Quarterback
Was Aaron Rodgers
Now Aaron Rodgers (re-signed)
Projected starter under Mike McCarthy. Age/durability is the cloud.
Team environment
Was Tomlin perennial .500+
Now McCarthy year one, AFC North slog
Competitive, not a gimme.
Vacated volume
- Targets
- —
- Carries
- —
- Red zone
- —
- Air yards
- —
No high-confidence vacated-volume number published. Role change matters more than a target count.
Competition added
- Michael Pittman Jr.medium
trade · trade from Indianapolis
New WR volume next to Metcalf.
This player
- Projected role
- Projected Steelers TE1. Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback.
- Usage
- Pass-game tight end. Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback.
- Injury
- No Week 1 absence reported as of August 20, 2026.
- Contract
- Not flagged as a 2026 hold-in.
- Camp
- Training camp underway as of August 2026. Week 1 is September.
Upside
Tight end usage is a staff upgrade. Pittman is a real target add. More dropbacks if Rodgers is upright.
Downside
Camp could still change the job before Week 1.
Risks
- Most of this looks like last year. Watch for a quiet camp role change.low
Sources
No source URLs were returned with this brief.
Notes come from the 2026 coaching and roster board (team sites, NFL.com, ESPN, The Athletic). Hold is the default when ADP already has the news.