New theory links Steelers roster-building strategy to the Eagles blueprint

USA Today

2 days ago

A page from the Eagles' blueprint may have influenced the Steelers' offseason strategy.
There's a cost that comes with greatness. Winners become targets or influencers, depending on the paradigm. Think about what you've seen in the Philadelphia Eagles organization. Their coordinators are poached. So are members of their front office. Heck, their third defensive tackle on the depth chart from last season's roster became the highest-paid player in the history of the New England Patriots organization.
On the field, the league's best teams get every team's best shot. Stop letting people lie to you. Fans will tell you that these guys always treat every game equally because they're professional athletes. Honestly, that isn't the case. Teams circle specific teams on their schedule. The Super Bowl champions always qualify.
Philadelphia faces a gauntlet next season, as they do every season, but this will be different. During the most recent Super Bowl run, they adopted the 'Let's Hunt' mantra. Now, they're the hunted. They'll need to be both mentally and physically sharp. The task of defending their title is officially underway.
The Steelers seemingly borrowed from Philly's winning formula
There's another side to being a winning organization. Two words come to mind: model franchise. Teams needing a change, reboot, or spark hire Eagles coordinators and front office members because they hope some of the mojo rubs off on them.
The NFL is a copycat league. It's also common to see inferior teams borrow from another's scheme or blueprint. CBS Sports' Jeff Kerr recently provided some evidence of such. Remember that Pittsburgh Steelers' trade for D.K. Metcalf? Does their situation and a move Philadelphia made a few years ago remind you of anything familiar? Kerr certainly seems to think so.
"Metcalf has been one of the most productive wide receivers since he's entered the NFL, a consistent deep-ball threat with the ability to change a game. He'll be the No. 1 wide receiver with Pittsburgh and an easy target to thrive with Aaron Rodgers... Metcalf's numbers should improve in Pittsburgh as he's the focal point of a good passing game. Would it be surprising if Metcalf has the same impact in Pittsburgh as A.J. Brown has had in Philadelphia?"
Kerr ranked recent trades based on the acquired player's new situation (i.e., chance of making an impact). He placed the Steelers' D.K. Metcalf acquisition atop his list. Sure, teams make their move for elite talent and trade for wide receivers all the time, but maybe Kerr is right.
Depending on how this works out, we may look back and draw some parallels between Metcalf's impact on the Steel City and Brown's mark left on the City of Brotherly Love. Stay tuned.