It's unusual to see Andrew Berry stand pat at the trade deadline, and while the Cleveland Browns should've added depth to their defense (or a blocking tight end for the offense, at the very least), this isn't the end of the world. If anything, it may have always been the plan.
The Browns have always had their sights set on the 2027 offseason. That's when they're set to spend in free agency, use their elite draft capital, and be aggressive to round out arguably the most promising young roster in football.
That's clearly not the case with the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team trending in the opposite direction.
Ironically, that's why FanSided's Justin Carter praised the Steelers for not making a move at the trade deadline. The 'why,' however, exposes how bad things will get in Pittsburgh.
"While Pittsburgh winning games is cool and all, the team knows that it's staring down a rebuild," Carter wrote. "This isn't a Super Bowl roster. The only chance the Steelers capture a title is if Rodgers reaches back into the time machine and becomes his old self in the playoffs. Making moves at the margins and giving up future draft assets wouldn't make that any more or less likely."
Browns are building toward contention while Steelers brace for a rebuild
Simply put, the Steelers are just here for the ride, and they don't have a realistic chance of making a deep postseason run. They might be leading the AFC North entering Week 10, but even their own fans know that's simply not sustainable.
The Browns are a piece or two away from being a legitimate contender, especially if the first- and second-year guys continue to develop. No team is perfect, but Cleveland has a plan, and GM Andrew Berry has found at least 10 starters over the past couple of drafts.
Todd Monken's team has a chance to become a premium destination for free agents, regardless of how things end this season. Winning in 2026 is nice and all, but the Browns always knew this was mostly a developmental and culture-building campaign in Northeast Ohio.
The Steelers, on the other hand, have refused to face facts for years. They were content with just hovering around .500 and making the playoffs, only to be the most obvious first-round exit in the league. Wash, rinse, and repeat.
Now they've got nowhere to hide. Mike Tomlin isn't there to save them with his savvy coaching. Aaron Rodgers won't be back next season. The defense is aging. There's no clear path to getting back on track in the short term.
The Steelers are about to begin a long and winding road back to the top. Granted, they're a popular brand, and that might be enough to attract a couple of free agents here and there. But they will be the worst team in one of the most competitive and up-and-coming divisions in football.
Two teams can do the same thing and draw praise for entirely opposite reasons. The Browns did the right thing by standing pat at the trade deadline because they will have a surplus of assets, including 11 selections in the 2027 draft, and a clear timeline for the future.
As for the Steelers, there was no reason to give up valuable draft assets to boost a team with no chance of contention, especially knowing that they will need each and every single one of those picks to start back from scratch.
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