ORLANDO, Fla. — Despite making enough offseason moves to qualify for an appearance on "Extreme Makeover," the Steelers still have plenty of weighty decisions to address in the ensuing five weeks.

All of which appears to be perfectly fine for coach Mike Tomlin.

He relishes making moves, jostling the roster, gutting the quarterback room, all in the name of trying to make the team better. And, uh, creating discomfort.

"There's growth in that," Tomlin said at the NFL owners meetings that concluded Tuesday. "I think whether it's individuals or collective, it's good to be on edge. It's good to have that anxiety or that urgency that's associated with not knowing. I pride myself in in creating discomfort for myself and others. I'm fundamentally against comfort."

The latest roster move involves four-time All-Pro return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson, who was signed to a two-year, $6 million deal because of the radical new kickoff rule that was adopted by the league owners.

The Steelers began talking with Patterson, 33, last week when it became apparent to them the kickoff rule proposal was gaining steam among the owners. So when the rule was officially adopted on a one-year trial basis by a 29-3 vote, they moved quickly to seal the deal.

For now, their attention will turn to other matters.

Of immediate concern is preparing for the NFL draft that begins April 25, a process that will see them search for a starting center, a receiver to pair with George Pickens, a right tackle that will allow Broderick Jones to move to the left side and a defensive end/tackle in the mold of Cam Heyward.

After that, they need to decide by May 2 if they want to pick up the fifth-year option on running back Najee Harris, a move that will cost the Steelers $6.7 million in 2025. If not, they can sign him to a new deal at or possibly before the end of the 2024 season.

Either way, they seem intent on keeping their former No. 1 draft choice, who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons.

Tomlin said the other day that Harris' situation has not been discussed, but added, "Najee's been consistent since he's been with us. I think I saw a statistic about his three 1,000-yard seasons being in rare company, and I just think that illustrates how he's been for us."

Harris isn't the only one.

Justin Fields, acquired in a trade with the Chicago Bears, is in the option year of his rookie contract as a former No. 1 draft choice. Like Harris, the Steelers have until May 2 to pick up his fifth-year option. But, at a fully guaranteed cost of $25.66 million in 2025, that decision has already been made.

However, the Steelers did not make a trade to acquire Fields as merely a one-year rental, though he will begin the season as the backup to Russell Wilson. At some point, they can or are likely to do what the Green Bay Packers did with quarterback Jordan Love — sign him to a one-year extension that is much cheaper and more cap friendly than exercising his option.

"He's worn the responsibility of being a franchise quarterback, but still he gets an opportunity to come into a community-like situation and learn from the guy that's been doing it for over a decade," Tomlin said. "Man, there's a lot of meat left on that bone. I'm just excited about working to be a part of the extraction."

And of course, there is always the matter of what to do with Heyward's contract, which calls for the 14-year veteran to be paid $16 million in salary and count $22.4 million against the cap in 2024. Then again, does anyone really think the Steelers will ask the current NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year to take a pay cut, much less cut him?

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