Off-Season Primer: Pittsburgh Steelers

2023 Record- (9-8)

In 2023, the Steelers had their 17th consecutive season without a losing record under longtime Head Coach Mike Tomlin. They needed help from other teams at the end of the season to slip into the Wild Card round but everything went their way, culminating with their week 18 victory against their rivals, the Baltimore Ravens.

Pittsburgh's season was a yo-yo, up and down at varying points, due to injuries, growing pains and inconsistent play. In weeks 13 and 14, the team lost back-to-back games to the leagues's worst teams (the Cardinals and Patriots were both 2-10 teams at the time), but the Steelers were able to fight back and get to 9-8 and make the playoffs after missing them in 2022.

In the Wild Card game they went up against a hot Buffalo Bills team, falling behind 21-0 early on and were never able to get back into the game. The 31-17 loss now has Mike Tomlin’s playoff record at 8-10. He has lost his last 4 playoff games and the team has now gone 7 years without a playoff victory.

Problems persist with the club's offense which never looked in sync throughout 2023. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada lost his job mid-season and the quarterback position continues to be a question mark for the Black and Gold moving forward. After 2 seasons, signal caller Kenny Pickett has not shown the growth that many envisioned—in part to injuries and in part to a porous offensive line. Veteran backup Mason Rudolph was inserted when Pickett went down and kept the job even when Pickett was activated as the team found themselves on a brief winning streak that had them stagger into the playoffs.

Draft Picks

Round 1 - (20)
Round 2- (51)
Round 3- (84)
Round 4- (120)
Round 4- (121)
Round 6- (197)
Round 7- (237)

Free Agents

Projected Cap Space - Approximately $9.5MM

QB- Mason Rudolph
CB- Levi Wallace
DT- Montravius Adams
RB- Godwin Igwebuike
WR- Miles Boykin
Edge- Markus Golden
DT- Armon Watts
DT- Renell Wren
LB- Kwon Alexander
LB- Blake Martinez
LB- Chapelle Russell
LB- Mykal Walker
CB- James Pierre
CB- Chandon Sullivan
S- Miles Killebrew
S- Elijah Riley
LS- Christian Kuntz

The Steelers only have close to $10 million to spend in this offseason before cuts and restructuring of contacts. The good news is other than Mason Rudolph and Levi Wallace they are not set to lose a lot of key contributors.

Defensive tackle Montravius Adams may be another player that Pittsburgh tries to bring back into the fold as their defensive line is lacking depth. Adams performed well in his 8 games played and might remain a quality depth piece for the team.

But what does Pittsburgh want to do at quarterback? Is Kenny Pickett going to be the starter? Do they bring in a veteran like Justin Fields, Ryan Tannehill or possibly Russell Wilson? Do they feel comfortable enough with Mason Rudolph to re-sign him as the main backup or will he look for a sign and compete deal elsewhere? March 13th is only days away and some of these questions will be answered by then.

Biggest Needs

Other than possibly a tight end or an edge rusher, the Steelers can go in any direction in the draft. Last year, the team had an excellent draft, their first under GM Omar Khan and Assistant GM Andy Weidl. They stole starting defensive interior lineman Keeanu Benton in round two after already selecting eventual starters at offensive tackle (Broderick Jones) and cornerback (Joey Porter, Jr.) before him. Benton was an instant contributor and with injuries across the line in the early part of the season, may have been the team's defensive rookie of the year. But it appears the Steelers may have missed on defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal and with Cam Heyward not getting any younger, Pittsburgh could use another young body on the line.

The Steelers secured a future shutdown cornerback in Joey Porter, Jr. with their second round pick in last year’s draft. This year, the choose twentieth overall, and thus are in a position where they can add another potential starting cornerback to solidify their improving secondary. However, the safety position showed its lack of depth last season and the Steelers could look in rounds 3 or 4 to add a safety prospect to help our perennial pro-bowler Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Over the last week, rumors have been circulating about the departure via trade of starting wide receiver Diontae Johnson. Draft Nation believes even if Johnson is part of the team, the Steelers could use an upgrade at the position. Tomlin interviewed Washington Huskies wide out Rome Odunze at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis this week but the receiver class is so deep that the team could even look into rounds two or three to bolster this position.

It appears that Pittsburgh has found their starting left tackle in Broderick Jones. The team has not been happy with the play of starter Dan Moore and there are questions about whether Moore can be moved to play on the right side of the line to replace the departing Chuks Okorafor. At twentieth overall, the team could decide to add a top right tackle such as Washington's Troy Fautanu or Georgia's Amarius Mims.

This offseason the team has already cut starting center Mason Cole and they are desperately in need of one in the draft or free agency. While the team could sign a veteran to replace Cole, they could also grab a center at pick 51 of the second round..