The Pittsburgh Steelers off-season has been one that has caught the eyes of everyone around the league, not just Steeler Nation's. The 2022 off-season is potentially the biggest off-season for the Steelers in a long time.
With the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers had to focus on finding their next franchise quarterback. They did so by signing Mitch Trubisky early in free agency, as well as drafting Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. They also added some key pieces to the offensive line after a less than stellar 2021, which should lead to some improved blocking for second year running back, Najee Harris.
Overall, this has probably been the most eventful off-season for Kevin Colbert in over a decade. It is fitting that it has been one of his most eventful, as it'll be his last one as well after he officially retires later this off-season. The team has been actively looking for his eventual replacement, but that hasn't slowed him down one bit.
When looking at the job Colbert has done this off-season so far, Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus (PFF) has given the Steelers a "B" grade overall. Monson deemed the team's free agency to be "average" and gave their draft a "B+." Here is his full write-up:
With Ben Roethlisberger‘s retirement, the Steelers were one of the most quarterback-needy teams heading into the offseason. They secured a fallback option with Mitchell Trubisky in free agency before adding their future in Kenny Pickett with their first-round draft pick. Trubisky is worth a look given his draft status and physical tools as well as the year of apprenticeship under Brian Daboll and Josh Allen in Buffalo, but he is likely a starter for a few weeks, at most. Pickett was many evaluator’s top quarterback in the draft, earning a 92.2 PFF grade in his final college season, but the next quarterback went two rounds later and Pickett was by no means a consensus No. 1.Signing James Daniels and Mason Cole in free agency gives the team some competition along an offensive line whose jobs will be a lot harder this season as they move away from Roethlisberger’s league-quickest average time to throw. Linebacker Myles Jack and cornerback Levi Wallace are two solid additions to the defense.
In the draft, George Pickens has first-round tape with true “X” receiver skills. He posted an 88.0 PFF grade as a freshman before his career stalled, and he missed most of last season with an ACL injury. Calvin Austin III also adds some real speed and explosiveness on offense.
Overall, what Monson said about the Steelers' off-season is pretty accurate and is hard to disagree with.
Kenny Pickett at Steelers' Rookie Mini Camp. Credit: USA Today
Down the road when we look back at the Steelers' off-season, the deciding factor will be how the quarterbacks they hitched their wagon to panned out. If Trubisky or Pickett become a roaring success, then this off-season will go down as one of the best of the 21st century for the Steelers. If neither one ends up being 'The Guy,' then it'll be tough to put a positive spin on the 2022 off-season.
There is a chance that Colbert and the Steelers could continue to add to the roster over the summer. They still have approximately $11-$12 million to work with, which after signing their 2022 draft class, should leave them with a little to play with. There are still some question marks around their depth along the defensive line, offensive tackle, and at outside linebacker.
What do you think of the Steelers' 2022 off-season and do you agree with the assessment from PFF? Let us know what you think below!
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