Steelers Drop In 2023 NFL Power Rankings Following Free Agency Moves

The Pittsburgh Steelers finished the 2022 season with a record of 9-8, missing the playoffs in the first season without Ben Roethlisberger since 2003. The team ended the season winning seven of their final nine games. Heading into 2023, the Steelers are looking to carry the momentum from last season and assert themselves as serious contenders in the AFC North. Thus far, the Steelers have done well in free agency, adding veteran players at positions of need and re-signing key contributors such as Damontae Kazee and Larry Ogunjobi. 

Following the conclusion of Super Bowl LVII in February, NFL.com writer Dan Hanzus compiled a Power Rankings List in which the Steelers cracked the list at #13. Impressive for a team that failed to make the playoffs in 2022. A more recent Power Rankings list had the Steelers listed at #15, two spots lower than a month ago. Have the Steelers' signings during the 2023 free agency hurt the team more than it has helped? Certainly possible. Have other teams been more aggressive in their pursuit of free agency and this serves as the main reason why for the two-spot drop? Also, certainly possible. 

In the Power Rankings article, Hanzus discusses how the loss of standout cornerback Cam Sutton will serve as a bigger loss for the Steelers' defense than most realize. The addition of veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson will be a viable replacement, but will ultimately fail in replicating the same type of playmaking ability Sutton was able to achieve in 2022. While the Steelers will miss the versatility and intelligence of Sutton, Peterson is more than a comparable replacement and will bring valuable leadership to the defensive back group next season. Furthermore, Hanzus urges the Steelers to consider making a "splash" type of free agency signing on the offensive side of the ball to cash in on Kenny Pickett still being on his rookie contract. Both are fair arguments. 

However, what Hanzus fails to mention in his article is the job General Manager Omar Khan has done in completely reshaping the inside linebacker room, which arguably served as the weakest positional group for the team in 2022. The signings of both Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts will breathe new life into a group that was drastically underwhelming this past year. 

Finally, the Steelers have solidified their interior offensive line for the foreseeable future with the addition of Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig. With James Daniels and Mason Cole both coming off strong first seasons in Pittsburgh, there is strong reason to believe that Kenny Pickett will be more than well-protected in 2023. Khan may also view the 2023 NFL Draft to find a long-term answer at the left tackle position, as Dan Moore failed to prove himself as the unquestioned starter at that position heading into next season. 

What Teams Surpassed The Steelers In The Latest Power Rankings? 

The two teams that most notably leap-frogged the Steelers in the most recent Power Rankings are the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets. Both teams have done well in making big-time free agent moves, such as the Dolphins adding star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and the Jets adding Hall of Fame quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. It is important to note that Rodgers has not officially been traded to the Jets, yet. The additions of Rodgers to New York and Ramsey to Miami will be intriguing stories to watch in 2023. Whether or not the signings actually make much of a difference in 2023, only time will tell. 

Do these two players automatically make the Dolphins and Jets a better team than the Steelers in 2023? Difficult to answer. Both teams defeated the Steelers in the 2022 season but failed to play the same level of high-level football that Pittsburgh played during the second part of this past season. It is not much of a stretch to think that the Steelers would have defeated either of these teams had they played during the stretch of the season where the Steelers finally clicked on both sides of the ball. 

Do The Steelers Need To Make A Splash Signing To Catch Up? 

The Steelers very nearly made a serious splash on the offensive side of the ball with their attempt to sign star left tackle, Orlando Brown Jr. before he ultimately decided to join the rival Cincinnati Bengals. The news of the Steelers being interested in such a household name came as a serious shock to many, but Omar Khan has proved during his brief tenure as general manager that he is willing to take risks. 

Could the team's interest in Brown Jr. be an indication that they are indeed interested in adding a big-name player? Perhaps maybe a premier wide receiver such as Odell Beckham Jr. or DeAndre Hopkins? Both players would come with a hefty price tag, but would certainly make a splash that would help them climb up future Power Rankings lists. Understandably, games are not won or lost in March and April. However, if the Steelers do decide to take Hanzus up on his advice of adding a veteran playmaker to the offense, the unit could quickly transform themselves into one the most dynamic groups in the entire AFC.