The Pittsburgh Steelers and the rest of the NFL are now entering draft season where teams are looking to sign deals and trade players in order to acquire a better team through the end of April. The Steelers are looking to improve their performance following last season's outing where they fell just short of the postseason. Because the Miami Dolphins beat the New York Jets, 11-6 in the final week of the season, the Steelers were eliminated from playoff contention just before their game against the Cleveland Browns ended that same week. But now they are looking to be in for a fighting chance next season.
AP
Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson (left), is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers DT Cam Heyward during the first half of a game on January 8, 2023.
Firstly, although at times the Pittsburgh Steelers seemed to have a good chance in last year's playoffs, there were a number of factors that let them down. Now, all eyes are on the Steelers as they are seeking to outdo themselves.
In the previous season, the Steelers were hailed for their performance as Kenny Pickett threw for over 2,400 yards and 7 touchdowns and George Pickens boasted a number of impressive catches, both were regular selections in NFL fantasy teams. The defense was also impressive and managed to take the Steelers further in the competition. However, at times they were criticized for their play-calling and their offensive ranks in the league as well as the performance of offensive coordinator, Matt Canada. At times, Canada’s performance was incredibly predictable, and he didn’t deviate at all from the way he normally works. Not only this, but the team came under the firing line for not using some of their key players such as Pickens as much as they should have throughout the season.
Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, George Pickens (#14) lines up in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2022 season.
Offseason Moves for the Steelers
Although the drafting season has only just begun, Pittsburgh has already made some valuable acquisitions. For example, on the first day of the legal tampering period on March 13, they agreed to terms with veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson. The 32-year-old All-Pro had 5 interceptions in his second season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022. Now he will help Pittsburgh overcome the loss of Cameron Sutton, who agreed to a deal with the Detroit Lions this offseason. Despite there being concerns about Peterson's age, he maintains that he can bring a lot to the team and has proved himself as one of the league’s best cornerbacks.
Furthermore, Pittsburgh also made more moves as on March 14, they agreed to terms with guard Nate Herbig, who has previously played for the Jets, as well as re-signing safety Damontae Kazee and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi. Moreover, the team also agreed to deals with a pair of linebackers on March 16 and 17, with former Washington Commander Cole Holcomb and ex-Dolphin Elandon Roberts, as they were brought in to help bolster the defense.
On March 18, Pittsburgh further bolstered its offensive line by signing veteran guard Isaac Seumalo to a three-year deal. The team made a pair of moves on March 25th as well, re-signing tight end Zach Gentry and also roping in veteran tackle Le'Raven Clark to a one-year deal.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
In terms of success, while Pittsburgh has made a lot of bold moves this offseason already, there are still concerns about gaps in the team. For example, while they have made an incredibly impressive effort to sort out the interior offensive line and get it in shape, they have neglected putting a focus on adding a free agent offensive tackle outside of Clark. Moreover, there needs to be attention paid to the wide receiver position as it could be crucial to the success of the team. In addition, although signing Peterson and defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko have been good decisions, there are concerns that Peterson is a short-term solution as a starter and Fehoko is a rotational player and may not work out long term for the team.
Ultimately, in comparison to other teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers have not entered the drafting season in a critical or detrimental position. Having already acquired a solid starting lineup, adding extra players from the draft should only be a bonus for the team and not something they will rely on. As long as they remain confident in their decision to upgrade their players, they should have a solid chance of going far this season.
For those who are following the upcoming NFL season, there are a number of major players of the Pittsburgh Steelers roster which fans should look out for over the course of the upcoming season.
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