Of the AFC North teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been smooth sailing this offseason. While the Steelers finding Ben Roethlisberger's replacement was the top story in 2022, Pittsburgh found a gem in Kenny Pickett and has avoided major headlines these past few months. In fact, the most press has been positive as the Steelers and General Manager Omar Khan have been commended for putting together an exciting draft class and making smart offseason moves. Other members of the AFC North, on the other hand, have had ups and downs.
GENE J. PUSKAR / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Omar Khan, Mike Tomlin, and Art Rooney II with the Steelers' 2023 first-round draft pick, Broderick Jones.
The Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson are to credit for one of the main storylines this offseason. After roughly two years of negotiation, a trade request and lots of cryptic tweets from Jackson, the two parties finally reached an agreement on April 27 which officially made him the league's highest-paid player. The Ravens bent over backward to keep Baltimore as the most appealing place for Jackson. Putting together an impressive receiving corp became a top priority.
After signing Odell Beckham Jr. in a ploy to reel Jackson in, the Ravens used their first-round pick on Zay Flowers. Between acquiring those two, and Rashod Bateman recovering from foot surgery, the Ravens are set with three strong receivers. The plot thickened, however, when DeAndre Hopkins was released by the Arizona Cardinals.
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The Steelers Don't Need To Worry About Facing Hopkins Two Times A Season
Many speculated that Baltimore could be an appealing place for Hopkins with a league MVP-winning quarterback in Jackson secured for the next five years. While it briefly looked like a possibility, the Ravens ultimately decided to not pursue Hopkins. The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec provided insight.
"They did their due diligence on Hopkins earlier this offseason, back when it was well-documented that the Cardinals were looking to unload the wide receiver. They did their homework on the player, his personality fit and what it would take in terms of draft capital and salary-cap space to make a deal work. Ultimately, they backed off, and despite several reports that indicated otherwise, it does not appear Baltimore was ever really close to a deal."
Another potential landing spot for Hopkins is AFC North rival, the Cleveland Browns. One major reason for this is the already established connection between Hopkins and quarterback Deshaun Watson. The two played together for three years with the Houston Texans, and Hopkins earned Pro Bowl honors for each of their seasons together. Watson hasn't been shy about wanting Hopkins to come to the Browns, but as it turns out, the Browns aren't in the market for a new receiver either.
Updated: Deshaun Watson still wants DeAndre Hopkins, but it's a longshot for now. No FA visit to the #Browns is scheduled, and they're not looking to add a big-name receiver https://t.co/DhqSJEG7eF
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) June 7, 2023
Between an already established Cincinnati Bengals receiving corp and the Ravens and Browns both uninterested, it appears that the Steelers have successfully avoided encountering Hopkins twice a season. However, if it were to happen, the Steelers are in much better shape than before.
Much of the offseason for the Steelers has been focused on the cornerback position. With Cam Sutton's price tag being too expensive, the team opted to let him walk and eventually sign with the Detroit Lions. This left the Steelers with two big holes at cornerback, each of which they were able to fill.
Minutes after Sutton's departure was announced, Patrick Peterson's arrival was made official. Peterson is a wealth of knowledge at cornerback, after playing 12 NFL seasons. Of those 12, he spent 10 with the Cardinals and two with the Minnesota Vikings. He's ready to finish out his career in Pittsburgh and serve any role that's needed, including a mentor to Joey Porter Jr.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) participates in Steelers rookie minicamp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Friday, May 12, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Porter Jr. is a familiar face in Pittsburgh. Most fans were crossing their fingers that Khan would make the move to pick up Porter Jr. on draft night. In a shocking turn of events, the cornerback out of Penn State University was available at the beginning of day two. The Steelers didn't hesitate and selected Porter Jr. with the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
While the good news is that the Steelers won't be facing Hopkins twice a year, the better news is that if they were, we have the tools to stop a player of that caliber. Who's going to be the biggest challenge to defend this year? Let us know in the comments below.
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