Steelers Encouraged By Positive Grades For Big Swings That Boost Their Roster Ahead Of 2024 Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers spent the early part of free agency building up their team to compete in 2024. The Diontae Johnson trade added wide receiver to the list of team needs, and the Steelers are more than happy to let Omar Khan do what he does best: solidify the roster. With several big moves already happening, Mark Kaboly and Mike DeFabo of The Athletic had some thoughts on the additions that Pittsburgh brought in.

The Steelers got one of the biggest question marks out of the way early, as former Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Russell Wilson will be competing for the starting job in 2024. DeFabo saw the addition of Wilson as an improvement, but more to push Kenny Pickett than to regain his younger form. Pickett has yet to show the kind of return the Steelers expected from the former first-round pick, and Wilson should be the motivation he needs if there is a higher ceiling to be found. Overall, the move was graded as a B by DeFabo.

"Coach Mike Tomlin promised competition for Kenny Pickett at his end-of-season news conference. Even though Wilson’s price tag is the veteran minimum, a nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion likely isn’t here to be the No. 2 to Pickett or push him in a quarterback competition the way re-signing Mason Rudolph might have... Wilson is an improvement over Pickett. But at this stage of his career, how much can he push the Steelers’ ceiling?"

One of the moves that many were expecting was when the Steelers traded Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. The draft pick and cornerback Donte Jackson might seem like a small value for Johnson, but there were frustrations already between the Steelers and their former starting receiver. Kaboly, while understanding that the Steelers and Johnson didn't have a long-term future together, wanted more from the trade than Pittsburgh received. Kaboly graded the trade a C, primarily for the return since Johnson's departure was imminent.

"This wasn’t a great return for a top receiver like Johnson, but the Steelers were backed into a corner... the Steelers didn’t get much in the way of a return, moving up 68 picks near the end of April’s draft and adding a veteran cornerback... The trade puts the Steelers in a tough spot, as they have only George Pickens returning as a starting receiver. Calvin Austin III is highly regarded, but played sparingly last year... The return wasn’t good, but it’s impossible to grade the trade until we see Khan’s coinciding move. The Steelers will likely add a starting-caliber receiver at some point in free agency."

Another move that made some noise across the NFL was when the linebacker Patrick Queen chose to join the Steelers, rather than return to the Baltimore Ravens. If the turncoat storyline wasn't enough to get Steelers fans on board, the value and need that Pittsburgh had for an inside linebacker makes this an excellent addition. DeFabo sees this as exactly what the Steelers needed to do, giving Queen's arrival in Pittsburgh a solid A grade for filling a need with a dynamic player.

"In Queen, the Steelers have found their new all-purpose linebacker... The Steelers, who often ask their linebackers to cover tight ends or running backs in man coverage, will need all of Queen’s well-rounded skill set, especially with bruising back Derrick Henry joining the Ravens. But with Queen on board, what was once the glaring weakness of the defense, could turn into a strength... The Steelers addressed one of their most pressing needs with the most impactful player on the open market. A big swing from Khan is likely to pay dividends."

The Steelers trust Khan to build the kind of roster they need to compete with the rest of the NFL, and these moves are proof that he is doing just fine. With more needs to fill and more moves to make, the rest of the 2024 offseason is looking like one to excite anyone following the Steelers.

The Steelers Know Every Move Matters

While they're not making the same kind of splash as the other moves, Pittsburgh understands that a solid roster is built on every position being prioritized. A key weakness for the 2023 Steelers was punting, and they wasted no time in remedying that situation.

Former Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III was released in February of 2024 to make room for a more competent specialist. That answer came in the form of Cameron Johnston, a move that DeFabo graded with a B.

"In most NFL cities, signing a punter wouldn’t move the needle much. But Pittsburgh isn’t like most cities. Former punter Pressley Harvin III’s inconsistencies often drew the ire of the fan base. The potential of his booming leg was far overshadowed by his shanks, eventually forcing the Steelers to move on. By agreeing to terms with Cameron Johnston... the Steelers have found the likely replacement for Harvin... Adding a punter isn’t an exciting move, but it’s a necessary one, especially considering how often [Head] Coach Mike Tomlin preaches about the 'field position component' in news conferences."

Pittsburgh rounded out its early moves by cutting two veteran players, Patrick Peterson and Allen Robinson II, as well as agreeing to terms with defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko. After spending most of 2023 on the Steelers' practice squad, Fehoko could add some necessary depth to the trenches for Pittsburgh. DeFabo graded the cuts of Peterson and Robinson with an A, and Fehoko garnered a C+ for potential depth in the future.

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