Steelers Now
Since exiting the playoffs, it’s been quiet on the Steelers front. But with the offseason in full swing, free agency and the NFL Draft looming, there’s plenty of things to talk about to pass the time. The January installment covers the direction of the franchise, questions about the quarterback position and where Pittsburgh should target upgrades over the next several months.
As always, I really appreciate all of the responses on social media that brought forth a variety of interesting topics to discuss. Here we go.
Q: Do you think the Steelers will re-sign Russell Wilson?
A: My answer to this question would have been different six weeks ago but I don’t think that’s the direction the team wants to go. That was a nice value play for last season but Wilson’s limitations showed up more down the stretch versus better competition and it’s no secret that those will only expand as he continues to age. It seems like there’s a better chance that they bring back Justin Fields instead. To be clear, he has some flaws as a passer that are difficult to work around but what he adds as a rushing threat help offset those to a degree. When they made these moves last offseason, I said that they were short-term bandaids and that is still true. Eventually, the team will have to take another swing on a franchise caliber guy, even if they’re better off waiting another year to do so.
Q: What is the best course of direction for this team this offseason?
A: To put it bluntly: the one that they won’t accept and that’s a full reset. As unpopular as it may be, this core just feels really maxed out to the point where they’re consistently the 14th best team in the league. This is one of the oldest defenses in the league and their two best players are now over 30-years old. That wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if there was a path towards upgrading the quarterback position this spring but barring something unforeseen, seems unrealistic. If I had faith in this coaching staff, head coach and coordinators included, to really supercharge the talent on the roster, perhaps I would feel differently. But at the end of the day, things feel stale and taking a step back for a season might be the best thing for them in the long-term. But knowing how Pittsburgh operates, they’ll remain hyper-fixated on 2025 without any real vision beyond that.
Q: What positions should the Steelers target in free agency?
A: Quarterback aside, their biggest need is to add playmaking on the offensive perimeter. Naturally, the Steelers will be a team linked to Tee Higgins after they struck out on big name receivers last offseason, not to mention Mike Tomlin’s clear appreciate for his skill set. Are they comfortable getting into a bidding war for him? We’ll see, provided he even hits the open market. Maybe not the most flashy move but I could...
