The Pittsburgh Steelers had a long list of needs when the 2023 NFL season concluded. There were plenty of areas on the team’s roster that weren’t good enough during or at the conclusion of the season. However, those issues didn’t stop at the team’s lineup, they extended right over to the sidelines regarding the Offensive Coordinator position. How’d the team grade out with the improvements?
Quarterback
![Pittsburgh Steelers OTA Offseason Workout](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KI_gG-owGf8QrNkw8-5_zyvUSxk=/0x0:3000x1991/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x1991):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25482600/2155683649.jpg)
The Steelers brought aboard quarterback Russell Wilson in the hopes of having a better option steering the ship at quarterback. Wilson wasn’t the only new face brought into the room though. The Steelers re-shaped their entire quarterback room.
Former starting quarterback Kenny Pickett was dealt away to the Philadelphia Eagles to be their new backup quarterback. Mason Rudolph read the writing on the wall and signed with the Tennessee Titans in free agency. The Steelers released quarterback Mitch Trubisky and he went back to the Buffalo Bills to backup Josh Allen.
The Steelers traded a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick to the Chicago Bears for quarterback Justin Fields. Either Wilson can keep Fields from taking the starting position by playing well, or Fields can get the nod due to Wilson suffering a long-term injury.
The Steelers also signed veteran quarterback Kyle Allen in free agency to round out their quarterback room as the number three option.
So, how do the Steelers grade out after completely renovating their quarterback room?
The Steelers were wise to pull the plug on Pickett, they were just spinning their wheels with him. Wilson presents as a much better immediate starting option when looking back upon Pickett’s rudderless time as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback. Then there is Fields whose talent if he were to become the Steelers starting quarterback might make the Steelers offense dangerous and exciting, something that they haven’t been for years. He also has youth on his side being only 25 years old.
But, the Steelers missed hard in their evaluation of Pickett and his future as an NFL starting quarterback. So, they cannot get an A grade in that they blew a first-round pick on a bust at the game’s most important position. Missing on Pickett will hurt the Steelers franchise. The time spent evaluating Pickett, developing him, and putting a team around him was all for nothing. Currently, they don’t have a quarterback under contract for the 2025 and beyond. What if Wilson is washed up? If he gets injured or plays poorly and is replaced by Fields who’s shown potential, but has been a complete turnover machine?
If neither of them works out, and the Steelers decide that neither of them is an attractive future option at the helm of the franchise? Such a situation would put the Steelers right back in the same situation they were in before the 2022 NFL Draft, in desperate need of a starting quarterback and forced to sign a free agent, draft a quarterback, or both.
Overall, Pickett becoming a first-round bust pulls the letter grade down, even if the motion was the correct move.
Grade: C+
Offensive Coordinator
![Atlanta Falcons v New Orleans Saints](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_SDzyz8A95xsxO2mrFjuAOiX7zc=/0x0:3262x2174/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:3262x2174):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25482605/1351905059.jpg)
The Steelers finally decided to try something new coming out of the 2023 season, bringing in an offensive coordinator with NFL experience at the position, that kind of updated thinking might get them somewhere. Arthur Smith wasn’t the most innovative hire, but they want to be a physical front on offense and that’s what Smith brings as a coordinator. Smith’s offense could be exactly what Wilson needs to turn back the clock to when he was flying high in his prime as the Seattle Seahawks quarterback.
Unfortunately, the success Smith enjoyed as the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator and lifting former Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill briefly out of mediocrity didn’t follow him during his stint as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. For most of his time with the Falcons the offense was bad. Also, if he couldn’t find a way to successfully use receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts why would that change with the Steelers? The pressure will be on Smith to either turn Wilson into an above-average starter or help make Fields the Steelers next franchise quarterback.
The Steelers could be going backwards by focusing on Smith’s ideology being so ground driven, and it would have been nice to see some outside-the-box thinking when they were interviewing candidates. But, they are seemingly getting everyone on the same page with one unified direction under Smith.
Grade: B-
Running back Depth
![Atlanta Falcons v Chicago Bears](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UjS56ydWEDnIJ7TZOtNkEA9TGdg=/0x0:5097x3400/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:5097x3400):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25482607/1905317892.jpg)
Gone is running back Godwin Igwebuike as an option both at running back and as the team’s primary kick returner. In comes Cordarrelle Patterson who’s a more capable option at running back as well as allowing the Steelers to get some big kick returns. Patterson’s presence should also give the Steelers the flexibility to present varied looks to the defense with him lining up with Najee Harris/Jaylen Warren on the field at the same time. While Patterson is more back than receiver he still has to be accounted for as a receiver, or will he take the handoff?
The downside is that Patterson is into his 30s, how much explosion does he have left? Is this just a one-and-done situation with him? Will he make the Steelers return unit better?
The Steelers can’t get an A grade for this addition due to Patterson’s age and being on the back nine of his career. But he’s still a good returner and one of the better third-team running backs in the NFL.
Grade: B
Center
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The Steelers have just thrown slop at the wall since Maurkice Pouncey retired. And they got exactly what they deserved, if you fail to plan, then you should plan to fail. That is just what happened the options they threw out on the field got thrown around like a traffic cone in a storm. Finally, they woke up and addressed the issue with a day-two draft selection in West Virginia’s Zach Frazier. Zach Steelers Nation is so glad you’re here, we were so spoiled by Pouncey then we got a couple of bums in Kendrick Green and Mason Cole. Frazier has all the tools to be an above-average to very good starting center.
There will be some growing pains to start his career, and the Steelers will have an experienced starting quarterback so that should help a bit.
The Steelers got the top center in the draft and he fell to them. That is how it’s done in the NFL Draft get your guy when you want to get him.
Grade: A+
Offensive Tackle
![Pittsburgh Steelers OTA Offseason Workout](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NL1ZVQhoA0kVeXhWzPsxxte3JUw=/0x0:2382x3000/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2382x3000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25482612/2155683491.jpg)
Steelers left tackle Dan Moore can’t get sent to the bench fast enough, he might put up a good fight for a bit against the steal of the draft in Washington offensive Tackle Troy Fautanu who should slide in at right tackle. Broderick Jones will move over to left Tackle and life will be good. Dan Moore is just overmatched at tackle. Maybe his next team will find a home for him at guard. Fautanu has a natural smoothness to his game, and seemingly just smoothly climbs to the second level of the defense and is a good puller as well.
There’s gonna be some bumps at the beginning of the season, three of the projected starters along the offensive line have never played together. Practice and pre-season games aren’t the same as the regular season. These guys will take time to gel as a unit, there’s going to be miscommunications and rough spots.
That said, the Steelers got one of the best tackles in the draft at the twentieth selection because he’s a couple of inches shorter than what’s ideal. Well who cares thanks, fellas.
Grade: A+
Offensive Line Depth
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The Steelers continued to invest in the future of their offensive line, as well as adding solid depth to the current group. They drafted South Dakota State’s Mason McCormick who can back up both left guard Isaac Seumalo and right guard James Daniels. Daniels is a free agent in 2025, and McCormick could slide right into that spot.
There’s always a risk when drafting players from Division II schools as it’s quite a jump in competition in the NFL. So there’s some projection with McCormick and he could be nothing more than a solid backup. Hopefully, he’s much more than that and certainly a risk worth taking.
We’ll have to wait and see what McCormick can provide through training camp and pre-season. But, if he can show enough for the Steelers to feel comfortable with him being one snap away, then it’s very solid value.
Grade: C+
Cornerback
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Cornerbacks Chandon Sullivan, Levi Wallace, and Patrick Peterson did all have their moments. But, Sullivan at the end of the day is just a guy, Wallace had one foot seemingly in retirement last season, and Peterson is still very smart but he just didn’t have it anymore. The Steelers traded Diontae Johnson for cornerback Donte Jackson, they got worse there, to be honest. They drafted Texas cornerback Ryan Watts whose future home is probably at safety, and just signed former Steelers and Detroit Lions cornerback Cam Sutton. Joey Porter Jr. and Jackson are going to be the outside corners, with Sutton playing in the slot.
Sutton, though, may be suspended for a portion of the season or placed on the commissioner’s exempt list for his actions off the field. The contract he got from the Lions was too much for the Steelers taste, but on the field, he’s an upgrade over Sullivan, Wallace, and Peterson in coverage.
Grade: B+
Inside Linebacker
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The Steelers signed Patrick Queen away from the Baltimore Ravens and rubbed their bitter rivals face it it. Queen will help their defense take a huge leap forward. The team didn’t stop with his addition though.
Drafting N.C State’s Payton Wilson was just getting ice cream on the cake. The Steelers got the best off-ball inside linebacker in the draft, what an absolute coup by the Steelers. They needed to keep adding to their room.
Wilson has some injuries that may limit his career in the NFL. Even if that is the case, the selection was a win-win. The Steelers have a very bright future with Queen and Wilson.
Grade: A
Strong Safety
The Steelers haven’t had a true strong safety for a while. Damonte Kazee is more of a free safety who should only occasionally play strong safety. They corrected that by signing Deshone Elliott in free agency, he’ll allow Minkah Fitzpatrick to roam more which is when he’s at his best.
Elliott has bounced around a bunch in his career and become a bit of a journeyman recently.
Grade: C+
Punter
Finally, the Steelers got off the Pressley Harvin train and signed an above-average heck even a good punter.
Cameron Johnston who is a good punter by day and comedian Bill Burr by night. You’ve never seen them in the same place, have you? Harvin was a good person and even better teammate, but he needed to get on with his life’s work.
Grade: B