The Pittsburgh Steelers offense has been stuck in purgatory for the majority of the past two seasons. They entered 2023 with uncertainty quarterback Kenny Pickett and Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada, both of whom did not return for the 2024 season. Entering the 2024 season, the Steelers acquired ex-Bears quarterback Justin Fields and signed ex-Bronco and Seahawk quarterback Russell Wilson. They paired the duo with former Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith as the Offensive Coordinator. This season, the offense was once again the main issue for the team. The defensive unit, under Head Coach Mike Tomlin, held the team afloat. They once again found a way to finish above .500, doing it for the 18th consecutive season.
Still, the Steelers don’t have much else to show for their season. Their playoff result seemed like a foregone conclusion, they were beaten handily in the wild card round again after limping through the end of the season, and even though Tomlin is considered to be one of the best and most consistent head coaches in the league, he hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016.
This offseason is poised to be one of the most important offseasons in the franchise’s highly-accomplished history. Head Coach Arthur Smith has interviewed for job openings with the New York Jets and the Chicago Bears, while also receiving interest as a coordinator elsewhere. Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and running back Najee Harris will all be free agents this offseason. Another offseason full of questions looms for Tomlin and General Manager Omar Khan, who has held the role since 2022.
With only Skylar Thompson under contract as quarterback, a free agent such as Sam Darnold, or possible free agents like Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins and Daniel Jones, may make sense for Pittsburgh. Those options work as “bridge” choices, giving them time before finding their long term option.
The Steelers’ collapse this season may have pushed Wilson out of favor in Pittsburgh, as evidenced by fans calling for Fields to play more, even in the Wild Card game versus the Baltimore Ravens. A pitfall of the Steelers’ consistent competitiveness is that they never pick at the top of the draft. Kenny Pickett, drafted 20th overall in the first round of 2022, was a failure and is a backup on the Eagles. In this draft, the Steelers are picking at 21st in the first round, seemingly knocking them out of contention from Miami QB Cam Ward or Colorado QB Shadeur Sanders. Potential later round options would be Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss, Quinn Ewers from Texas or Jalen Milroe from Alabama, but none of them are sure-fire first round picks or talents. Perhaps a trade could be in the cards too, but the concern remains.
While finding a quarterback is an issue, the rest of the offense lacks the firepower to thrive in the modern NFL. Wide receiver George Pickens is the focal point of the offense, but often he is the only working option. Receiver Roman Wilson was selected from Michigan in the third round of the 2023 draft, but he missed the season due to injuries. The rest of the receiving corps this year was full of a combination of veterans including Mike Williams, Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III. Tight end Pat Freiermuth has been a main target too, but he does not support the offense as much as Pickens.
Potential options in the draft to bolster their wide receiver core include the veteran Ohio State wideout Emeka Egbuka, Texas breakout Matthew Golden and potentially Missouri standout Luther Burden III if he is available at 21. There are numerous possible free agent veterans that will catch Pittsburgh’s eye. Chris Godwin, Amari Cooper, Deandre Hopkins and Stefon Diggs will all be looked at, but both Godwin and Diggs suffered season-ending injuries and may not be fully prepared for next season by the time training camp rolls around. The running back roster also has question marks. Najee Harris’ future is in doubt with the team after they declined his fifth-year option. Jaylen Warren, who has carried the load both rushing and receiving wise, has been a key weapon for Pittsburgh, but they may need to look for another match to support Warren. Possible free agents may be Aaron Jones or J.K. Dobbins, but each of them carry serious health concerns. Luckily, this draft class is extremely runningback heavy, and there are numerous options who the Steelers could take in the later rounds. Options include Omarion Hampton from North Carolina, Cam Skattebo from Arizona State or Kaleb Johnson from Iowa.
The Steelers have spent their last two first round picks on offensive tackles with Broderick Jones from Georgia and Troy Fautanu from Washington. Center Zach Frazier was selected in the second round in 2023 and appears to be a starter for years to come. Health issues have limited the offensive line for multiple years now and addressing the line may be a possibility this offseason as well.
Despite all of Tomlin’s success, the Steelers remain in limbo offensively. Questions surrounding Tomlin’s future have been constant since the loss. Some question if it’s time for a change in Pittsburgh, wondering if a new vision would be better for the team, but Tomlin just signed a three year extension this offseason, putting him under control of the Steelers through the 2027 season. After two disappointing finishes and serious concerns offensively, it is paramount the Steelers find both consistency and a solution to their problems.