The hype of free agency has come and gone and now it’s time to look at what teams have gained and lost since March 16th and where they stand as they prepare for the upcoming draft. Let’s discuss the rebuilding Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Key acquisitions: QB Mitchell Trubisky, LB Myles Jack, G James Daniels, CB Levi Wallace, C Mason Cole, LB Genard Avery
Re-signed: OT Chukwuma Okorafor, CB Ahkello Witherspoon, DT Montravius Adams, CB Arthur Maulet, LB Miles Killebrew
Departures: QB Ben Roethlisberger, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (Chiefs), LB Joe Schobert, WR James Washington (Cowboys), WR Ray-Ray McCloud (49ers), DE Taco Charlton (Saints)
Remaining free agents: CB Joe Haden, G Trai Turner, S Terrell Edmunds, TE Eric Ebron, G B.J. Finney
Analysis: The Big Ben era is officially over, it’s time to start anew. There is expected to be an open competition, with QBs under contract before free agency, with some newly added fresh blood and potentially another in the draft.
One of the most intriguing storylines in the weeks leading up to free agency was the amount of expected interest in former No. 2 overall pick Mitchell Trubisky. After four up and down (mostly down) years in Chicago, he signed with the Bills in 2021 and served as Josh Allen’s backup. This offseason, with all the trades and expected quarterback movement, Trubisky was the most sought-after unrestricted free agent with interest from several teams, but he ultimately signed with the Steelers, with the best chance to be their starter in 2022.
The Steelers offensive line a few years ago was one of the best in football, but has since undergone a drastic overhaul. In 2019, the starting line was Alejandro Villanueva-Ramon Foster-Maukice Pouncey-David Decastro-Matt Feiler. Four of the five are out of the league, and Feiler is on the Chargers. They’ve been rebuilding this line the past two seasons, primarily through the draft, and now they have added some key pieces to it this free agency.
They brought in former Bears four-year starter James Daniels, who’s started all 3 interior OL spots, and figures to take over a guard spot, given the contract he received, with Trai Turner still a free agent. They also signed Mason Cole, another interior OL drafted by the Cardinals who was traded to the Vikings last season. He was the starting center as a rookie in 2018, a backup in 2019, then a starter again in 2020, then shipped to Minnesota and started half the season at center and right guard. He gets a chance to compete for a starting job with Kevin Dotson, last year’s left guard starter, and Kendrick Green, who was the full-time starting center as a rookie. Steelers also brought back Chukwuma Okorafor on a three-year deal, who’s started at right tackle the last two seasons. So with competition at all interior spot and right tackle set, left tackle appears to be set with fourth-round steal Dan Moore.
Pittsburgh also made some big moves on defense, signing star linebacker Myles Jack after he was cut by the Jaguars after six seasons. He takes the place of Joe Schobert, who was released, and will start alongside Devin Bush and Robert Spillane. They also brought in Genard Avery, who’s been a solid rotational pass rusher for the Browns and Eagles and brought back core special teamer Miles Killebrew.
In the secondary, the Steelers signed former Bills starting cornerback Levi Wallace to a two-year deal and re-signed Ahkello Witherspoon to a two-year extension, who started three games for the team last season. Both players figure to be in the mix for starting jobs with Joe Haden still a free agent.
Conclusion: It really is a new era in Pittsburgh, and for the better honestly. Roethlisberger could barely move and his arm was falling off, it was time. Trubisky provides a new spark to the team with his legs, and Mason Rudolph can’t play football, we saw what he was in 2019 and it’s not good, but at least they’re giving him a chance. They’ve also been linked to Kenny Pickett out of Pitt, among other QBs in a one of the weaker classes, but picking 20th might be worth the value.
Whoever is under center in 2022 and beyond, they’ve got a solid offense around them. With JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington gone, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool are officially the guys, and they’ve been great in their early careers. Najee Harris looked great as a rookie and is poised to be a star in this league. The aforementioned offensive line is rebuilding and improving, while the defense will continue to dominate with T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick and others leading the way. The AFC itself is a powerhouse, and the North is up there as one of the most competitive divisions. Can the Steelers reclaim the throne?
RIP Dwayne Haskins.
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