Steelers accomplish an important goal during their offseason
The landscape of the AFC North has shifted dramatically over the last few years. The Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens now have two of the most expensive quarterbacks in the NFL, and the Cincinnati Bengals have won five playoff games in a 12-month span after winning zero in the 31 years prior.Being left behind is […]
The landscape of the AFC North has shifted dramatically over the last few years. The Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens now have two of the most expensive quarterbacks in the NFL, and the Cincinnati Bengals have won five playoff games in a 12-month span after winning zero in the 31 years prior.
Being left behind is not in the Pittsburgh Steelers' plans, and their 2023 offseason has been indicative of that.
Entering Kenny Pickett's second year under center, Pittsburgh has gone above and beyond in building the best possible team around him. From fortifying the offensive line, to solidifying the secondary on defense, the Steelers' busiest offseason in recent memory has been enough to garner attention from around the NFL world.
CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin graded every NFL team's offseason following the conclusion of the NFL Draft, and the Steelers were awarded one of his eight A grades. Benjamin cited the value of their draft class as what put them into the upper echelon, as well as a couple additions that should improve a major weakness from last season.
They probably could've matched what the Lions gave Cameron Sutton to keep an ascending starter at corner. But Patrick Peterson is a plug-and-play consolation prize after a Vikings renaissance; he should thrive alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick. Ex-Eagles OG Isaac Seumalo is maybe their smartest bet, bringing a quietly sterling piece of Philly's vaunted line to Kenny Pickett's defense. They also netted some good values in the draft in OT Broderick Jones, CB Joey Porter Jr. and TE Darnell Washington, who should pair with ex-Rams WR Allen Robinson to give them quite a red-zone team.
In 2022, Pittsburgh turned just 52% of their red zone trips into touchdown, which ranked 22nd in the league. The Bengals led the division with a 63% clip that was good enough for seventh out of all 32 teams.
Not only will a better offensive line, thanks to Broderick Jones and Isaac Seumalo, help finish those drives, new targets Allen Robinson and Darnell Washington give Pickett big bodies to find in condensed spaces.
Adding four more points on each of those missed opportunities can make a world of a difference in the long run.
The additions of Peterson and Porter obviously provide ideal short-term and long-term options at such an important position like cornerback. Despite not being able to retain Cameron Sutton, the Steelers came away with positive results at the position.
And all of this was done with a first-year general manager in Omar Khan.
It's not a given that a franchise successfully builds a competent team around a young quarterback, but the Steelers have done anything but sit on their hands to best support Pickett. Now it's time for the fruits of their labor to show come September.
