2023 NFL Offseason: Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers (Last Year: 9-8)

2023 NFL Season Preview:

Veteran Additions:
WR Allen Robinson, OT Le’Raven Clark, G Isaac Seumalo, G Nate Herbig, DT Breiden Fehoko, DT Armon Watts, DE/OLB Markus Golden, LB Cole Holcomb, LB Elandon Roberts, S Keanu Neal.
Early Draft Picks:
OT/G Broderick Jones, CB Joey Porter Jr., DT Keeanu Benton, TE Darnell Washington, DE/OLB Nick Herbig. Steelers Rookie Forecast
Offseason Losses:
DE/DT Chris Wormley, LB Devin Bush, LB Robert Spillane, LB Myles Jack, CB Cameron Sutton, CB William Jackson, CB Ahkello Witherspoon, S Terrell Edmunds.

2023 Pittsburgh Steelers Offense:
The Steelers initially planned for Mitchell Trubisky to start while first-round rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett learned from the sidelines. That strategy lasted three games. Pickett was inserted as the starter in Week 4 versus the Jets, and he never relinquished the job. Pickett had some ups and downs as a rookie with more interceptions (9) than touchdowns (7), but he completed 63 percent of his passes and was able to engineer some game-winning drives late in the year.

Pickett will need to make a big leap in his second year for the Steelers to be able to make a deep playoff run. A big part of that formula would be for the offensive line to perform at a much higher level. Pittsburgh’s blocking has been suspect for years, though it improved last season with guard James Daniels and center Mason Cole joining the team. However, it still wasn’t good enough, so the Steelers’ front office correctly deemed that it had to make a couple of upgrades.

The Steelers added a talented blocker in free agency, signing Isaac Seumalo away from the Eagles. Seumalo was one of the better guards in the NFL last year, so he’ll be a force in the interior next to Cole, as Daniels and Kevin Dotson compete for the other guard spot. Pittsburgh then doubled down in the draft, selecting Broderick Jones in the first round. Jones is an athletic left tackle with lots of upside, though he has a low floor as well. Still, he can’t be much worse than Dan Moore was on the blind side last year. Jones will bookend Chukwuma Okorafor, who looks to be the weak link on the front.

With more time in the pocket, Pickett will obviously have much more success targeting his talented receiving corps. Diontae Johnson has been a fine No. 1 for Pittsburgh for the past couple of years, but he will likely cede that distinction to George Pickens, who thrived as a second-round rookie last season. Pickens would have been a first-round pick had he not come with some off-the-field and medical question marks. He’s a terrific athlete with a sky-high ceiling. There’s also tight end Pat Freiermuth, who caught 63 passes for 732 yards in his second season.

The improved offensive line will also benefit Najee Harris, whose production dropped last year because of poor blocking. Harris is a candidate to rebound from his disappointing 2022 campaign. At the very least, Pickett should consider utilizing him more as a receiver than he did this past season.

2023 Pittsburgh Steelers Defense:
If there is any doubt that elite edge rushers have a huge impact on their team’s performance, anyone can point to the 2022 Steelers as an example. With T.J. Watt on the field, Pittsburgh was 8-2 and ranked in the top six of pass defense EPA. Without Watt, the Steelers were 1-6 and were 30th in pass defense EPA.

Watt’s health will play a huge factor in how great the Steelers can be this year, as their only losses with him this past season were to the Bengals and Ravens, two teams that made the playoffs. Watt does not have an extensive injury history, as he had missed just four games in five seasons prior to 2022. Thus, Watt should be expected to be on the field for most of the year. He and Alex Highsmith, who registered 14.5 sacks in 2022, figure to continue to terrorize opposing quarterbacks.

A terrific pass rush will mix well with an improved secondary. The Steelers signed Patrick Peterson in the offseason and then used the No. 32 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on Joey Porter Jr. Peterson is 33, but he’s coming off a great season with the Vikings. Porter, the son of the long-time Steeler great, is a gifted player with great upside. He easily could have been chosen No. 17 overall with no complaints. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if the Steelers can find someone better than Chandon Sullivan to play in the slot. Sullivan was a liability last year, though he’ll benefit from the improved pass rush.

The Steelers have one of the best safeties in the NFL to pair with their cornerbacks, as Minkah Fitzpatrick is coming off another terrific year. Terrell Edmunds was the other safety last year, but he signed with Philadelphia. One of Damontae Kazee or Keanu Neal will replace him, but neither seems like a very good option.

Meanwhile, the run defense needed some work this offseason, so the Steelers spent their own second-round pick on Keeanu Benton. It shouldn’t take mich for Benton to crack the starting lineup, given the lack of talent on the defensive front outside of Cameron Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi. Heyward is still one of the top five-techniques in the NFL despite his age (34). Ogunjobi, conversely, is coming off a bit of a disappointing year. He can certainly play better in 2023.

One more upgrade Pittsburgh made to the defense was acquiring Cole Holcomb in free agency. The former Redskin is a three-down player who is capable in both run support and coverage. He’s one of two new off-ball linebackers the Steelers have, though Elandon Roberts is not a very good player.

2023 Pittsburgh Steelers Schedule and Intangibles:
The Steelers had some major kicking woes in 2015 – until they found Chris Boswell. He’s been an excellent kicker for them ever since. He was 36-of-40 in 2021. However, he just had one of his worst years as a pro, going only 20-of-28, though he was 7-of-9 from 50-plus.

Pressley Harvin and Braden Mann will battle to be the team’s punter. Both had poor net averages last season, though Mann at least did a good job of pinning the opposition inside the 20.

The Steelers have their tough divisional opponents, but their non-divisional schedule looks pretty easy. Their opponents, aside from the 49ers, include the Texans, Colts, Titans, Rams, Cardinals, Patriots, and Raiders.

2023 Pittsburgh Steelers Rookies:
Go here for the Steelers Rookie Forecast, a page with predictions like which rookie will bust and which rookie will become a solid starter.

2023 Pittsburgh Steelers Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):

Quarterbacks	Offensive Line	Secondary
Running Backs	Defensive Line	Special Teams
Receivers	Linebackers	Coaching

2023 Pittsburgh Steelers Analysis: In 2022, the Steelers had a rookie quarterback, an offensive line with some glaring holes, and a defense that was missing its best player for about half the season, and yet they still went 9-8. In 2023, the Steelers will have a quarterback with experience, an improved offensive line, and a defense that should have its best player on the field for most of the year. If Kenny Pickett can take the next step, Pittsburgh will have a good chance to make a deep playoff run.

Projection: 12-5 (2nd in AFC North)

2022 Projection: 8-9. 2022 Actual Result: 9-8.
2021 Projection: 6-11. 2021 Actual Result: 9-7-1.
2020 Projection: 10-6. 2020 Actual Result: 12-4.
2019 Projection: 11-5. 2019 Actual Result: 8-8.
2018 Projection: 8-8. 2018 Actual Result: 9-6-1.
2017 Projection: 11-5. 2017 Actual Result: 13-3.
2016 Projection: 10-6. 2016 Actual Result: 11-5.

NFL Draft Team Grade: A Grade

Goals Entering the 2023 NFL Draft: The Steelers figure to make a big leap in Kenny Pickett’s second year. However, this would require the team to plug some big holes, including left tackle and cornerback. Some other defensive upgrades would be welcome as well.

2023 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Excluding their final pick, the Steelers had six selections. All six of those picks scored a “B” grade or higher. This included their initial choice, Broderick Jones, whom Pittsburgh traded up for in the opening round. The Steelers had no choice but to do so, given that the Jets would have selected him at No. 15. Jones has a low floor, but he also possesses great upside to be a franchise left tackle. He could be essential to Kenny Pickett’s development.

The Steelers had a great Day 2, opening up the proceedings by selecting Joey Porter Jr., whom they easily could have taken at No. 17. Keeanu Benton was another strong pick, as he’ll help a poor run defense. The final second-day choice was used on Darnell Washington, an extremely talented tight end. Washington dropped because several teams flunked him medically, but he was well worth the risk toward the end of the third frame.

Pittsburgh completed its very strong draft class with two solid picks on Day 3. This was a terrific haul for the Steelers, who undoubtedly improved their chances of qualifying for the playoffs despite being in a very tough conference.

NFL Draft Individual Grades:

17. Broderick Jones, OT/G – B Grade
Mike Tomlin wanted to upgrade his secondary. The front office wanted to solidify the offensive line. The front office wins. Maybe. Broderick Jones has huge upside, but he has a much lower floor than the other three offensive linemen selected so far. This is a risky move, especially given the trade up, but I don’t blame the Steelers for making the pick because Kenny Pickett needed better protection to take the next step.

32. Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State – A+ Grade
An A+ grade to kick off Round 2. This is amazing value. Joey Porter Jr. was under consideration for the Steelers’ No. 17 overall pick had one of the top four offensive linemen not been on the board. Porter fills a huge need, and he should continue his father’s great legacy in Pittsburgh.

49. Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin – B+ Grade
The Steelers have had issues stopping the run ever since Ryan Shazier suffered a brutal injury. This is not a linebacker pick, but Keeanu Benton will certainly help the team’s efforts to stop the rush. Benton is a nose tackle with upside, so I like this pick for Pittsburgh.

93. Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia – B+ Grade
If you’re wondering why Darnell Washington fell, some teams removed him from their draft boards because of serious injury concerns. However, at some point, he’s definitely worth a shot, and the Steelers deemed that to be at the end of the third frame. This pick obviously doesn’t fill a need, but it doesn’t hurt to give Kenny Pickett another talented weapon. We’ll just have to see if Washington can stay healthy.

132. Nick Herbig, DE/OLB, Wisconsin – B+ Grade
The Steelers were 8-2 with T.J. Watt last year, but really struggled without him. Edge-rushing depth was needed, and Nick Herbig is a very talented player who can get good pressure on the quarterback. The problem is that he’s small, so he’ll have to be a situational pass rusher to start, but I like this value at the end of the fourth round.

241. Cory Trice, CB, Purdue – B+ Grade
Cory Trice is a tall, lengthy cornerback with upside. However, he has a dubious injury history, which is why he fell to the seventh round. The floor is low, but there is definite upside.

251. Spencer Anderson, C, Maryland – C+ Grade
I didn’t have Spencer Anderson anywhere near my mocks. He’s a high-effort lineman, but lacks upside and struggles with technique. I don’t see him making the final roster.

Season Summary:
The Steelers were hot in the second half of the year, which coincided with T.J. Watt’s return to the field. Pittsburgh was 8-2 with Watt, which bodes well for next year when Kenny Pickett has experience.

Offseason Moves:

Steelers sign DE/OLB Markus Golden

Steelers acquire WR Allen Robinson from Rams for pick swap

Steelers sign DT Armon Watts

Steelers sign S Keanu Neal

Steelers sign DT Breiden Fehoko

Steelers sign OT Le’Raven Clark

Steelers sign G Isaac Seumalo

Steelers sign LB Elandon Roberts

Steelers sign ILB Cole Holcomb

Steelers sign G Nate Herbig

Team Needs:

Two Defensive Linemen: Pittsburgh has struggled versus the run in recent years because of declining defensive line play. Two new members are needed up front. Signed Breiden Fehoko and Armon Watts
Linebacker: The Steelers need to continue to bolster the middle of their defense, as they have a huge liability at linebacker. Signed Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts
Two Cornerbacks: Cameron Sutton and Levi Wallace are impending free agents. Wallace needed to be upgraded anyway. Signed Patrick Peterson
Left Tackle: Dan Moore must be upgraded in order to grant Kenny Pickett better protection.
Wide Receiver: The Steelers are great at finding receivers on Day 2 of the NFL Draft. They’ll need to do that again to replace Chase Claypool.
Edge Rusher: Pittsburgh was 8-2 with T.J. Watt, but only 1-7 without him. Better pass-rushing depth is needed. Signed Markus Golden
Safety: Terrell Edmunds is another free agent who needs to be re-signed or replaced. Signed Keanu Neal

Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

2023 NFL Free Agent Signings:

Isaac Seumalo, G, Eagles. Age: 29.
Signed with Steelers (3 years)

The Eagles have done a great job of developing Isaac Seumalo, who can now say that he’s a Pro Bowl-caliber guard.
Patrick Peterson, CB, Vikings. Age: 33.
Signed with Steelers (2 years)

Patrick Peterson had some poor moments in recent years, but he did very well to bounce back last season. Peterson was great, but there’s a good chance he could regress now that he’s 33.
Cole Holcomb, LB, Redskins. Age: 27.
Signed with Steelers (3 years)

Cole Holcomb is a solid, three-down linebacker who was missed when he was lost with a season-ending foot injury in the middle of the 2022 season.
Markus Golden, DE/OLB, Cardinals. Age: 32.
Signed with Steelers

Markus Golden registered 11 sacks in 2021, but looked like a shell of his former self last year.
Elandon Roberts, LB, Dolphins. Age: 29.
Signed with Steelers (2 years)

Elandon Roberts is a solid run defender and an excellent blitzer, but he really struggles in coverage.
Nate Herbig, G, Jets. Age: 25. — Signed with Steelers
Keanu Neal, S, Buccaneers. Age: 28. — Signed with Steelers
Armon Watts, DT, Bears. Age: 27. — Signed with Steelers
Breiden Fehoko, DT, Chargers. Age: 26. — Signed with Steelers
Le’Raven Clark, OT, Titans. Age: 30. — Signed with Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers Free Agents:

Salary Cap: TBA.

Cameron Sutton, CB, Steelers. Age: 28.
Signed with Lions (3 years, $33 million)

Cameron Sutton is coming off an excellent year despite not having T.J. Watt assisting him by rushing the passer for half the season.
Devin Bush, LB, Steelers. Age: 25.
Signed with Seahawks (1 year)

Devin Bush has been a disappointment as the former No. 10 overall pick. He hasn’t been terrible, and he still has some potential, but he hasn’t lived up to his draft billing yet.
Terrell Edmunds, S, Steelers. Age: 26.
Signed with Eagles

Terrell Edmunds had a rocky start to his career, but played well last year. He’s excellent in coverage, though he tends to miss some tackles.
Robert Spillane, LB, Steelers. Age: 27.
Signed with the Raiders (2 years, $9 million)

Robert Spillane is a solid two-down linebacker who excels in run support. He’s a liability in coverage, however.
William Jackson, CB, Steelers. Age: 30.
Larry Ogunjobi, DT, Steelers. Age: 29. — Re-signed with Steelers (3 years, $28.75 million)
Levi Wallace, CB, Steelers. Age: 28.
Chris Wormley, DE/DT, Steelers. Age: 29.
Myles Jack, LB, Steelers. Age: 27.
Malik Reed, DE/OLB, Steelers. Age: 27. — Signed with Dolphins
Zach Gentry, TE, Steelers. Age: 26. — Re-signed with Steelers
Derek Watt, FB, Steelers. Age: 32.
Miles Boykin, WR, Steelers. Age: 27.
Benny Snell, RB, Steelers. Age: 25.
Mason Rudolph, QB, Steelers. Age: 28. — Re-signed with Steelers
Trent Scott, OT, Steelers. Age: 29. — Signed with Redskins
Karl Joseph, S, Steelers. Age: 29.
Tyson Alualu, DE/DT, Steelers. Age: 36.
Marcus Allen, LB, Steelers. Age: 27.
Jeremy McNichols, RB, Steelers. Age: 27.
Jesse Davis, G, Steelers. Age: 31.