Biggest Positions of Need for the Steelers Entering 2023 NFL Offseason

The Pittsburgh Steelers enter a crucial offseason in 2023.

The franchise may have been in the unfamiliar position of missing the playoffs, but they found out that Kenny Pickett is a quarterback worth building around. Now comes the hard part of actually building a team that can win.

Of course, there are already good pieces in place. The Steelers did finish the season 9-8, and there's a case to be made they would have been contenders had it not been for T.J. Watt's injury that forced him to miss a significant chunk of the season.

That being said, there are definitely areas where the roster needs to be improved. Whether it's in free agency or through the draft, these positions need some new blood if the Steelers are going to take the next step in 2023.

Left Tackle

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Dan Moore Jr. at least needs competition at left tackle next season.

If the Steelers are committed to developing Kenny Pickett, then upgrading the pass protection in front of him has to be a priority.

That means trusting Dan Moore Jr. to man the left tackle spot shouldn't be an option moving forward.

Moore has been trusted with protecting the blindside but has left a lot to be desired. He was thrown into the fire as a Day 3 pick in 2021, scoring a 57.8 grade from PFF while allowing seven sacks.

That was enough to see if he could improve as a sophomore, but it's hard to feel like he showed enough to be guaranteed the spot. He conceded seven sacks again and saw an uptick in penalties, drawing 10 flags.

The optimal route to replace Moore would be with an early draft pick. The Steelers would be wise to look at left tackle options who could fall to the 17th pick. Georgia tackle Broderick Jones and Tennessee tackle Darnell Wright could be in play.

Andre Dillard would be a name to keep an eye on in free agency. The former first-round pick was supplanted by Jordan Mailata at left tackle but could still be a starter in the league and has plenty of years left at 27 years old.

Defensive Tackle

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The Steelers will need to decide if they want to bring back Larry Ogunjobi this offseason.

It isn't often in the Mike Tomlin era that the Pittsburgh Steelers haven't featured a talented group of defensive linemen on the interior.

Guys like Cameron Heyward, Tyson Alualu and Stephon Tuitt have provided the foundation of a team that keeps its linebackers clean and plays well against the run. If you go back further, the likes of Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel served similar roles.

If the Steelers are to continue that tradition they are going to need to find some younger options to fill out the middle of the defense. Tuitt retired in the summer, Larry Ogunjobi (28) is a free agent and Heyward is 33.

Alualu and Chris Wormley (29) will join Ogunjobi as free agents.

That leaves the Steelers with a real need across the defensive line. Montravius Adams and DeMarvin Leal played supplemental roles this season, but more reinforcements are needed.

Siaki Ika is the kind of prototypical nose tackle who would make sense when the Steelers are on the clock with the 33rd pick. At 6'4", 357 pounds, he's the kind of wrecking ball who could man the middle for a long time.

Poona Ford would be an intriguing free-agent option. He's only 27 years old and has four years of experience as a starter with the Seahawks. A change of scenery could unlock the potential that he's flashed as a disruptor in the middle.

Cornerback

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Bringing back Cameron Sutton should be a priority for the Steelers.

Cornerback depth is huge in the NFL. When you look at the teams that are left heading into Conference Championship Weekend, one thing they all have in common is a deep stable of receivers who can hurt you.

Right now, the Steelers just don't have the depth on the outside to stop the more dynamic offenses they will need to beat to have playoff success.

Cam Sutton has been a strong candidate, but he's a free agent who is going to command a sizable contract. After him, it's unclear who the other starter on the outside will be next season.

Levi Wallace was fine when healthy this season, but he has some athletic limitations that can show up against the best receivers. Ahkello Witherspoon struggled with a hamstring injury for much of the season, and James Pierre is set to become a free agent.

Corner should be another consideration with the 17th, 33rd or 50th pick. Both Kelee Ringo and Joey Porter Jr. made names for themselves as collegians with a physical style that could make them controversial prospects.

If either falls to 17, it would be hard to pass on the opportunity to pair one of them with Sutton.