Buying or Selling Steelers' Top Offseason Performances Ahead Of Training Camp
While the Pittsburgh Steelers didn't completely overhaul their roster this offseason, they made a few key additions that could heavily impact their quest for a postseason return—and more.
Pittsburgh made the playoffs in 2023 but hasn't won a postseason game since the 2016 season.
Notably, the Steelers added quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields before reloading the offensive line with rookies Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier. Whether that's enough to make Pittsburgh a legitimate contender in a loaded AFC remains to be seen, but the real team building is set to begin.
Rookies and veterans are set to report on Wednesday, July 24. The preseason buzz will only build from there, but a few players have already turned heads during organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamps.
Below, you'll find a look at three of Pittsburgh's offseason standouts, what their performances could mean for the coming season and whether we're buying into the early hype.
WR Calvin Austin: Buy
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One of Pittsburgh's lingering questions heading into training camp involves the team's lack of an established No. 2 receiver behind George Pickens. The Steelers added the likes of Van Jefferson and Roman Wilson, but speculation remains about the team potentially trading for a wideout ahead of Week 1.
"They're going to add a wide receiver at some point between now and the trade deadline," SportsLine's Jason La Canfora told the In the Huddle podcast in June (h/t Noah Strackbein of FanNation).
Yet, the Steelers may already have their new No. 2 target in third-year wideout Calvin Austin III.
Austin missed his rookie campaign with a foot injury and saw a limited role last season, but he's been generating buzz throughout the offseason.
"Coming off a strong OTAs session, Austin has continued that work into the situational-football-loaded first two days of Steelers minicamp, and has been the most consistent and reliable member of the Steelers wide receivers corps outside of George Pickens," Alan Saunders of Steelers Now wrote.
It's not hard to buy that the 25-year-old is set to have his most productive season yet. Getting some on-field experience last season helped show Austin what it takes to succeed in the NFL, and with Diontae Johnson out, he should have open opportunities ahead of him.
Will Austin match the production of potential trade targets like Courtland Sutton or Branon Aiyuk? Probably not, but his speed and growth should make him an integral piece of the passing puzzle.
TE Darnell Washington: Sell
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2023 third-round pick Darnell Washington mostly saw the field as a blocking tight end as a rookie. While he flashed potential in that role, he didn't offer much as a pass-catcher—he finished with only seven receptions for 61 yards.
However, in the offense of new coordinator Arthur Smith, Washington should see an expanded role in the passing game. As the Atlanta Falcons head coach in 2023, Smith had his No. 1 tight end in Kyle Pitts but still coaxed 50 catches, 582 yards and three touchdowns out of No. 2 tight end Jonnu Smith.
Indeed, Washington appears to be getting more looks as a receiver, according to Jarrett Bailey of SBNation, who also noted that Washington had some "nice receptions" during OTAs.
Will Washington and top tight end Pat Freiermuth form a lethal duo for the Steelers in 2024? Maybe not.
While there's no doubting that Washington should be a bigger piece of the passing attack in Year 2—especially in the red zone—we're selling the idea that he'll have a Jonnu Smith-level of impact.
Washington is already valuable as a blocker and has some athletic limitations that will limit his role as a pass-catcher. He'll show that he was woefully underutilized in Matt Canada's offense, but he's unlikely to approach 50 receptions or 500 receiving yards this season.
QB Russell Wilson: Buy
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While it'll be fun to see how Pittsburgh's collection of pass-catchers stack up in training camp, most eyes will be firmly on the quarterbacks. Last year's combination of Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph wasn't good enough, and the Steelers are hoping that Wilson and/or Fields will upgrade the position.
Wilson appears to have the lead for the starting job, and by all accounts has looked like the capable signal-caller Pittsburgh needs.
"During the Steelers' three-day minicamp, Wilson took the majority of
the first-team reps and looked the part doing so," Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports wrote. "His arm talent was
reportedly one of the biggest things that stood out."
Wilson should look like a quality starter at this point in his career, even in a new offense. He's a nine-time Pro Bowler who may have struggled with the Denver Broncos but is still coming off a good statistical season.
The 3,070 passing yards and 26 touchdowns Wilson tallied in 15 games last season compare very favorably to the numbers (3,421 yards, 13 TDs) all Steelers quarterbacks produced in 17 games.
Wilson seems to have lost some of his deep-ball velocity in recent years, and the dynamic playmaker we saw early in his Seattle Seahawks days is probably a ghost of the past. With a much better supporting cast than he had in Denver, though, Wilson should be an above-average starter in 2024 and a clear upgrade for the Steelers.
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