Predicting Steelers' Biggest Regrets from 2024 NFL Offseason
The Pittsburgh Steelers are taking a big gamble with their current roster.
Mike Tomlin's team currently does not have a starting quarterback as Justin Fields and Russell Wilson battle in training camp.
Many outside observers would rank Fields or Wilson as the worst quarterback in the AFC North regardless of who wins the job.
Pittsburgh has won with less under head coach Mike Tomlin, but getting to a .500 record may be more difficult than in past season.
Not only do the Steelers not have a starting quarterback yet, they are without a clear-cut No. 2 option in the passing game behind George Pickens.
Of course, that could change in the coming days depending on Brandon Aiyuk's situation, but as of Wednesday morning, the Steelers still some serious help.
Not Replacing Diontae Johnson Right Away
1 of 3
The Steelers dealt away Diontae Johnson to give George Pickens the No. 1 wide receiver job.
Pickens is more than capable of putting up a 1,000-yard season and becoming one of the NFL's top stars at wide receiver.
However, there is little help behind Pickens at the moment. Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson and Van Jefferson are currently the backups to the burgeoning superstar.
The Steelers have been heavily linked with a Brandon Aiyuk in recent days. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the 49ers and Steelers have the parameters of an Aiyuk trade.
Waiting this long to put together a deal for Aiyuk is a bit concerning because, if it gets done, he has to develop chemistry with whomever starts at quarterback.
It could be a few weeks into the regular season until Aiyuk makes an impact, if he arrives, and that may cost the Steelers a game or two in the standings they may need in a competitive AFC wild-card race.
Not Being More Aggressive in Quarterback Market
2 of 3
The Steelers settled for the Fields-Wilson combination at quarterback.
They did not have much of a choice when it came to the draft because they picked in the middle of the first round.
It would have taken a Herculean effort just to get near the top 12 to land a quarterback, and even then, it may not have been the player the Steelers coaching staff coveted.
Even though that was probably the case, the Steelers may regret being more aggressive at quarterback in the offseason.
There's a chance the Fields-Wilson experiment does not work out and the Steelers wasted a season.
Given Tomlin's track record with worse quarterbacks at the helm it's hard to imagine the Steelers being in a position to pick a signal-caller in the top 10 in the 2025 NFL draft.
One of the two quarterbacks may work out and the 2025 quarterback might not be a concern come November, but right now, it looks like a big risk that the team was not more aggressive in pursuing upgrades at the position.
Not Adding More Cornerback Depth
3 of 3
The Steelers may leave the 2024 season wishing they need a bit more work at cornerback in the offseason.
Joey Porter Jr. is the star of the unit, but there are some questions about the rest of the corners, especially now that Cameron Sutton is suspended.
Cleveland and Cincinnati thrive through the air and Baltimore's aerial attack can be lethal when its ground game is not battering opposing defenses.
The Steelers' secondary could get ripped apart in divisional contests if the players are not good enough.
Veteran corner Donte Jackson should help Porter, but the Steelers are one injury away from a serious crisis at corner in which an unsung hero has to step up in order for success to be achieved in that area of the field.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
