DB’s Steelers Mailbag: QB Questions, Positions to Target in Free Agency & NFL Draft

Pittsburgh Steelers Russell Wilson
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at practice on Dec. 4, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Since exiting the playoffs, it’s been quiet on the Steelers front. But with the offseason in full swing, free agency and the NFL Draft looming, there’s plenty of things to talk about to pass the time. The January installment covers the direction of the franchise, questions about the quarterback position and where Pittsburgh should target upgrades over the next several months.

As always, I really appreciate all of the responses on social media that brought forth a variety of interesting topics to discuss. Here we go.

Q: Do you think the Steelers will re-sign Russell Wilson?

A: My answer to this question would have been different six weeks ago but I don’t think that’s the direction the team wants to go. That was a nice value play for last season but Wilson’s limitations showed up more down the stretch versus better competition and it’s no secret that those will only expand as he continues to age. It seems like there’s a better chance that they bring back Justin Fields instead. To be clear, he has some flaws as a passer that are difficult to work around but what he adds as a rushing threat help offset those to a degree. When they made these moves last offseason, I said that they were short-term bandaids and that is still true. Eventually, the team will have to take another swing on a franchise caliber guy, even if they’re better off waiting another year to do so.

Q: What is the best course of direction for this team this offseason?

A: To put it bluntly: the one that they won’t accept and that’s a full reset. As unpopular as it may be, this core just feels really maxed out to the point where they’re consistently the 14th best team in the league. This is one of the oldest defenses in the league and their two best players are now over 30-years old. That wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if there was a path towards upgrading the quarterback position this spring but barring something unforeseen, seems unrealistic. If I had faith in this coaching staff, head coach and coordinators included, to really supercharge the talent on the roster, perhaps I would feel differently. But at the end of the day, things feel stale and taking a step back for a season might be the best thing for them in the long-term. But knowing how Pittsburgh operates, they’ll remain hyper-fixated on 2025 without any real vision beyond that.

Q: What positions should the Steelers target in free agency?

A: Quarterback aside, their biggest need is to add playmaking on the offensive perimeter. Naturally, the Steelers will be a team linked to Tee Higgins after they struck out on big name receivers last offseason, not to mention Mike Tomlin’s clear appreciate for his skill set. Are they comfortable getting into a bidding war for him? We’ll see, provided he even hits the open market. Maybe not the most flashy move but I could see them bringing in a proven slot cornerback. For example: Nate Hobbs, who has been a steady player for the Raiders in recent seasons, feels like an affordable upgrade they should be in on.

Q: Do you see any core players being traded?

A: We have every reason to believe that they’re dead set on running things back again, coaching staff included. With that in mind, trading veterans for draft capital doesn’t seem like something that they’d be interested in on the surface. If someone gets moved, my guess is that it’ll be George Pickens despite the lack of proven talent behind him on the depth chart. Is there a team out there willing to give up a day two pick for a player that’s clearly very talented, yet immature? It’s tough to say. Other franchises should have learned their lesson by now not to acquire wideouts that Pittsburgh’s brass is willing to discard for character reasons. But alas, it only takes one team. Pickens is headed into the final year of his rookie deal but I’d be pretty surprised if they inked him to an extension, which could create more offseason drama the further this drags on.

Q: What’s an underrated position that the Steelers could address in free agency or the NFL Draft?

A: If you look at how the front office has operated in the Omar Khan/Andy Weidl era, there has been a heavy emphasis on the offensive line. They’ll get Troy Fautanu back in 2025 but I’m not sure their trench transformation is fully complete. I could see them wanting to add some competition, ot at least depth, along the interior at the guard spot. As you’d expect, Mason McCormick’s rookie season was full of mixed results and Isaac Seumalo’s not getting any younger either. The Steelers weren’t interested in extending James Daniels last offseason but could they circle back on that knowing the 27-year old is probably looking for a short-term deal to reset his market following his season-ending injury in 2024? It also wouldn’t shock me if the team added some type of tackle insurance in the event that Broderick Jones doesn’t take a step forward and continues to struggle in year three. So, I don’t see them spending a first round selection on the offensive line but there’s a good chance they make an add somewhere.

Q: After a year of watching Arthur Smith’s offense, what were some good/bad things that you learned in that process? And what position must they upgrade to run his offense?

A: From a positive standpoint, I think Smith deserves credit for trying to tailor the dropback passing game to the things that Wilson was capable of executing, including taking more deep shots down the sideline. On the flip side, there was little innovation in the run game and he was unable to build any sort of play action success off his early down approach. There’s no doubt that Smith provided an upgrade to a unit that desperately needed competence after the Matt Canada debacle. However, as we get further and further removed from his Titans stint, it feels possible that he never reclaims his status as the up-and-comer offensive hotshot in the league. At the bare minimum, they’ve got to be able to run the ball more effectively next season and getting a tailback in the facility that’s comfortable in the outside zone world is an absolute must.

Q: Do you think the Steelers should draft a defensive tackle instead of a wide receiver in the first round?

A: Both of certainly in play early on. I must say, this defense tackle class is pretty awesome. Outside of Michigan’s Mason Graham, Derrick Harmon from Oregon is the guy whose film has excited me the most at this point in the process. After transferring schools for his final season, he dropped a little bit of weight and looked even more explosive on his way to a career high 55 pressures. There’s a bunch of other guys with a lot of potential and that’s a good thing because it gives them a plethora of options. Free agency will give us a much clearer indication on where the biggest voids are on the roster. I always think the best approach to the draft is taking the best player available at a position of need. Cam Heyward was fantastic this season but he can’t play forever and finding a worthy successor would obviously be a good thing for the franchise.

Q: What position do you think it would be a mistake for the Steelers to target in the first round?

A: It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of this quarterback class. Cam Ward from Miami is my top ranked guy but he carries more of a late-first round, early day two grade. It’s the most important position in sports so teams will undoubtedly reach but it’s just the year to need a quarterback. That’s unfortunate for the Steelers, too. The biggest thing is just not forcing something that isn’t there. It’s just too risky of an investment and it would be best to avoid it round one. If they wish to throw a dart at the board later in the weekend, that’s much more understandable. But similar to what we saw in 2022 when they reached on Kenny Pickett, that’s the sort of move that sets your franchise back a couple years.

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