The Pittsburgh Steelers were a fairly surprising team last season, winning 10 games and making the playoffs in spite of obvious problems at quarterback.
The Steelers have gone a long way in trying to address that major issue this offseason, signing Russell Wilson and swinging a trade for Justin Fields.
Pittsburgh’s quarterback room certainly looks a heck of a lot better than it did a year ago, but will that be enough for the Steelers in the rugged AFC North division?
Every team within the AFC North finished over .500 in 2023, and three of the four clubs made the playoffs. Ergo, it definitely won’t be easy for Pittsburgh this coming season.
Here are three massive questions facing the Steelers heading into 2024.
Who will step up at wide receiver?
Pittsburgh has one proven wide receiver in George Pickens, who racked up 1,140 yards and led the NFL with 18.1 yards per catch last year. But beyond Pickens? There is one giant question mark.
The Steelers traded Diontae Johnson earlier this offseason, leaving Calvin Austin and Van Jefferson as Pittsburgh’s top two options prior to the NFL Draft. The Steelers then proceeded to take Michigan wide out Roman Wilson in the third round, but he is just a rookie.
There has been plenty of speculation that Pittsburgh could trade for a receiver, but up until this point, nothing concrete has materialized on that front. Trading for a wide receiver isn’t really the Steelers’ modus operandi, but things could be different tis time around given how dire their situation is.
Pittsburgh’s upgrade at quarterback may not matter if the team doesn’t find an answer at the receiver position. Again, it could be Wilson, but he is absolutely a wild card as a third-round pick.
Is the offensive line prepared to protect Russell Wilson?
The Steelers’ offensive line was not exactly an area of strength in 2023.
While the team didn’t sign anyone in free agency to address the issue, Pittsburgh did invest its first two draft picks into the trenches, selecting offensive tackle Troy Fautanu and center Zach Frazier.
Of course, Fautanu and Frazier have zero NFL experience, so depending on a couple of rookies to instantly solve the offensive line’s ills is risky.
The Steelers are also hoping that 2023 first-round draft pick Broderick Jones—a tackle out of Georgia—also takes a major step forward this coming season.
As you can see, quarterback was far from Pittsburgh’s only issue offensively this past year.
How much does Russell Wilson have left in the tank?
Wilson is coming off of an incredibly disappointing two-year stint with the Denver Broncos that resulted in the Broncos releasing him earlier this offseason.
The 35-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Steelers, and while he is certainly a significant step up from the triumvirate of Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph, there are still questions about whether or not he can still sling it on a weekly basis.
I will say this in Wilson’s defense: he wasn’t bad in 2023. He threw for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 15 starts, and while he certainly didn’t look like his old Seattle Seahawks self, he was definitely better than the 16-touchdown, 11-pick performance he flashed in 2022.
Perhaps Denver’s system was the problem for Wilson, who made nine Pro Bowls with the Seahawks and suddenly fell on his face in the Mile High City. It seems somewhat hard to imagine that he lost it that quickly.
The problem for Wilson is that the Steelers are not exactly an ideal scenario for him. Again, Pittsburgh lacks weapons, and its offensive line is vastly unproven. Maybe new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith can bring the best out of Wilson, but it remains to be seen.
If Wilson struggles out of the gate in 2024, we will be undoubtedly be hearing calls for Fields.
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