The Pittsburgh Steelers have had an interesting offseason, to say the least. The quarterback room has seen a major overhaul and there is optimism amongst the fans that this year their team will have a much better offense than the past few years.
While Mike Tomlin maintains his record of never having a losing season, Pittsburgh hasn’t made it past the Wild Card game since 2017. There are quite a few lingering questions regarding the Steelers before the new season gets underway.
Can the Steelers make the playoffs?
The Steelers are still a good team despite their recent struggles. For what it’s worth, head coach Mike Tomlin is doing a solid job with the defense. One of the problems is that the AFC is loaded with great teams and fighting for a playoff spot is extremely tough.
Pittsburgh also finds themselves in the AFC North which is one of the toughest divisions in the league currently. Securing the top spot in the AFC North is also a tussle and now with Joe Burrow back healthy, the Bengals and the Ravens are the clear favorites.
It will be a challenge for Pittsburgh to make the playoffs despite the changes under center.
Will Russell Wilson remain the starting QB?
Another important question facing the Steelers is the play of Russell Wilson. The former Seahawk and Bronco is coming off two of his worst seasons in the league and many are ready to write him off. Wilson is still a quality signal caller, but what remains to be seen is if the problem was in Denver’s system or if Wilson has truly lost his way.
Waiting in the wings is former Bears quarterback Justin Fields who is looking to have a great season himself as he has a lot on the line in the coming season. Fields’ fifth-year option has not been picked up so performing at a high level in 2024 will be of utmost importance.
How good will the Steelers’ offensive line be?
The offensive line was an area of weakness for Pittsburgh last year. They have tried to address the issue in this year’s draft after using their first-round pick on offensive tackle Troy Fautanu and second-round pick on center Zach Frazier.
However, entrusting such responsibility to rookies could very easily backfire as the Steelers failed to sign free agents to bolster the position. Pittsburgh will have high hopes from their first-round right tackle Broderick Jones from 2023 as they expect him to take a leap in his second year. Nevertheless, it looks like a gamble and one that may not pay off.
Who will step up at wide receiver behind George Pickens?
The wide receiver is another problem area for the Steelers. Of course, in George Pickens, they have a quality wideout who is a true number one, but behind him, the depth chart is concerning.
Van Jefferson who is a four-year veteran has produced only one season of any substance back in 2021. Next in line, Calvin Austin, drafted in 2022 missed the entire rookie campaign due to a foot injury while producing just 180 yards receiving last year.
Pittsburgh also has rookie Roman Wilson whom they drafted in the third round, but this means someone is going to have to step up in a big way to help relieve some pressure off Pickens.
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