Pittsburgh Steelers Receive Lukewarm Reaction For QB Additions

The Pittsburgh Steelers took some major measures to get their offense back on track in 2024. In an unprecedented move, they changed their entire quarterback depth chart looking for a spark.

Gone is 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett, who was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. Earlier in the offseason, Mitchell Trubisky was given his walking papers. Mason Rudolph, who saved the 2023 season, departed in free agency for the Tennessee Titans.

Taking their places are two starters from last season; Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The Denver Broncos released Wilson after two tumultuous seasons in the Mile High City. Fields was acquired in a trade from the Chicago Bears.

Over at Bleacher Report , Alex Ballentine re-graded some of the biggest moves of the 2024 NFL offseason. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback moves made the list, as they received a B- for their work.

“The Steelers landed two quarterbacks who started for their respective teams last season at bargain-bin prices. Those were a pair of shrewd moves, but there’s also a reason why those two were available at that cost.

There’s still a good chance that the Steelers’ quarterback of the future is still not on the roster. Wilson will turn 36 in November and has taken 527 career regular-season sacks.

Fields has promise, but it’s fair to wonder if he’ll ever improve his timing and anticipation enough to thrive as an NFL quarterback. He held on to the ball longer than anyone in the league last season, per Next Gen Stats ,” Ballentine wrote.

A B- minus seems like a fair grade for the moves. Wilson and Fields are certainly upgrades over Pickett, Trubisky and Rudolph.

How much of an upgrade, is up for debate. The offense should be higher functioning in 2024 with those two, especially with Arthur Smith taking over as offensive coordinator.

Before he was head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, Smith was offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans. He found success with a run-first game plan, which should be similar to what the Pittsburgh Steelers run.

Wilson and Fields are both dynamic athletes and capable rushers. Their skill sets should be accentuated by the style of play Smith has been known for.

As Ballentine noted, the long-term answer at quarterback may not yet be on the roster. But the Pittsburgh Steelers are improved at the most important position in football for at least 2024.

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