The Steelers’ season ends in their sixth consecutive playoff and five straight losses. The rollercoaster of a season has Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin going from a genius after a controversial call to fans calling for his job just months later. What could go wrong with an elite defense and two quarterbacks with winning records?
The season opened optimistically, acquiring two quarterbacks better than any since Ben Roethlisberger, Justin Fields, and Russell Wilson on short-term deals. Having announced Wilson as the starter, only to have him out with an injury to start the season, Pittsburgh leaned on Fields early. The Steelers played to his strengths and went 4-2 with Fields. Impressing with just one interception, the ceiling, however, was apparent.
In a controversial decision, head coach Mike Tomlin announced Wilson as the starter when he became available. Tomlin was rewarded early, and Wilson was thrown for six touchdowns with no interceptions over the first three games. The Steelers’ elite defense finally had an offense to put up points; everything was grand.
The offense regressed after that, averaging 22.4 ppg and only 14.7 over their last three games. The defense was tired, allowing 27.3 ppg over those final three. After the initial rush that was Russell Wilson, the offense was abysmal.
They have no elite wide receivers outside of George Pickens, and while his talents are apparent, so is his attitude. Having only signed Wilson to a one-year deal and declining the final option year of Fields’ contract, the quarterback room is bare right now.
Mike Tomlin is taking heat at the moment, with reports of his coaching being the issue, having been unable to advance any of the numerous quarterbacks they have tried since Roethlisberger. While that is a fact, consider the lineup of options he had. None of Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Mitch Trubisky, or any other names are a great starting point.
A less athletic version of Russell Wilson was his best option in years. If you start journeymen quarterbacks, you need some elite receivers around them, and the Steelers have one, at best.
With a relatively weak quarterback draft class, Pittsburgh is eyeing free agency for their quarterbacks and the draft to bolster the roster. One constant name in mock drafts is defensive tackle Derrick Harmon from Oregon. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound lineman is considered a suitable understudy for Cameron Heyward.
If not Harmon, look for this position to get addressed early while looking for some value in the wide receiver and cornerback class later in the draft. There is an overall agreeance on the needs, but the margins between the options are razor-thin.
Expected to eye free agency for a quarterback, Pittsburgh has big decisions ahead. Is Wilson worth resigning, and how much of a raise is he seeking? Resigning Fields is also an option, but did they see enough to have him back at training camp? It would likely be based on value for the Steelers.
The top free-agent quarterback is Sam Darnold, who is revitalizing his career in Minnesota this season. At only 27 years old, Darnold will be in high demand. Free agent options to consider at backup could be resigning one of the two expiring deals or taking a shot on Mac Jones.
Pittsburgh has clear work to be done, but can they find the value? Whether in the draft or free agency, the Steelers have short-term offensive issues and long-term defensive concerns. Tomlin is taking heat, but there is zero chance he is leaving. While any heat on his coaching is unjust, the recruiting decisions between him and general manager Omar Khan may be due some scrutiny.
Howe Fresh
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