Breaking down the Steelers’ strengths, and weaknesses, before the NFL Draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers had an awkward 2024 season, as they continued to find their footing post Ben Roethlisberger. Despite a rough finish, the strength of the team remained their defense, which ranked 8th in the league, allowing 20.4 points per game. The offense ranked in the middle of the pack at 16th, scoring 22.4 points per game. However, this was a significant improvement from 2023, when they averaged just 17.9 points and ranked 27th.
Yet, the team still struggled at the end of the season, finishing with a five-game losing streak that continued their winless playoff streak since 2016.
As Pittsburgh continues to search for solutions for a franchise quarterback and postseason success, we’ll dive into the strengths and weaknesses of the team this upcoming season, to see where the NFL Draft may be able to pick up some of the slack on their roster.
Defense is the backbone of the team
Everybody knows that when the Steelers hit the field, their defense makes opponents sweat. And for a few good reasons.
T.J. Watt continues to be an absolute menace on the field. Watt ended the 2024 campaign with 11.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 17. He and Alex Highsmith, who added another six sacks, make for a duo that gives quarterbacks extensive nightmares.
It’s not all about sacks, though — Pittsburgh’s defense was opportunistic, leading the NFL in turnovers. At one point during the initial half of the season, the Steelers were giving up a mere 16 points per game.
The defense also fell apart near the end of the year with a tough schedule featuring both Super Bowl teams and multiple games against their AFC North rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. With several players injured, the defense appeared lost and gave up gobs of points – nearly 29 per game, during the five-game skid.
Still, this unit features several playmakers in addition to Watt and Highsmith, such as Patrick Queen, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Joey Porter Jr., and Cameron Heyward. It’s the latter, Heyward, who, at 35 years old, may see the team seek depth in the draft. Otherwise, this side of the ball added yet another veteran star, Darius Slay, to the mix this offseason and looks ready to set the team’s tone.
Who’s throwing the ball?
Pittsburgh passed on re-signing any of last year’s quarterbacks, opting to move forward by bringing back Mason Rudolph and signing Skylar Thompson from the Miami Dolphins
Thompson had a great start in college at Kansas State, where he demonstrated strong leadership and playmaking abilities. Drafted by the Dolphins in 2022, Thompson appeared in ten games, accumulating 721 passing yards on 138 attempts, which means his NFL experience is rather limited. The staff likely views him as a developmental player who could serve as a backup while continuing to develop his skills.
Rudolph returns to the Steelers after a year away. Originally drafted by the team in 2018, he was thrust into action in 2019 with mixed results – having no quarterbacks coach and playing with multiple reserve players didn’t help matters much.
However, in his final games for the Steelers in 2023, Rudolph performed exceptionally well, leading them to 30-plus points twice and a three-game winning streak that miraculously saw them secure the AFC’s final playoff spot.
His time in Tennessee was a mess last season, as evidenced by the Titans’ league-worst record, securing them the top pick in this year’s draft. Rudolph’s season ended with nine touchdowns to nine interceptions. Those numbers don’t suggest he is the long-term answer in Pittsburgh, yet his passing stats at least mirror or best those of his predecessors, Mitchell Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, and Justin Fields.
Steelers fans are optimistic about giving Rudolph a chance, but others are holding out for a potential Aaron Rodgers signing. Regardless if the 41-year-old Rodgers signs or not, the team could be looking to add their QB of the future via the draft.
The supporting cast
The offensive line is still a work in progress, but with four of the five starting spots penciled in with players selected in the last two drafts, this is an area GM Omar Khan may bypass for most of the draft.
The Steelers skill positions may have improved the most, with Khan trading for Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf this offseason to pair with George Pickens.
Pat Freiermuth signed a long-term deal last offseason securing his rising star as well. Jaylen Warren is set to return to a backfield that lost Najee Harris. With a deep running back draft class, look for the Steelers to add a rookie as eight of their 25 pre-draft visits have been with that position.
Those players will help lift whoever is throwing them the ball, which is an important thing to note now that sports betting has almost become synonymous with football, especially as online sportsbooks continue to grow in popularity. For football fans who like a little action off the field, learning how to read odds is key to getting more out of the experience.
Whether you’re looking at spreads or totals, you can brush up on the various betting odds formats available on AskGamblers. Understanding different types of bets is key to enjoying any football game to the fullest. The Steelers’ offense wasn’t always the prettiest, but a steady rhythm is forming.
Great coaching goes a long way
When things get rough on the field, a great coach can act as a shelter in the storm. That’s exactly what veteran head coach Mike Tomlin is. Yet again, he pulled another winning season from his sleeve. It’s his 18th straight without a losing record. That’s true leadership and not random luck.
Tomlin kept the Steelers in competitive shape through quarterback changes, close games, and an offensive rollercoaster. Of course, coordinators also deserve credit and recognition, as first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith weathered the same offensive changes to see the team succeed early on.
The coaching staff may face scrutiny from fans who want to win it all every season, but that scrutiny is misplaced when the staff can face adversity and get the team into the postseason tournament with at least a shot at a Lombardi trophy. (As opposed to other teams who are always done before December!)
Looking into the future
It’s hard to predict where the Steelers will go in the NFL Draft. This offseason saw few splashes in free agency beyond the blockbuster Metcalf trade, and the questions surrounding a quarterback have many criticizing the team’s ability to plan, procure, or develop an answer at the most important position.
Compared to previous seasons, however, the Steelers seemed to have more stability. The offensive line is young and talented enough to believe they will be groomed into a force for years to come. A healthy defense, along with a healthy T.J. Watt, should keep opponents from running up the score. And a solid special-teams core featuring Chris Boswell and returning punter Cameron Johnston mitigates further risk when it comes to tight games and field position.
The identity of the offense is the main weakness at this time. While the Steelers have rarely been flashy throughout their history, a return to a ground-and-pound scheme may be the path in 2025, should they add a back in the draft and stick with Rudolph as a game manager. At a minimum, Rudolph has far superior targets to throw to this upcoming season than he did in 2019. (Donte Moncrief, Johnny Holton, Benny Snell, Vance McDonald and more…)
A new quarterback is likely to be drafted soon to develop with those same weapons, and takeover, should Rudolph falter. If not, the emergency line may still be open for Aaron Rodgers.
And that’s the main question: can the offense keep pace against high-scoring teams, and can the young players stay strong under playoff pressure? The cornerstones of a great team are in place for sure — strong defense, strong skill position players, and battle-tested coaching.
Could a bold move in the draft turn the Steelers into a Super Bowl contender? Only time will tell. One thing is certain, though — Pittsburgh never backs down from a risky investment. And no matter what happens next, it will be an incredible journey.
