The NFL season is over five months away, and one analyst already has the Pittsburgh Steelers missing the playoffs in 2024.
The Steelers were one of the six listed teams in danger of missing the playoffs, according to Cody Benjamin's most recent article for CBS Sports. His evaluation was based on the team's "old school" offensive scheme and deficiencies at receiver and cornerback.
"Wait, what? Didn't this team just acquire not one but two big-name quarterbacks? Yes. And both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have the tools to be upgrades on the jettisoned Kenny Pickett. But this is still an old-school program married to conservative strategy in a tough division, with holes at premium spots like wideout and cornerback."
Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins, and Calvin Austin III—the Steelers' 2022 fourth-round selection provide plenty of speed in the receiving group, even after Diontae Johnson was traded to the Panthers last month. The Steelers have demonstrated over the years that they are among the best teams in the league at identifying wide receiver talent. One should anticipate that the team will continue this tendency and find a receiver or receivers to complement their growing star, George Pickens, given the depth of this year's wide receiving class.
It's also critical to remember that the Steelers qualified for the playoffs in 2023 in spite of terrible playcalling by Matt Canada and dismal quarterback performances by Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett, respectively.
With the addition of a Super Bowl-winning quarterback like Wilson and Fields behind him, they ought to be among the best quarterback rooms in the NFL already. Furthermore, the addition of former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith as their offensive coordinator should also provide a creative attack with more dimensions that were absent in the previous campaign.