The Pittsburgh Steelers are in an optimal position. They have one of the best head coaches in the game, Kenny Pickett showed signs of great play, and the defense has studs everywhere. The only problem on defense is age. How much longer will Minkah Fitzpatrick and Cam Heyward be able to play at an elite level?
The Steelers have studs at running back, wide receiver, and tight end, but they need depth. Najee Harris had a down year, and the Steelers could use more production out of the RB. They should stick with Harris for another year and decide if he is the answer at RB. As for TE, Pat Freiermuth has been reliable and was Kenney Pickett’s favorite target down the stretch. George Pickens has the makings of a WR1 in this league. You could tell that Pickett and Dionte Johnson had zero chemistry last year despite Johnson having strong showings here and there. This could lead to Johnson being traded away while he is still valuable and the Steelers looking to grab Pickett’s college teammate, Jordan Addison. Adding another young receiver to this offense fits the timeline for their success.
T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Mikah Fitzpatrick uphold the Steelers’ defense. Other guys like Alex Highsmith, Myles Jack, and Terrell Edmunds show this defensive unit has little to no youth. With Devin Bush set to leave in free agency, the Steelers have big decisions to make. The Steelers’ conundrum: do they try to add firepower to the offense that will allow them to compete now do they decide to add some youth to an aging defense and continue being mediocre now, hoping to add more offensive talent later?
The answer to these questions will be answered by how the draft plays out. If Addison falls within the range, the Steelers are comfortable trading up. They should make that move and ride this defense out, hoping to add youth in the following draft rounds. If a team like the Texans snag Addison at 12, the Steelers must add young corners or a defensive line. Every corner in this draft would fit well with the Steelers, as would safety Brain Branch. Brian Breese is an exciting fit as he is expected to fall.
If the Steelers cannot land Addison, a corner, or defensive lineman, the last resort is to target one of the draft’s second-tier tackles. Dawand Jones, Darnell Wright, and if Broderick Jones falls, will all be great pickups for this Steelers unit.
The first decision that needs to be made is if Dionte Johnson fits this team’s timeline and if his overall lack of production was due to needing more time to gel with a rookie QB. The next decision is which direction should be taken in the draft. Even if Johnson stays, Addison would still be a good addition. Adding youth to this defense is needed, but the unit can still compete. How far this team can reach will depend on how much of a leap Pickett takes.