Super Bowl LVII hasn’t even been played yet, but odds are already circulating for who will hoist the next Lombardi Trophy in 2024. Las Vegas doesn’t favor the Pittsburgh Steelers, even after rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett helped the team overcome a 2-6 start to the season, improving on shaky play to go 7-2 down the stretch. Pennsylvania’s Sportsbook lists the Steelers at +6000 to win it all next year in their futures tab, and only nine teams have worse odds.
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While unlikely, NFL teams have shown that it is possible to change their odds (Pittsburgh is +6000 according to Pennsylvania's Sportsbook) to win it all next year in a single offseason. Just within the AFC North, the Bengals went from worst to first in 2021, culminating in their Super Bowl appearance last season. Having a signal caller on a rookie deal puts Pittsburgh in prime position to strike, getting potential franchise quarterback play at a bargain as they fill out holes in the rest of the roster. Pickett received praise for his intangible qualities, providing a spark to a team many expected to pick in the top ten and dragging them within a hair of a playoff berth. Looking up at perennial heavyweights like Kansas City and Buffalo, as well as rising stars like Cincinnati and Jacksonville, the Steelers are a long way from competing in the AFC in their current state, making this offseason a crucial juncture for the team to either keep pace or flounder through are build.
The Steelers hold two draft picks in the first 32 selections: they hold the first pick of the second round, acquired from the Chicago Bears in the Chase Claypool trade, which moved up a slot after the Miami Dolphins forfeited their first round pick for tampering. Many have described the selection as a de facto first round pick, but although it’s in a slot traditionally taken on Day One of the draft, that isn’t the case: they won’t have the ability to extend the player’s contract by triggering the fifth-year option that is part of every first rounder’s rookie deal. Even so, you can’t have enough high draft picks. Here’s a look at what the Steelers’ front office can do this offseason to build a contender.
Build Through the Lines
The perfect template for winning with a young quarterback resides in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, less than five hours away on the turnpike: the Philadelphia Eagles have made two Super Bowl appearances in the past five years, and they’ve done it by focusing on their offensive and defensive lines. Pittsburgh’s o-line has struggled since 2019, and it’s no surprise that they’ve been plagued by shaky offensive play since then. It’s difficult to get up to NFL speed as a young quarterback, but having time to sit comfortably in the pocket and a strong running game to depend on helps take the pressure off. The line improved in 2022, particularly in run blocking, but right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor is a likely cap casualty which will dent a room that was just starting to gel.
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The defensive line is less of an issue. Cam Heyward isn't getting any younger, however, and Larry Ogunjobi is set to hit free agency, so they’ll need to shore up their defense as well. The Steelers are projected to be up against the salary cap in 2023 and have five defensive starters set to hit the market, creating more holes on an already-questionable roster. Therefore, they’ll need to improve through the draft, supplemented by trades and cuts. Pittsburgh needs help on both lines, and at middle linebacker, cornerback and safety.
Many fans are pulling for them to bring Pickett’s favorite college target, former Pitt and USC receiver Jordan Addison, back into the fold, but they don't necessarily need to select a receiver with their first round pick this season. Teams don’t have to be perfect to win the Super Bowl, and they’ve still got three more years of Pickett on a rookie deal, but general manager Omar Khan will need to work some fiscal magic in his first full offseason for the Steelers to really take a leap.
