Under first-year General Manager Omar Khan, the Pittsburgh Steelers have upgraded the roster heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. Enough, for now, to earn a B grade, but it all hinges on if Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada staying in Pittsburgh is the right bet.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Steelers offensive coordinator, Matt Canada, is seen here on the field at practice during the 2022 training camp.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report handed out pre-draft rankings for all of the teams around the league. He gave the Chicago Bears the only A+ and the Los Angeles Rams the only F. Among AFC North teams, the Cleveland Browns were the highest-graded team in the division, an A. In free agency, the team made moves to ensure they "have no glaring weaknesses on their roster to address."
The Cincinnati Bengals, like the Steelers, earned a B, largely for its acquisition of Orlando Brown Jr. The Baltimore Ravens' only real movement in the offseason was to get Odell Beckham Jr. The big story with the team has been the lack of movement on Lamar Jackson. Knox gave the Ravens a D- adding that Jackson having not yet "forced his way out of Baltimore yet is the only thing keeping this from being a failing grade."
Knox laid out the rubric for the grades which was based on the team improving next season after the additions and subtractions to rosters so far. He wrote that teams headed towards a similar record as 2022 would be ranked somewhere in the C range.
Steelers Front Office Gets Good Marks, But Can Canada Deliver?
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Steelers former Vice President of Football Operations and current general manager, Omar Khan smiles while on the field in Pittsburgh, PA.
Knox was largely a fan of Khan and his staff have found ways to fill holes on the roster heading into the draft. There are still some key positions that the team will look at in the draft, but Knox liked the replacements brought in for the middle linebacker room, Patrick Peterson at cornerback to replace Cameron Sutton, and the moves to beef up the offensive line.
The key to the Steelers earning their praise is on the shoulders of two men, but one should take the blame if it doesn't work out. Knox wrote that after seeing the Steelers stay afloat down the stretch with Kenny Pickett, this is a team in the playoffs, but Canada's influence could stop them from being more.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Steelers starting quarterback Kenny Pickett (#8) prepares to take a snap at Acrisure Stadium in his first regular season action against the New York Jets.
"If Pickett can take the proverbial next step, Pittsburgh could be more than just a playoff participant," he said. "While Canada's offenses have been bland and predictable, Pickett's growth is far more important than gaudy offensive numbers."
Knox, like many others this offseason, have worries about the play-calling being a drawback for the team to get it's first playoff victory since 2016. The organization is hoping its bet on continuity at the offensive coordinator position will help Pickett, not hinder him.
If Canada can accomplish that, he might have a future in Pittsburgh longer than anyone imagined. Now it's up to him to maximize Pickett and the other weapons on the unit like George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth, and Najee Harris. The team needs him to best utilize all the young talent on the roster, or they should definitely be looking for his replacement.
With all the talent on the roster, the Steelers are well positioned to be more than in the race in 2023. Can Canada not hold them back from being more? Was this a fair offseason grade, Steeler Nation? Comment below!
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