Just a few years ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers roster was mostly spent on the offensive side of the ball. They had the elite passing game duo of Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, who were paid amongst the top at their position in the NFL. The offensive line was one of the best in football, and the front office paid to keep them together. Fast forward a few years later, and the roster is quite the opposite.
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The Steelers have a ton of money invested in their elite pass rushing duo of TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith.
The team has gotten back to their old ways, working to primarily invest in the defense. Over the past few seasons, the defense has disappointed at times. They’ve faced several huge injuries, but on paper, they remain one of the most talented units in football. On Wednesday, the team continued its investment in the defense by signing Alex Highsmith to a four-year, $68 million extension. That’s now over $40 million per year invested in the two star edge rushers in Highsmith and TJ Watt.
Heading into 2023, they have the fourth-most money invested into their defense. Contrarily, they have the 21st-most money invested on the offensive side of the ball. In a modern age of football where offenses reign supreme, Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd thinks the Steelers should change its philosophy. On his show, The Herd on Thursday, he said that Pittsburgh should start following the path a fellow AFC side has taken over the years.
“The key to all of this stuff is staying current. The [Kansas City] Chiefs are third in offensive spending, near the bottom of the NFL on defense. Both rosters are very good. They're [Chiefs] viewed as creative, progressive, and clever. [They] move off players quickly, especially on the defensive side if they're not named Chris Jones. For five years, they [Steelers] can't figure out their offensive line or running game."
While the offense has struggled over the past few years, it’s not for a lack of trying. Over the last four NFL Drafts, the team has had seven picks in the first two rounds and six of those have been used on offensive players. The cap space difference will likely balance out in two or three years, when youngsters like Pat Freiermuth and Najee Harris finish out their rookie deals. A year later, it’ll be George Pickens and Kenny Pickett.
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The Steelers have invested heavily in the offense in the draft over the past few years, using high picks on guys like Pat Freiermuth and Najee Harris.
Additionally, General Manager Omar Khan isn’t like his predecessor, Kevin Colbert. In his tenure that has now lasted over a year, Khan has been aggressive in nearly every facet, whether it be the draft, free agency, or extending his own guys. With a ton of flexibility this offseason, he invested heavily in the offensive line. He paid a pretty penny to Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig, which shored up the quality and depth on the interior.
Do the Steelers need to become more offensive-minded?
Khan was then willing to give up future draft assets to get the franchise left tackle in Broderick Jones in the 2023 NFL Draft. You get the gist, it seems like Khan may just be changing that trajectory. A lot of this all depends on Pickett, as the quarterback is the most important position in football, as we know. Cowherd continued his argument with how the Chiefs address both sides of the ball.
"Kansas City's view is mine, so I favor it. Due to rule changes, you just can't do things you could do 10 years ago defensively. Kansas City pays Chris Jones, an elite defender up front, and then just goes cheap and young and fast on defense. Spend the money on offense, keep the defense young, fast, cheap, and fresh. [Of] the last five Super Bowl champs, ZERO have been top-five defenses."
While Cowherd has some basis behind his argument, it helps to have Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. With him, the Chiefs are able to invest heavily in the offensive line in free agency, while focusing on the defense in the draft. Some of the top teams in the NFL, including the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills, are top-six amongst spenders on their defense.
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Entering 2023, Steelers star defensive lineman Cam Heyward is the oldest player on the team at 34 years old.
So, yes Cowherd, the Steelers have a lot (maybe too much) invested into the defense. The trajectory shows that this will likely change in a few years though, when the offensive youngsters are set for new contracts. Additionally, defensive stalwarts like Cam Heyward (34) and even Watt (28) are getting up there in age. Then, the cycle will reach the point where defense will be the main priority at the draft.
Do you agree with Cowherd that the Steelers need to change their overall philosophy to be more offensive-minded? Is the Chiefs perception perhaps aided by the fact that they have the best QB in football? Share your thoughts in the comments below, yinz!
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