The Pittsburgh Steelers defense entered the 2024 season as the highest-paid unit in football. With such a hefty paycheck, you'd expect them to deliver when it matters most, but that wasn't the case. The cornerbacks began to struggle, the defensive line—outside of Cam Heyward—also faltered, and the secondary was a mess. Communication issues plagued the defense throughout the season and ultimately contributed to the Steelers' losing streak down the stretch.
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Steelers' Cameron Heyward, TJ Watt, and Minkah Fitzpatrick celebrate after a big defensive play against the Atlanta Falcons.
Now, with a significant amount of cap space available, the Steelers have the opportunity to address their roster. Given the amount of money tied up in the defense, many have assumed the focus would shift to improving the offense, particularly by adding a wide receiver or another offensive weapon to turn around their struggling unit.
However, the Steelers seem to have their sights set on cornerback. On The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller on 93.7 The Fan Thursday afternoon, Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo shared some intriguing predictions. When asked where the Steelers would allocate their resources, Fittipaldo suggested that cornerback will be the position to receive the most attention. He named two attractive free agents—Byron Murphy and Charvarius Ward—as potential targets for the Steelers.
"I think cornerback and it is an ok draft for corners this year, but there is a lot of good corners that are hitting free agency now," Fittipaldo said. "You know guys like Byron Murphy and [Charvarius] Ward from the 49ers."
The Steelers are expected to make a big splash at wide receiver, but there are also growing rumors surrounding the cornerback position.
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Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy during an NFL away game.
While they have Joey Porter Jr., Pittsburgh is focused on strengthening the other side of the field. Fittipaldo went on to explain why he believes the Steelers will target either Ward or Murphy in free agency.
"Some of those guys like Murphy are coming off first contracts and those guys are typically very attractive for the Steelers, if and this is a big if, if they want to spend that money," Fittipaldo said. "They spent that money last year with Patrick Queen; we will see if they do it this year with a guy like Byron Murphy."
In the eyes of many fans, the Steelers' continued focus on investing heavily in their defense, despite years of underwhelming results, is a classic example of the definition of insanity—doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. For years, the Steelers have poured money into their defense, and while they’ve seen occasional flashes of brilliance, consistency has been a major issue.
The cornerback position, despite being one of their biggest investments, has remained a weak spot. The defense as a whole, while talented, has failed to live up to expectations in key moments, especially down the stretch in recent seasons. And yet, the Steelers continue to prioritize this side of the ball.
That doesn’t mean they should stop looking to improve their defense. In fact, cornerback remains a glaring need, and signing a top-tier player like Ward or Murphy would provide a significant upgrade. Both players offer the kind of stability and playmaking ability Pittsburgh desperately needs to shore up their secondary. With the right cornerback addition, the Steelers could strengthen an already solid defensive unit and improve their chances of making a deep playoff run.
Steelers' Offense Has Been Lagging Behind For Several Seasons Now
However, the real concern is whether the Steelers will prioritize defense at the expense of their offense yet again. The offense has been a glaring weakness for years, and while changes have been made, it still lags behind.
If the Steelers choose to spend big on a cornerback while leaving their offense in need of a dynamic playmaker, it would be a massive misstep. The team cannot continue to ignore the offensive side of the ball, especially when their quarterback play and wide receiver depth are areas in need of major improvement.
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49ers' Charvarius Ward runs out of the tunnel before a home game in San Francisco.
Ultimately, while strengthening the defense with a player like Ward or Murphy would be a smart move, the Steelers’ focus must also shift to addressing their offensive shortcomings. A balanced approach that ensures both sides of the ball are equipped to succeed is essential for the Steelers to finally break through and contend for a championship. If they continue to pour money into defense while neglecting the offense, they risk repeating past mistakes, and the definition of insanity will ring true once again.
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