The Pittsburgh Steelers missed the playoffs this season after finishing 9-8. The Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs both advanced to the AFC Championship game for the second year in a row. Both teams scored 27 points in less-than-ideal weather conditions and have top-flight offensive units. However, they both have something else in common, they were dominant in the trenches this weekend.
A shot of the offensive and defensive lines during the preseason game of the Pittsburgh Steelers vs Carolina Panthers on August 19, 2019. Steelers.com
The AFC playoffs are going to be played in extreme weather conditions for the foreseeable future and as Pittsburgh moves to the next phase of rebuilding, it is important to remember just how important the offensive and defensive lines are in weather. The Steelers offensive line improved in 2022 to slightly above average, and the defensive line is aging, but with three picks in the top 50 of the upcoming NFL Draft, they can improve both units dramatically.
It is a little early to get a sense of where the Steelers are going in the draft and the free agents they target could give fans a clue as to what the organization is thinking. Last season, they brought in Mason Cole and James Daniels and the pair were a major upgrade over their 2021 counterparts. Both players established themselves as solid pieces the Steelers can count on going forward. The team also signed Larry Ogunjobi to a one-year deal despite health concerns and he paid major dividends.
Cole and Daniels are under contract, but Ogunjobi should be a priority for the Steelers to re-sign. The Steelers benefited from his voided Chicago Bears contract and if they hope to lock him up, they should move quickly before someone talks themselves into overpaying for him. Ogunjobi demonstrated despite not being healthy, that he is more than capable of producing at a high level and is a quality solution opposite Cam Heyward.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Heyward and Ogunjobi are both a little long in the tooth, but their presence will give DeMarvin Leal and a potential second-round draft pick the opportunity to develop in a rotation, rather than being thrust into the starting lineup. Andy Weidl, who was part of the rebuilding strategy in Philadelphia, can point to the Eagles rotation of defensive linemen that helped produce a mind-boggling 68 sacks during the regular season as a viable plan for the black and gold. Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan simply have to buy into the strategy.
Steelers Twitter and some of the media are pushing hard for the black and gold to bring Jordan Addison back into the fold in Pittsburgh, but the 17th pick overall is likely to yield one of the top three to four tackles in this year’s draft class. The Steelers retained Matt Canada and if they continue the success they had at the end of the season offensively, the run game is going to play a big part in the game plan. A top-tier tackle to protect Kenny Pickett and open holes for Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren should be the top priority after watching the games this weekend.
The Jacksonville Jaguars could not block the Kansas City Chiefs pass rush and when Patrick Mahomes was hurt, Chad Henne and the Chiefs marched down the field by running the football on a 98-yard drive that was ultimately the difference in the game. The Bengals dominated the Buffalo Bills in the snow by keeping Joe Burrow upright and opening holes for Joe Mixon. The Bills were simply over-matched up front and the game was never really in doubt for the Bengals.
Maya Giron/Post-Gazette
The Steelers with Pickett’s rookie contract have a three-year window where the defense should be at its peak and the opportunity to finish transforming the team with three building block players in this year’s draft is a once in a decade opportunity. From 2010-12, the Steelers drafted Maurkice Pouncey, Heyward, and David DeCastro. It solidified the lines for years to come and made them serious contenders in the AFC.
The Steelers are not likely to get this type of opportunity in the NFL Draft in the near future. If they handle this off-season right, the Steelers could follow the same blueprint as their Pennsylvania neighbors. They could have a promising young quarterback and the most complete roster in the conference by shoring up the trenches and opening the Super Bowl window.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Should the offensive and defensive lines be their priority in April? Please comment below, or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
