The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently sitting at a less-than-desired spot currently, as the team is at 2-5 through seven weeks of the 2022 NFL season. Whether it be the clear struggles on offense they have had so far or the underperforming defense as they had to learn how to produce while missing several key players, mainly reigning Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during blowout loss at Buffalo | Photo Credit: Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
With all that being said, it puts the Steelers in a situation that leaves them questioning how to approach the rest of the season. On one hand, there is a good chance the aforementioned Watt could be ready to suit up after the team's Week 9 bye, which will give the defense the jolt they need and should return to a top unit. If they end up winning in Week 8 and can win two of three heading into the bye, they can enter the second half of the season with a lot of optimism.
On the other hand, the team has to travel to Philadelphia this weekend to take on the currently undefeated Philadelphia Eagles, who are coming off of their bye week and should be well-rested to take on their in-state rival. A matchup against one of the NFL's top defenses coming off a bye does not bode well for a Steelers' offense that has struggled this season. The offense has yet to put up more than 20 points in any game so far in 2022.
A loss for the Steelers against the Eagles in Week 8 would definitely put a more pessimistic vibe around the team's outlook for the rest of the year. Regardless of what happens, the Steelers entering a bye in Week 9 will be a good time for them to make some serious changes if they decide to do so.
Steelers Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada | Photo Credit: Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
Because of the struggles the Steelers' offense has endured this season, the Week 9 bye could be an opportune time for the team to move on from highly criticized Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada. Doing so during the bye week would allow the team two weeks to get used to the play-calling from the next man up, very likely QB Coach Mike Sullivan, and also allow him time to implement some of the systematic changes he would want to do to the offense.
MYBOOK PICKS OF THE WEEK -- WEEK 8
Pittsburgh Steelers AT Philadelphia Eagles (-10.5) -- LOCK IN THE EAGLES
Arizona Cardinals AT Minnesota Vikings (-4) -- LOCK IN THE UNDERDOG CARDINALS
New England Patriots AT New York Jets (+2.5) -- LOCK IN THE UNDERDOG JETS
Pittsburgh Steelers Can Make Big Changes During Week 9 Bye
Aside from if Head Coach Mike Tomlin wants to make a coaching change during the Steelers' bye week, first-year GM Omar Khan also has a chance to make a large impact on the team, as the 2022 NFL trade deadline falls on November first, which is the Tuesday of the team's bye week.
Omar Khan is introduced as the Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager at a press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Friday, May 27, 2022, in Pittsburgh, PA / Photo Credit: Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
Depending on how you view Pittsburgh's 2022 season outlook, they could easily be considered either buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. However, regardless of whether the Steelers manage to upset the Eagles in Week 8 and go into the bye week on a positive note, Steeler Nation should expect the team to be buyers at the trade deadline yet again.
While the team will be long shots to make the playoffs, they have proven in the past that they always are willing to commit to improving the roster by adding quality players. This should have been clear to Steeler Nation when the team traded away a first-round pick in order to obtain Minkah Fitzpatrick after the team lost Ben Roethlisberger for the season in Week 2.
Now, with the assumption, they are going to be buyers at the trade deadline this year, who are some players they could look to go after? Here are a couple of options below.
CB William Jackson III
It was rumored a couple of weeks ago that the Washington Commanders could be looking to move on from Jackson in the second year of a three-year deal he signed before the 2021 season. Jackson has struggled at times this year, and he carries a $12+ million cap hit for 2023. All of those could make him a rather cheap acquisition in terms of compensation for the Steelers to add a veteran presence to their secondary.
DE Clelin Ferrell
Pittsburgh loves guys with high draft pedigree, and it doesn't get much higher than the fourth overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. This would be more of a 1-year rental-type situation, but as we've seen so far in 2022 the Steelers' depth both on the edge and on the defensive line has been hit by the injury bug. This could also be a good way for the team to get a strong look at Ferrell and decide if they want to retain him for 2023 on a one-year prove-it type of deal.
Do you think Pittsburgh should be buyers or sellers at the 2022 NFL trade deadline? Let us know in the comment section below!
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