The Steelers’ roster must be completed by

The Steelers’ roster must be completed by 2024 NFL Free Agency.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have started working to improve their cap situation for 2024. Mitch Trubisky, punter Pressley Harvin III, offensive lineman Chukwuma Okorafor, center Mason Cole, and quarterback Mitch Trubisky have already left.

With the recent announcement by the NFL that the salary ceiling will reach a record $255.4 million, Pittsburgh’s estimated cap space drops to $12.4 million. It’s hardly much, so Omar Khan, the general manager, will undoubtedly attempt to address a few requirements in the draft that takes place in April.

Pittsburgh can’t afford to be completely shut out of the free agency market, but it won’t be. In 2023, the Steelers made the playoffs, but they were eliminated early once more. The 2016 campaign was the last time Pittsburgh won in the postseason.

The Steelers must take care of a few issues before the draft even if they won’t be significant free-agency players. We’ll examine three areas below where Pittsburgh ought to look for experienced players.

The offensive line is where the Steelers most need improvement. Pittsburgh needs to replace Dan Moore Jr. at left tackle because the group performed inconsistently in 2023 and Okorafor and Cole are no longer available.

Pro Football Focus claims that Moore was in charge of three penalties and eight sacks given up during the previous campaign.

On the offensive line, there isn’t a lot of depth in the free-agent class. This will probably lead the Steelers to target a line prospect on the first night of the draft, such as Troy Fautanu of Washington or JC Latham of Alabama. If so, Pittsburgh might have trouble selecting a cornerback on draft weekend who is ready to start.

The Steelers’ run defense in 2023 was horrible, while their pass defense was mediocre and unreliable. Pittsburgh struggled severely against the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round, finishing the season ranked 21st in yards per rush allowed.

The Steelers might lose Blake Martinez, Mykal Walker, and Kwon Alexander in free agency, and they could have used assistance at the second level last season. Another position that Pittsburgh might target early in the draft is linebacker, possibly with a player like Michigan’s Junior Colson or Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper.

However, linebacker ought to be a deep position in free agency, just like cornerback is. If the Steelers target a veteran like as Devin White, Bobby Wagner, Lavonte David, Patrick Queen, or Patrick Queen, they might be able to acquire an immediate starter.

It makes sense for the Steelers to seek a linebacker like Denzel Perryman, Anthony Walker Jr., or Oren Burks, even if their only goal is to add depth to the defense.

To be a serious contender in the AFC, Pittsburgh only needs to be more effective against the run. Division champions have an easier road to the Super Bowl than wild-card teams, and in 2024, the AFC North is probably going to have a number of formidable rushing attacks.

It is just not financially feasible for the Steelers to enter training camp with quarterback Kenny Pickett as the clear favorite. Over the last two seasons, the 2022 first-round pick hasn’t grown sufficiently, and with Mason Rudolph at the center late in the season, Pittsburgh’s offense was more potent.

As reported by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac, a number of Steelers players would rather see Rudolph start going forward. Rudolph will undoubtedly become a free agent.

The Steelers will probably try to keep Rudolph, but it would be prudent for them to look at other possibilities as well. While making a trade move for Baker Mayfield or Justin Fields might help replace Pickett outright, a journeyman like Tyrod Taylor or Jacoby Brissett could assist improve the quarterback competition.

It’s a risky move for the Steelers to try to select a new quarterback of the future in the April draft. As of right now, Pittsburgh has the 20th overall pick. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network reports that up to five clubs may try to move up in the first round to acquire a quarterback.

Pittsburgh needs to have a backup quarterback strategy in place well in advance of the draft’s first round.