The Pittsburgh Steelers lost last Sunday to the Cincinnati Bengals 41-10. It was the first time the Bengals have swept the season series since 2009, and the first three-game win streak for the Bengals over the Steelers in three decades. While the Bengals aren’t the littlest brother in the division (Hello Browns!) it still felt like the proverbial nail in the coffin for this era of Pittsburgh Steeler football.
The Steelers won four straight after a bumpy 1-3 start and looked to be making another playoff run. But after a tie to the lowly Lions and two straight losses, Steeler fans are wondering what is to come. After all, they haven’t seen this sort of despair in a long, long time.
Steeler fans have witnessed consistent winning for a long time. That’s what happens when you draft a franchise quarterback, as the team did with Ben Roethlisberger is 2004. The team brought Ben back this year after a 12-4 season that ended in the Wild Card Round. With a new offense built around him there was still optimism for a division crown and maybe one more deep playoff run. But with the team’s struggles and the defense battling injuries in what is likely Ben’s last year we’re left wondering: Where do the Steelers go from here?
Quarterback
The quarterback is the most important position in all of sports. It’s the first question every NFL franchise has to answer all season and off-season long. For the first time since 2004 the Steelers will have a new answer to that question next year. There are four roads the Steelers could take to find their next quarterback.
In House
Mason Rudolph
The easiest answer is that next year’s quarterback is already on the roster. Mason Rudolph was drafted in the third round of the 2018 draft apparently to be the heir to Ben. In 10 starts Mason is 5-4-1 (the tie was this year against the Lions). He has completed just over 60% of his passes for 2,081 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. 8 of his 10 starts came in his second year with Roethlisberger out for most of the season. Rudolph battled through injuries and rough spells of play during the year, being benched twice in-game to Devlin “Duck Hodges”.
Mason’s play has not inspired confidence with fans. He often looks flustered in the pocket, never quite sure knowing if he needs to step up, escape, or get rid of the ball. And unless he can let one fly down the field, his passes rarely have the right zip on them. The ball is either too fast to a receiver close-by or too slow to a receiver at the sideline, just waiting to be taken for a pick-six. However, the powers-that-be feel differently. They’ve repeatedly expressed their confidence in Rudolph to the public maintaining that he is Ben’s backup. They have also expressed it with their wallets, signing Rudolph to a one-year extension this offseason that will keep him on the team next year. Presumably this will be to compete for the starting job, or at a minimum keep him as the backup for at least one more year.
Dwayne Haskins
The Steelers also have Dwayne Haskins on the roster. Haskins is currently QB3 and often is inactive on game day. The 24-year-old is a former first-round pick of the now Washington Football team. He came to the Steelers this offseason after flaming out of Washington for multiple reasons.
General Manager Kevin Colbert is a fan of taking a chance on a player with draft pedigree. He took a chance on Haskins as an upside play on a very low-risk deal. Haskins also provides the benefit of being a Restricted Free Agent after this season. Should the Steelers offer him a Original Round Tender, they can either re-sign Haskins for a few million dollars, or receive a first round pick should another team match the offer. Sounds like a win-win to me.
Haskins has 13 NFL starts to his name with similar stats to Rudolph. 12 touchdowns, 10 interceptions on just over 60% completion percentage. He is just 3-10 in those starts.
While Rudolph might be the safer and more comfortable pick, Haskins likely has more upside. While neither screams “Franchise Quarterback” we could see the two of them battle it out for the team’s QB1 next year.
The Draft
This section will be short. This is not the year to swing big on a quarterback in the draft. The players in this year’s draft are closer to Day 2 talents than sure first rounders. While a team will likely talk themselves into a player here, don’t expect it to be the Steelers. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has already stated that he does not want to start over with a rookie QB next year.
This is likely because of the Steelers’ expectation each year to compete for a Super Bowl. And with the surrounding roster next year, why shouldn’t they? If there’s a quarterback sitting in the middle rounds that they like, would they take him? Sure. No reason to not. But don’t expect him to be a difference maker in the short term, or even maybe the long term.
Trade for a Star
Everyone on Twitter’s favorite fantasy. Send an MVP-caliber player to Pittsburgh. With their weapons and defense the team would be unstoppable! However, I’m not sure how likely it is.
The last time the Pittsburgh Steelers traded for an established Pro-Bowl caliber player still playing at a high level was Jerome Bettis in 1996. It’s just not something Colbert has done, and it’s hard to see him starting now.
Plus the players they would be trading for are coming with a lot of baggage, and would come at a very high cost. I won’t even discuss the Deshaun Watson scenario (although I see his name floated around Twitter by Steelers fans).
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers is another popular name. Thanks in part to his comments about leaving Green Bay last summer, his positive comments towards Tomlin on the Pat McAfee Show, and the look he gave Tomlin during the Packers-Steelers game this year:
A few Rodgers-specific issues. He’s expressed his desire to go further West to teams like the Broncos, Raiders or 49ers. Coming further East just from a personal standpoint doesn’t seem like something he’d be interested in. And also…
Russell Wilson
The other popular name is Russell Wilson. In a similar situation, Wilson sort of but also didn’t demand a trade from the Seattle Seahawks this season. While the teams he was reportedly interested in don’t make me think he WOULDN’T come to Pittsburgh, I’m wondering if the Steelers should even be willing to trade for him.
In the three games since returning from his broken finger Wilson has thrown two touchdowns, two interceptions, completed 55% of his passes, and been sacked 9 times. And while you can attribute this to rust and the injury seeing an aging QB not being able to give it up and only want to play his way gives me a little hesitancy. Best to keep the treasure chest full, and let someone else take the risk.
Free Agency
The Steelers will most likely land here to find next year’s QB. And as the least sexy option, it’s just up the Steelers’ alley. There are a number of solid to mediocre veterans quarterbacks that will be free agents next year. A few with some NFL success, pedigree for Colbert, and mobility. A term Tomlin has recently become enamored with when it comes to quarterback play.
Tyrod Taylor
The NFL darling Tyrod Taylor. Despite being a journeyman, he has proven to be a solid and consistent starting quarterback. His first stint as a starter came in 2015 with the Bufallo Bills where he made the Pro-Bowl.
In 43 starts over three seasons Taylor threw for 51 touchdowns and just 16 interceptions with almost a 63% completion percentage. He was 22-20 in that time before being traded to the Browns ahead of the draft when the Bills took Josh Allen.
Taylor spent the next couple of seasons being supplanted by high draft picks. In Cleveland there was Baker Mayfield, and with the Chargers there was Justin Herbert.
Taylor is now in the middle of a revival type season. In five games at quarterback for the Texans he has thrown for five touchdowns, ran for three, and thrown four interceptions. He’s also completing 63% of his passes and has actually won two games (which is impressive considering the Texans).
Taylor is a safe and mobile veteran that could walk in to the Steelers offense and make a difference. He is also from Hampton, Virginia and went to Virginia Tech. Mike Tomlin is a big fan of players from Virginia and the 757 in particular.
Mitchell Trubiskey
Mitchell Trubiskey has certainly had an up-and-down career to this point to say the least. A former second overall pick by the Bears, Trubiskey has four years of starting experience making the Pro-Bowl once and to the postseason twice.
In his four years with the Bears Trubiskey had 50 starts and threw for 64 touchdowns and 37 interceptions with a 64% completion percentage. Not nearly as good as a guy like Taylor at taking care of the ball, despite the fact he operated primarily in the short to intermediate areas of the field.
Trubiskey also showed some mobility in Chicago, especially in his first two seasons, averaging 25 yards per game rushing in his first couple of years.
Trubiskey is currently on a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills trying to revive his career. With his youth and experience, plus the mobility and pedigree I think he could be an option for the Steelers.
Teddy Bridgewater
Bridgewater is a former first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings. In 28 starts he went he went 17-11, threw for 28 touchdowns and 21 interceptions with a completions percentage of 65% and took the Vikings to the playoffs his second season.
After a gruesome injury he worked his way back to the New Orleans Saints roster. His 5-0 record as the starter for five games in 2019 rejuvenated his career. Since then he has been the starter for the Panthers and now Broncos, where he has a 10-16 record with 30 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and a 69% completion percentage.
While not a scrambler, Bridgewater does display good feet and awareness in the pocket. Likely meeting Tomlin’s threshold for mobility. Because he is so well known, especially the current version of him, it’s safe to say Bridgewater has the lowest ceiling of potential Steeler QBs. But with the players he’d have around him it could be enough.
Marcus Mariota
Perhaps the most interesting candidate out there is Marcus Mariota. Mariota was the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft and the starter for the Tenessee Titans for 4.5 seasons. In 61 starts he went 29-32, threw for 76 touchdowns and 44 interceptions, and completed 62% of his passes.
Of all these quarterbacks, Mariota is the most accomplished runner of the football. With experience in offenses designed around read options, Mariota could bring new blood and energy to the team. Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada has a lot of experience with the college game, and Mariota could be the focal point of that sort of offense.
Mariota has also had some success in the playoffs, despite his lackluster regular season record. In two starts he is 1-1 and threw 4 touchdowns, 1 interception, with a 60% completion percentage.
Mariota was benched in his fifth season for Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee and has spent the last two seasons with the Raiders as their backup. Now as a free agent, he’ll look to compete for a starting job.
Where do the Steelers go from here? Well it starts with their QB. My guess is one of these free agents is the starter next year.
The Rest of the Offense
Quarterback is obviously the biggest question for any team, especially the Steelers for next season. But where do the Steelers go from here in regards to the rest of their offense?
The Offensive Line
The Known
The Steelers’ offensive line went through a major overhaul this season. One unlike Roethlisberger or the team has seen in quite sometime. With the long standing quartet of Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, Alejandro Villanueva and Matt Feiler out the door the team went young, depending on rookies and second year players to block up front.
Two rookies are starting on the Steelers offensive line for the first time since 1957. Center Kendrick Green and Left Tackle Dan Moore Jr. sure have had their ups and downs. Moore has shown a little more promise than Green thanks to his size, athleticism, and aggressiveness. But he is still learning enough on the technical side to handle advanced pass rushers. Green also has plenty of strength, but with a lack of size (6’2, 305lbs) he needs far more advanced technique to take on strong interior rushers. Often you can find Green either on the ground, or in Ben’s lap during a pass play as he gets pushed back from the point of attack.
Despite their struggles, I expect both men to get a chance to start and play again next year. Offensive line is the number one position in the game that relies more on consistency and cohesion more than individual skill. Both players have positive qualities and getting a full season and two off-seasons of playing next to a guy like Kevin Dotson, who has a lot of upside as a second-year left guard, I expect to see that trio start together again next year.
The Unknown
The right side of the line gets a little fuzzy. Right Guard Trai Turner and Right Tackle Chukwuma Okorafor are both set to be free agents after this year. While both have been solid I expect the team to go in a different direction.
Turner has been a nice surprise this season. A late summer add, he has played surprisingly well considering his injury history which has limited his availability and play the last couple of seasons. The Steelers love to have high level talent on the inside of the line. While Turner has been good, he is already 28, dealt with a lot of injuries, and as I mentioned been more of a surprise than met expectations. Guard is a position I expect the Steelers to go after in the draft in the first or second round.
Right tackle is the biggest question mark I have. Zach Banner and Joe Haeg are both under contract for next season. Banner was expected to be this team’s franchise right tackle. Winning the job in 2020 before tearing his ACL in the first game of the season. He is still working his way back from the injury, playing some tackle-eligible snaps the last couple of games.
Haeg was a free agent add this summer who got a two-year contract. He’s proven to be a valuable member of the line the last few weeks, playing both guard and tackle due to injuries. While his pass blocking leaves a lot to be desired, his is one of the team’s best run blockers.
With the other holes this team has on the roster next season, I don’t think they’ll invest much in this position during the draft. Tackle is normally lower on the Steelers’ list of priorities versus the interior of the line. My expectation is they’ll let Banner and Haeg battle it out for the job and draft a mid to late round tackle to develop for the future.
Skill Players
This section is pretty easy. The Steelers spent their first two picks in this year’s draft on a running back and a tight end. You could quibble with the positional value but not the players that were selected. Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth are everything they were advertised to be, and both round out the skill position groups nicely.
With Dionte Johnson and Chase Claypool both still on rookie contracts, the Steelers have a good foundation for their wide receiver room already in place. JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington are both free agents, and it would be prudent to bring one back.
Washington is likely gone after being pushed to fourth on the depth chart the last two seasons. Juju however is someone the Steelers should prioritize for next year. His toughness and dependability will mean a lot to a young offense with a new quarterback. And with the inconsistency in Claypool’s play this season, JuJu should be relied upon to be back on this team longterm.
I also expect the Steelers to draft a receiver, something they normally do every year under Colbert and skipped last year. This player could be a real down-field burner a la Mike Wallace (a tree Dave Bryan from Steelers Depot is barking up), or a big slot receiver should JuJu sign elsewhere.
The Defense
This has been a disappointing year for the Steelers’ defense. Not something that typically happens to this franchise but it does occasionally occur.
The Defensive Line
The problems start against the run. For the first time since 1983 Pittsburgh has allowed at least 150 rushing yards in three straight games (per Alex Kozora). This issue starts up front. With injuries to key defensive linemen Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu the Steelers have had to rely on rotational players to eat up a large number of snaps every game.
Tuitt should be in the prime of his career but is dealing with another injury-plagued season. Tyson Alualu came back to the Steelers this year on a two year contract and went out for the season during week 1 with an injury. Now at age 34, I’m not sure how much he can be relied on moving forward.
Going into this past offseason the mandate from Steelers Owner Art Rooney II was to be able to run the ball on offense. It’s in the Steelers DNA. Colbert and Tomlin responded to this by drafting a running back in the first round. Two offensive linemen in the middle of the draft. And replacing their offensive line coach. This summer I’m expecting the same mandate when it comes to stopping the run. Where do the Steelers go from here defensively? I expect a defensive lineman to be drafted in one of the top two rounds. Perhaps someone like Javon Hargrave that starts as a nose tackle, then develops to play up and down the line.
Linebackers
The linebackers are perhaps the victims of the most scrutiny on Twitter. Especially third year Middle Linebacker Devin Bush. Bush has been a letdown since the Steelers traded up for him in the 2019 draft. Despite his injury last year Bush is an incredible sideline-sideline athlete. Certainly a skill a team would want from a middle linebacker. Bush’s issue is he’s too East-West and not enough North-South. He so rarely can get behind the line of scrimmage to rush the quarterback or stop the run. Some of this is certainly scheme related, but even when he attacks of the line of scrimmage he is often washed too easily by the offensive line. Bush would be a find complementary linebacker but is not the playmaker this team drafted him to be.
Next to Bush is Joe Schoebert who the Steelers traded for going into the pre season. A smart, savvy veteran, Schoebert’s calling card has been defending the pass and playing with a high football IQ. While he has displayed those skills in the form of pass breakups and some run stuffs, he also just isn’t the playmaker this team expects from the middle.
When I think of Steelers linebackers, even just in the “Big Ben” era. I think of James Farrior. Lawrence Timmons. Ryan Shazier. And even Vince Williams. Players who could either get in the backfield on a blitz or run play, or intercept a pass in coverage. Right now the Steelers do not have that player.
I’m not sure where the Steelers go from here in regards to this position. Bush is due to have his fifth-year option either picked up or declined this summer and at this time I’m expecting the latter. Either way Bush and Schoebert are both likely the starters next year. With the number of holes this team has entering the offseason I don’t expect a big investment at the position.
Edge Rushers
Thank goodness this team threw the bag at T.J. Watt. This unit should stay strong next year with Watt and Alex Highsmith, who has proven to be a wise choice over Bud Dupree this year.
The only thing this team could do here is provide some depth with a late-round pick. Pittsburgh had two promising young players during the offseason (Quincy Roche and Jamir Jones) but lost them both along the way. Roche didn’t make it through waivers after the final cutdown day, and Jones was cut after a disappointing game in Week 3.
Similar to how they brought in Roche this year, I expect a Day 3 selection in the draft to be an edge rusher.
Defensive Backs
Free Agents
The defensive backs went through an overhaul this summer and unfortunately it looks like it could happen again this year. Cornerbacks Steven Nelson and Mike Hilton are gone from last year. And starters Joe Haden and Terrell Edmunds are both free agents this year.
Haden is on the wrong side of 30 which is especially tough for corners. Not only has he lost some of his speed, but he’s been dealing with a nagging foot injury for the last few weeks. Despite his stellar play against the run and all he’s done since coming to the Steelers this is likely his last season with the team.
Edmunds has been just an OK player since being drafted in the first round of 2018. The Steelers did not elect to pick up his 5th year option for next year which is never a good sign of returning in Pittsburgh.
I am HOPEFUL however that he can return. While not great in coverage, he and Minkah Fitzpatrick have developed a good chemistry as the back line of the defense. Edmunds is also a solid tackler and run defender, allowing Minkah to focus on deep coverage. It’s so hard to find cohesion in a defensive backfield, especially for the Steelers. Considering he should be pretty cheap I’d really like to see the team bring Edmunds back.
What Should They Do?
The Steelers would be able to focus on the cornerback position if they brought Edmunds back. With Cam Sutton and James Pierre looking like the only playable cornerbacks on the roster for next year, the team could use a strong investment at the position.
The Steelers do not have a proven track record of drafting cornerbacks. Especially early in the draft. The last time the Steelers drafted a cornerback who became a quality starter in his first two years was Bryant McFadden in 2005.
While a Day 2 or early Day 3 draft pick is necessary as a development project, this team needs to bring in a ready-made corner for next season. Guys like J.C. Jackson from New England and Charvarius Ward and Mike Hughes from Kansas City are all free agents and in their primes athletically.
Coaching
Head Coach
I want to make sure I get this point across because there is some divide among Steelers Nation:
MIKE TOMLIN IS THE HEAD COACH AND WILL REMAIN THE HEAD COACH.
Are his decisions always the popular ones? Hardly. Does he ever use analytics? Lol no. Is he going to publicly criticize his team to motivate them? Never. But all of that said…
He’s the right man for the job. Players love him and want to play for him. The Rooneys gave him an extension just this past offseason to lead the franchise through the post-Ben (and maybe post-Colbert) era.
Defensive Coordinator
So what about coordinators? Defensive Coordinator Keith Butler’s contract is up after this season and the defense has certainly underperformed. The Steelers hardly ever “fire” a coach, but rather they just let the contract run out and that’s that. This is my expectation for Butler.
Position coaches Karl Dunbar and Teryl Austin are my expected front runners to fill the spot. Either would be great choices and welcomed “new” faces to be in charge of the defense.
Offensive Coordinator
Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada certainly hasn’t had an ideal first season. In fairness he is dealing with a year of transition. Managing an end of the road Super Bowl winning QB while trying to instill a new-age offense is certainly not easy. However, with some questionable red zone calls and an overall seemingly poor fit amongst the franchise, Canada leaving to go back to college somewhere wouldn’t be a shock. He is known for not staying anywhere more than a couple of years. And this rough start in the NFL might be enough to send him packing.
If Canada wants to stay though, I certainly expect the Steelers to keep him. Even if just because it’s very unlike them to change anything multiple years in a row. This would allow the skill players and offensive line to have some familiarity so the new QB can walk in to a system in place.
Where Do The Steelers Go From Here?
Firstly, Steelers Nation, let’s take a breath. There is still a world this team at least makes the playoffs. If not? We had a nice run. After last season’s letdown I fully expected the transition to start and it has. But a disappointing season is no reason to fire everyone and blow everything up.
Where do the Steelers go from here? First they’ll need a quarterback. And it’ll probably be just an average veteran who they can plug in to an already above average roster. Then they’ll invest in adding to the offensive line, but probably not completely change it. Similarly they’ll make some additions on the margins to the skill players whether it be retaining JuJu or looking to the draft for another receiver.
Defensively a big man in the middle of the line sure would solve a lot of issues. Hopefully through the draft so the team has a young up and comer on the line next to the veterans. Likely not many changes behind him though with the linebackers, at least for this year.
In the defensive backfield there could unfortunately be big changes once again, but a top-notch corner would solve a lot of problems.
And finally the coaching staff surely will see one new coordinator and maybe two.
This is your classic “re-tooling” offseason we have approaching. It always feels bigger when it involved a quarterback. But let’s all prepare for not too many changes on the horizon. A new signal caller is certainly enough for one summer.
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