The Pittsburgh Steelers have been very proactive in free agency and that aggressiveness continued into the NFL draft. Which three moves have stood out?
It's been a rough few years for a franchise that has plenty of stability at the head coaching spot. Mike Tomlin's Pittsburgh Steelers owns a combined 60-36-2 record the past six seasons and have reached the playoffs three times.
The franchise has actually dropped its last four postseason contests dating back to the 2016 AFC title game at New England. The Steelers have given up a whopping 171 points in those setbacks.
This has been quite the offseason for the team. Led by general manager Omar Khan, assistant GM Andy Weidl and Tomlin, Pittsburgh is building a physical club with a proven track record in the league. Will it pay off in 2023? Here are the team's best decisions over the last few months.
Best moves of the Steelers offseason: 3. Trading for WR Allen Robinson
It was a low-risk move that could wind up paying big dividends for Mike Tomlin's club. The Steelers and Los Angeles Rams swapped seventh-round draft choices in 2023 and Pittsburgh also wound up with the nine-year veteran wideout.
Allen Robinson has played only a combined 22 games in the past two seasons with the Bears (2021) and Rams (2022). In those contests, he managed 71 catches for 749 yards and four touchdowns. In the two previous seasons (2019-20), both with Chicago, the former Penn State standout rolled up 200 catches for 2,397 yards and 13 scores.
Which version of Robinson will the Steelers get this upcoming season? If he can remain healthy, he will be a sure-handed asset to second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett and will also be a positive for Pittsburgh's young receivers.
Best moves of the Steelers offseason: 2. Drafting Broderick Jones and signing Isaac Seumalo
Inconsistent and poor offensive line play has plagued Mike Tomlin's team in recent seasons. The club did make a bigger commitment to the run in 2022 but there were still questions. Last offseason, then-general manager Kevin Colbert added a pair of veteran interior blockers in center Mason Cole and guard James Daniels.
This year, new GM Omar Khan did him one better. The team signed guard Isaac Seumalo (Eagles) and versatile Nate Herbig (Jets) in free agency. In round one of last month's draft, the Steelers moved up three spots (with the help of the Patriots) to select University of Georgia tackle Roderick Jones.
This past season, the team finished 16th in the league in rushing yards per game (122.2). After being held under 100 yards on the ground in five of their first seven outings, Pittsburgh ran for 100-plus yards in nine of their final 10 outings and averaged an impressive 145.8 yards per game rushing.
Running back Najee Harris has been the main performer out of the backfield for the past two seasons and that should not change this upcoming season. In fact, he will likely see even more carries (272 in 2022), as could Jaylen Warren, as the club will stress the ground game even more with a bolstered offensive front.
Best moves of the Steelers offseason: 1. Revamping the team's inside linebacking corps
The Steelers made the playoffs in 2021 with a 9-7-1 record. But their once-proud defense hit rock bottom when it came to stopping the run, allowing the most rushing yards in the league. That was an area the team was hoping to address in 2022 and there were some positives.
Pittsburgh finished ninth in the league in run defense this past season, giving up a respectable 108.1 yards per game on the ground. However, there was plenty of inconsistency as coordinator Teryl Austin's unit gave up at least 120 yards rushing in eight of their 17 outings.
Former Jacksonville Jaguars' linebacker Myles Jack led the team in tackles. Elsewhere, 2019 first-round pick Devin Bush started off slow but came on late and had his best season since his rookie campaign. One-time undrafted free agent Robert Spillane also contributed to the cause.
What a difference an offseason makes. Jack was cut loose just one year into his two-year deal. Former first-round pick Devin Bush signed with the Seahawks and Robert Spillane is now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Enter defenders Elandon Roberts and Cole Holcomb from the Dolphins and Commanders, respectively. The new inside linebacking duo should make an immediate impact, along with fellow newcomer and 2023 second-round pick Keeanu Benton (Wisconsin) at nose tackle.