In recent history, the Pittsburgh Steelers have not been a team to make splash moves in free agency. This offseason proved to be a change of pace, though, as general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin were busy re-shaping the immediate and potentially long-term future of the team.
Between totally re-creating the quarterback room, swiping a star player from a division rival, and trading away a key offensive piece, Pittsburgh’s front office was the talk of the town at various points since free agency began. On Sunday, Mike Tomlin spoke to the media extensively about the moves made by the Steelers so far and what could lie ahead in the 2024 season.
Mike Tomlin Shares Details on Busy Pittsburgh Steelers Offseason
Thoughts on the Quarterback Room
Over the course of less than a month, the Steelers gave their quarterback room a complete makeover. Last season ended with Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitchell Trubisky making up the group. A few short months later, all three of those quarterbacks are on new teams, while the Steelers signed Russell Wilson and traded for Justin Fields. While Wilson’s better days are behind him, he will certainly provide better quarterback play than Pittsburgh has enjoyed since Ben Roethlisberger retired. Fields, on the other hand, has not yet lived up to his first round pick status, but should benefit from a change in scenery.
Despite both Wilson and Fields being starting quarterbacks last season, Mike Tomlin is leaving no doubt who will begin next season as the starter. He described Russell Wilson as being in “pole position” to be the starter, adding Fields will get a chance to challenge Wilson “when it’s time to compete.”
Russell Wilson is the "pole position" to be QB1, but Justin Fields will compete when the time is right.
The story from Mike Tomlin's first interview since the flurry of quarterback movement ⬇️https://t.co/M5CVQJg4qM
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) March 24, 2024
Tomlin also shared some details on the Kenny Pickett trade. He confirmed Pickett requested a trade following the team’s decision to acquire Wilson. Originally, Tomlin said the Steelers were interested in adding either Wilson or Fields. After Pickett requested a trade, though, it quickly came together for Pittsburgh to trade for Fields after having already signed Wilson.
Mike Tomlin on Trading Diontae Johnson
Perhaps the most surprising move of the offseason for the Steelers was their trade of wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. In return, the Steelers received cornerback Donte Jackson and a pick swap. While cornerback was, and still is, a big need for Pittsburgh, wide receiver is certainly a bigger need. For the past several years, their offense has let them down, with Johnson being one of their few bright spots. The seemingly low return for a receiver of Johnson’s quality fueled speculation that Johnson could have requested a trade.
In his media session, Tomlin denied any idea of Johnson requesting a trade. According to Tomlin, the trade was simply made as a player swap that both Carolina and Pittsburgh were happy with. The Steelers needed cornerback depth and the Panthers needed a wide receiver. He added the Steelers have evaluated Jackson numerous times, both coming out of college and during past free agency periods.
While Tomlin’s comments answer questions about the Johnson trade, they leave some holes open, too. After moving on from Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace, cornerback was a top need for the Steelers. It is still a position of need after making the trade, though; Jackson is likely not a high-caliber enough player for Pittsburgh to feel comfortable about their cornerback room. Further, there is now a gaping hole on the team at wide receiver. George Pickens is the only legitimate starting receiver currently on the roster. Simply put, the trade created a need at wide receiver, while not fully fulfilling the need at cornerback.
Hiring Arthur Smith as Offensive Coordinator
Potentially the biggest move of the Steelers offseason was hiring former Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith as their offensive coordinator. While his time as a head coach didn’t work out, Smith has been a successful offensive coordinator in the past. Mike Tomlin addressed the signing of Smith, pointing to his approach and values as reasons for the hire.
Mike Tomlin on new OC Arthur Smith: "I respect his approach the ball. His values are very evident. Looking at his tape, they are aligned with things that we value — controlling the game through our bigs and building from there."
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) March 24, 2024
From this perspective, Arthur Smith’s strengths align well with the Steelers current roster. Their offensive line, while nothing special, is a much better run-blocking unit than a pass-blocking unit. Additionally, their two-headed monster of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren is certainly in the discussion for the best running back duo in the NFL. Smith wants to have a dominant rushing attack, and the tools are there for him to have just that in Pittsburgh. The question, though, is whether or not Smith will be able to successfully overhaul a passing offense that has been abysmal for the past several seasons.
Main Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
