It is a measure of how high the standards are in Pittsburgh that a 9-7-1 season in 2021 was a relative disappointment. There were certainly some high points. TJ Watt tying the NFL sack record and winning Defensive Player of the Year was the most notable. There were plenty of lows too. Ben Roethlisberger’s play dropped off drastically in his final season and was the cause of many of their offensive struggles. With a new GM and a new quarterback in town this offseason, things could look pretty different in 2022.
Offseason additions and losses
This has been an offseason of roster turnover for the Steelers. Whilst Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement naturally made all the headlines, there were some other big names that departed. Stephon Tuitt retired and Joe Haden hit free agency after serving as key parts of this defense in recent years. They also saw some turnover in the wide receiver room, with both JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington departing for pastures new.
Unlike some of their divisional rivals, the Steelers didn’t bring in any flashy free agents to replace these departures. They did however land some names that can contribute right away. Mitchell Trubisky looks set to be the team’s starting quarterback whilst Kenny Pickett adjusts to the NFL. James Daniels and Mason Cole will bolster an offensive line that crippled this team in 2021. They also brought in Larry Ogunjobi on a one-year deal to replace Tuitt. Perhaps their best move was bringing in Levi Wallace on a two-year $8 million deal. Wallace was a dependable corner with Buffalo, allowing a passer rating of just 86.1 since entering the league in 2018.
2022 NFL Draft
| Pick | Player |
| 1.20 | Kenny Pickett – QB, Pittsburgh |
| 2.52 | George Pickens – WR, Georgia |
| 3.84 | DeMarvin Leal – IDL, Texas A&M |
| 4.138 | Calvin Austin – WR, Memphis |
| 6.208 | Connor Heyward – TE, Michigan State |
| 7.225 | Mark Robinson – LB, Ole Miss |
| 7.241 | Chris Oladokun – QB, South Dakota State |
The success or failure of this draft class will forever be defined by how Kenny Pickett performs in Pittsburgh. The Steelers took a hometown favourite and a player with a tonne of experience in college, but there are still lingering questions about how well his game will translate to the NFL. They have at least surrounded him with receiving talent though, with Pickens and Austin joining the likes of Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool to give the Steelers a loaded receiver room. With Johnson set to hit free agency in 2023 I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pickens take on a big role in this offense as a rookie.
Offense
The Steelers start a season without Big Ben under center for the first time since 2003, and it will be interesting to see what this new offense looks like. It is fair to say that it was a tough watch in 2021. They combined for just 34 touchdowns all year and ranked 25th in DVOA in Matt Canada’s first season as offensive coordinator. Whether this was down to poor schematics from Canada or Roethlisberger’s inability to execute the plays is something we will get an answer to in 2022.
There are certainly areas of strength on this team. They have a talented young receiver room and a very solid tight end in Pat Freiermuth. In Najee Harris they have an excellent young running back and the offense will no doubt run through him once again run in 2022. Harris was one of only two backs with 300+ carries last season and he accounted for 75.9% of Pittsburgh’s carries. The woeful offensive line limited the effectiveness of their rushing attack though. Harris averaged just 3.9 yards per attempt as they ranked 28th in adjusted line yards.
The addition of James Daniels and Mason Cole should help them to improve their run blocking, though the issues with pass protection remain a concern. Dan Moore and Chukwuma Okorafor look to be the worst tackle tandem in the NFL. The pair allowed a combined 69 pressures in 2021, despite Ben Roethlisberger getting the ball out faster than any other quarterback. That should set alarm bells ringing given that Pickett could see the field in his rookie year. His biggest problem in college was a lack of pocket presence, with a tendency to panic under pressure and not trusting his offensive line. He also had the sixth longest time to throw amongst all FBS quarterbacks.
Defense
There might be a litany of question marks surrounding the Steelers’ offense, but their defense is its reliable old self. It starts with their defensive front, which continues to be one of the league’s most imposing units. In T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward they have arguably the best passing rushing duo in the NFL. The two combined for an absurd 123 pressures, including 33 sacks in 2021. If opponents double team one, the other is liable to make light work of their one-on-one.
Alex Highsmith also looks set for a breakout year opposite Watt, after registering a solid 35 pressures in his second year in the league. The team also boast one of the more underrated interior linemen in football in the form of Tyson Alualu. He missed the bulk of the 2021 season with an ankle injury, but should be back to full fitness this season. That is an imposing front four that will cause problems for even the best lines in football.
The secondary should be solid once again, and in Minkah Fitzpatrick they have a lynchpin to work around. The addition of Levi Wallace and re-signing Akhello Witherspoon might not have made headlines, but are indicative of the savvy moves made by successful franchises and keep the cornerback position in a good place. The lone concern with this defensive unit is their linebackers. Whilst Devin Bush and Myles Jack are both incredibly explosive athletes, they have both struggled for consistency since entering the league.
Prediction
Mike Tomlin joined the Steelers in 2007 and has had a winning season every year since. It might therefore seem foolhardy to predict one for 2022, but this is a new era in Pittsburgh. The defense remains stacked, but there are just too many concerns with this offense. The offensive line might be slightly better, but it remains one of the weakest in the NFL. That, coupled with a combination of Mitchell Trubisky and a rookie quarterback, does not bode well for success in a tough conference.
