The Steelers did enough to bounce back from a 2-6 start and compete for a spot in the postseason in the final week of the 2022 season.
Alas, they didn't make the playoffs. And now, in his first full offseason as general manager, Omar Khan has a very tall task ahead to build a better team in 2023.
Unsurprisingly, there are several holes to fill on the roster. Some of these were revealed through lack of production in 2022 and others are created by the impending class of free agents. And, in order for the Steelers to build a better roster, they have to salvage as many internal pieces as possible while adding some quality through free agency and the draft.
Here are five spots on the roster that need attention this offseason, in order of importance:
1. SECONDARY
Cornerback is the main position of focus here, but safety is also a major need with both Terrell Edmunds and Damontae Kazee becoming unrestricted free agents.
Edmunds came back to Pittsburgh on a one-year "prove it" deal, and he delivered. He finished with 70 tackles and two sacks while providing tons of versatility as the deep safety, covering opposing tight ends in single coverage and helping out in run defense. Most of all, he was the perfect complement to Minkah Fitzpatrick, who turned in his third All-Pro season.
Edmunds will get a significant pay raise from the $2.385 million he made in 2022, but the Steelers have to prioritize him in free agency and can't assume he'll come at a hometown discount. Best-case scenario is they re-sign him before he can hit the open market in mid-March.
Kazee's future may be a bit more hazy than Edmunds, and he likely won't cost as much. But, with all of the other holes on the roster, retaining both Edmunds and Kazee would be very difficult.
At cornerback, Cam Sutton must be right up there with Edmunds in terms of importance. Of 67 qualifying cornerbacks, Sutton ranked fourth-best in the NFL in holding receivers to catching only 50.7% of targets when he was in coverage. And, he was sixth-best in the NFL with a 69.6 passer-rating against. Given his six years of experience and versatility to play outside or in the slot, Sutton will be a commodity in free agency.
Without Sutton, the Steelers' rostered cornerbacks are William Jackson III, Levi Wallace, Ahkello Witherspoon, Arthur Maulet and Tre Norwood, though Norwood played more safety than cornerback last season. There's a very strong chance that Jackson is cut to save $12 million in salary cap space, which thins out the position even more.
The secondary is a very high priority. Free agency could be very expensive, and bringing back Sutton would be a huge win as long as it comes with the return of Edmunds as well. Fortunately, there are plenty of options when the Steelers pick 17th overall this April. Illinois' Devon Witherspoon, Oregon's Christian Gonzalez, South Carolina's Cam Smith and Penn State's Joey Porter Jr. could be available when the Steelers are on the clock in the first round.
2. INSIDE LINEBACKER
There will be turnover at inside linebacker for the Steelers, though it's unclear just how much. Devin Bush will most likely sign elsewhere in free agency, Robert Spillane is also an unrestricted free agent and Myles Jack could be a cap casualty as the Steelers could save $8 million by opting out of his contract.
Right now, Mark Robinson is the only rostered player that recorded snaps at inside linebacker in 2022, and the vast majority of those came in the final two games of the season. Just for some form of continuity, there's a way either Spillane and/or Jack return to Pittsburgh in 2023.
However, the biggest opportunity to make a splash in free agency could come at this position. Tremaine Edmunds, Terrell's brother, will be an unrestricted free agent and will get a very hefty contract. For comparison, Baltimore just dished out a five-year, $100-million contract to Roquan Smith. Edmunds probably won't get that much, but's it's safe to assume an average annual value of $15 million will be the minimum. This could be the splash fans have wanted the Steelers to make for a long, long time, and would give the defense an elite coverage linebacker who also racks up tackles.
In addition to Edmunds, Tennessee's David Long, Philadelphia's T.J. Edwards and Cincinnati's Germaine Pratt are unrestricted free agents. This is a solid free agent class of inside linebackers, and the Steelers would have the most opportunity to spend some big bucks at this position.
For now, the highest-graded linebackers in the draft won't come until close to the end of the first round, and could be available when the Steelers kick off Day 2 of the draft with the 32nd overall pick. Clemson's Trenton Simpson is the highest-graded linebacker, with Arkansas' Drew Sanders and Iowa's Jack Campbell as possibilities for when the Steelers pick 49th overall.
3. OFFENSIVE LINE
The offensive line jelled quite well over the second half of the season, especially in run blocking. Whether it was zone or gap schemes, they blocked more than capable enough to help the team average 146.0 yards on the ground over the final nine games of the season. Because of that, and the fact that the starting five are all under contract for 2023, the offensive line became less of a priority than the secondary or inside linebacker.
Of course, this is still a unit that needs some upgrades. They finished 2022 as an above average offensive line, and the best way to safeguard the running game and second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett is to turn it into a formidable group that has a better chance to compete with some of the best in the league.
The most important position to address here is most likely left tackle, though right tackle could become a higher priority if Chukwuma Okorafor is cut loose to avoid the whopping $13,083,333 cap hit next season. When looking at free agency, there are more right tackles on the market than left tackles. San Francisco's Mike McGlinchey, Atlanta's Kaleb McGary, Jacksonville's Jawaan Taylor and former Steeler Kelvin Beachum highlight the upcoming class of unrestricted free agents on the right side.
If the Steelers want to pay big bucks for a left tackle, Kansas City's Orlando Brown Jr. is set to be an unrestricted free agent. But, Titans tackle Taylor Lewan is a veteran looking to bounce back from injuries and, with some risk, could be a cheaper option.
In the draft, Ohio State's Paris Johnson Jr. could be a steal if he's available at 17th overall, but Northwestern's Peter Skoronski and Oklahoma's Anton Harrison are probably more realistic options if the Steelers want to address left tackle in the first round.
Center could be upgraded as well, but it shouldn't be a major priority. Cole was more than good enough and was a "hub of communication" for the newly-constructed offensive line, as Mike Tomlin put it. Re-signing restricted free agent J.C. Hassenauer and/or adding a center in the middle rounds of the draft should be more than enough to beef up the middle of the line.
Bottom line, the need at tackle far outweighs anything that needs to be done on the interior.
4. DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Both Larry Ogunjobi and Chris Wormley are unrestricted free agents, which leaves the interior of the defensive line as a major need this offseason. Right now, the Steelers' main options to fill those vacated spots are Montravius Adams, DeMarvin Leal and Isaiahh Loudermilk. The Steelers can't afford to rely on all three taking a significant step forward. They need to reinforce defensive tackle.
A reunion with Wormley isn't out of the question, though he told me after the season he will be patient through the free agency process because of his knee injury. Paying Ogunjobi anything close to the $8-million cap hit he absorbed last season would be a big risk, but he might be the Steelers' best option in terms of free agents. He knows the system and can still be productive when healthy.
Yes, Javon Hargrave is an unrestricted free agent, but stop dreaming now. Even though the Steelers will have some cap space, I don't see a path for him to return to Pittsburgh. More affordable options in free agency could be Arizona's Zach Allen or the Jets' Sheldon Rankins, but this is a position that could yield some huge contracts this March. Overpaying is a must to land anyone of quality. That's why trying to re-sign Ogunjobi might make the most sense here.
The draft seems like a good place to address this position, though the studs of the class will be off the board before the Steelers pick at No. 17. Baylor's Siaki Ika, Michigan's Mazi Smith and Pitt's Calijah Kancey could all be available in the second round, and Pittsburgh holds both the 32nd and 49th overall picks.
5. WIDE RECEIVER
Pittsburgh could also really afford to add another receiver to the mix. No, they don't need to pay big money for a free agent, so any thoughts of chasing JuJu Smith-Schuster should be nipped in the bud now. But, they could really use another consistent weapon behind Diontae Johnson and George Pickens.
Yes, Calvin Austin III should be in the mix next season, but the Steelers will need to see what he can do beyond training camp. Remember, he never played a snap, even in a preseason game. Assuming Austin can just jump right into a No. 3 spot on the depth chart is a tad too bold at this point. It would be smart for the Steelers to bring in as many options as possible.
Anthony Miller, a standout in last year's training camp, has already been brought back on a one-year deal. Steven Sims is a restricted free agent, and he showed enough in return duties and some offensive snaps down the stretch that he could be a valuable asset to the depth chart. If he can be re-signed, he, Austin, Miller and Gunner Olszewski could compete for that slot receiver spot.
The Steelers shouldn't address receiver in the first round of the draft, though the thought of reuniting Pickett with Jordan Addison could turn that receiving corps into a really exciting group. At this point, I would expect the Steelers to spend a third- or fourth-round pick on a receiver. Tennessee has a pair of receivers -- Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman -- that could be available in the third round, along with SMU's Rashee Rice. Wake Forest's A.T. Perry stands 6-foot-5 and could be an intriguing name around this spot in the draft as well.