The Pittsburgh Steelers shopped on the discount rack for quarterbacks, adding Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Could it be their saving grace in a stacked AFC?
The Pittsburgh Steelers probably didn’t find a long-term solution at quarterback this offseason. Instead, they opted to buy low on bounce-back candidate Russell Wilson and developmental project Justin Fields.
In doing so, Pittsburgh gave itself an upgrade over former first-round pick Kenny Pickett – without breaking the bank. The Steelers were then able to supplement their new passers with a new-look offensive line and defensive additions such as defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi and linebacker Patrick Queen.
Pittsburgh got better without the risk that comes with a first-round commitment at quarterback. For now, that will have to do.
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In ESPN’s post-draft power rankings, the Steelers rank 15th – a two-spot decline from their last rendition, but hardly an insult given the uncertainty under center.
Much of that ranking is baked into improvements at quarterback. Sometimes, going from bad to average is as good as going from average to great.
“It’s tempting to go with the offensive line here, but the veteran quarterback additions edge out the rookie offensive linemen,” Brooke Pryor wrote. “Russell Wilson threw for 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions a year ago, while a combination of Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph threw 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
“At the very least, Wilson and Justin Fields should offer a mixture of more stability and a higher ceiling at the position – especially in a run-first, play-action-heavy offense that plays to their strengths.”
Like last season, Pittsburgh will look to compete for a Wild Card spot, solace for playing in a division with two superstar quarterbacks. The roster is talented enough to win in spite of its quarterback play, as proven last year, so it’s fair to be optimistic about Wilson’s arrival.
Ranking above teams like the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts may feel a little ambitious, but competency is meaningful, and the Steelers have it in spades. Even with questions at quarterback, Pittsburgh feels like one of the league’s lower-variance teams in the middle of the pack.
BY ANTHONY LICCIARDI
Anthony Licciardi is an experienced writer and editor who loves scouting and analytics. He graduated from Rutgers University’s School or Journalism and Media Studies.
