Steelers Had The Third-Worst Offseason...

[BFritz21]

As we continue to improve, strengthen our roster, and build for the future, the Steelers look like a dumpster fire.

As ESPN points out, the Steelers had the third worst offseason in the NFL:

Quote:30. Pittsburgh Steelers

What went right: The Steelers got a pleasant surprise when JuJu Smith-Schuster's market failed to develop, leading the 24-year-old to return on a one-year, $8 million deal. It took voidable years to get Smith-Schuster back in the fold, which should tell you what a mess Pittsburgh's cap looks like. Given their lack of options at the position, the Steelers should also probably be happy that Ben Roethlisberger decided to return for another season, taking a $5 million pay cut in the process. And after agreeing to sign with the Jaguars, Tyson Alualu changed his mind and returned to the Steelers on a two-year, $5.5 million pact.

It sounds like they know it's the end of the line for Ben and possibly his last season, which what quality free agents are going to want to come to Pittsburgh, especially after this season, when they're losing all these pieces, including the biggest one, and have no money to offer them big contracts?

Quote:What went wrong: They were forced to eat their financial vegetables and watch Bud Dupree and Mike Hilton leave in free agency. With the organization moving on from Steven Nelson, cornerback has gone from being one of the team's biggest strengths to one of Pittsburgh's thinnest positions. Justin Layne, a third-round pick in 2019, has played only 117 defensive snaps over his first two seasons, but he might be one of the team's three top cornerbacks this season.

Losing one of your best corners can't be good, especially when you're losing one of your best pass rushers, who would make the defensive backs' lives easier.

Quote:The offensive line is also a mess, with the Steelers losing Maurkice Pouncey to retirement and both Matt Feiler and Alejandro Villanueva to free agency. They brought back B.J. Finney and used third- and fourth-round picks on linemen, but they project to be below average at as many as four positions. Their decision to try to revitalize the running game by using a first-round pick on Alabama star Najee Harris also seemed curious given what we know about the position.

Big Ben always helped mask how terrible the offensive line was with his ability to extend plays, but will even Ben be able to be elusive and extend plays at age 39 and having taken a beating, both with being hit by NFL players and college girls trying to fight him off in bar bathrooms?

Harris could help, but will teams just load the box, send blitzes/stunts, and dare Ben to beat them? Will he be able to?

Quote:What they could have done differently: Used their first-round pick on a lineman while signing one of the many running backs still available in free agency. Christian Darrisaw came off the board one pick before the Steelers at No. 23, but I have to think that they would have been better off with Darrisaw and a back such as Todd Gurley than they are with Harris and their current line situation.

Just another example of their franchise being run poorly. Taking the flashy pick instead of shoring up at positions of need.

Even without Geno, I think they're going to struggle with our new 3-4 defense and all the young guys we have up there, not to mention the rest of the division and league.

Quote:What's left to do: Start working on extensions for T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Plenty of teams would love to have this problem, but the Steelers will have to find a way to extend their two young stars on defense over the next two years while struggling with cap constraints. Roethlisberger could retire after the 2021 season, but the franchise will still be on the hook for nearly $16 million in dead money between their longtime quarterback and Smith-Schuster in 2022.

Are Watt and Fitzpatrick even going to want to come back? The team will be in salary cap hell, limiting the money they can get, and will be in rebuilding mode with a new QB (probably) and new receivers, which who's going to want to come play for a rookie QB, especially if they have a halfway decent season and aren't in a position to pick an elite QB early in the draft?

For what it's worth, the Bengals had the 9th worst, but that projection is based off of Jonah not being able to lock down the left tackle position, Carman not developing, and our young guys not being able to make an impact, which I think they're underestimating Pollack coaching the line and then what switching to a 3-4 could do for our defense as a whole.