We’re not even at the scouting combine yet, but it’s already been a wild offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers. For the first time in nearly two decades, Pittsburgh had to undergo a coaching search. Art Rooney II and Omar Khan found their man in Mike McCarthy, who’s worked hard to fill out his staff since.
In many ways, the Steelers are going to look different next year. But not just from a coaching perspective. There are a few players who’s future in Pittsburgh remains up in the air, and former Steeler Joe Haden thinks the two have a tough task ahead of them filling out the roster, and navigating the draft in a couple of months.
“I’m with you, I think, we have the picks. I think Omar, this is gonna be the time for them to show, what we gonna do? How good are they at picking talent? Sometimes it hasn’t been, like you said, that good. We haven’t resigned a lot of our guys. But now, this is gonna be a big one for McCarthy, and for Omar, showing what they gonna do moving forward. ‘Cause this is young, you have a lot of picks,” Haden said Tuesday on his Deebo & Joe show. “Just hitting on your draft picks is the main thing.”
Even before the draft begins, free agency can and will get complicated. First and foremost, the Steelers are waiting on an answer from Aaron Rodgers, one that some expect to come by mid-March. That would be helpful as it coincides with the start of free agency, but if the Steelers don’t get an answer by then, do they pursue another quarterback in free agency in the meantime?
Aside from just that position, there are some other big free agents the Steelers might lose. Offensively, if they can’t retain Isaac Seumalo, they’re going to have a hole at left guard. At running back, Kenneth Gainwell likely earned himself a big pay raise with his performance last season, so the Steelers may have to fight to keep him around. Even at receiver, Calvin Austin III will become a free agent as well.
But the heart of the offseason will come in the draft, where the Steelers have 12 picks, and five during the first two days. While their free agency moves will dictate a lot, the Steelers will have some holes to fill come late-April. They could try and grab a quarterback at 21st overall, or wait until Day 2 or 3. At cornerback and safety, the options should be there in the first round as well. The receiving class is also extremely talented. Pittsburgh could take multiple difference makers out wide during the first two days of the draft.
There are a lot of ways the Steelers can use their draft stock. Haden himself even thinks trading up might be worth it. Either way, Khan and McCarthy have an excellent chance to add several cornerstones through the draft this year. We’ll see if they’re able to take advantage of their first offseason together.
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