Pittsburgh Steelers Offseason Progress Report

Can Aaron Rodgers give us a bit more magic on his ride into the sunset?

Steelers Star EDGE TJ Watt

Overview

2024 Record: 10-7

General Manager: Omar Khan

Head Coach: Mike Tomlin

Starting Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers

Key Extensions:

RB Jaylen Warren (1 year, $5.35 million, no guarantees), WR DK Metcalf (4 years, $132 million, $80 million guaranteed), EDGE TJ Watt (3 years, $123 million, $108 million guaranteed)

Key Additions:

WR DK Metcalf, QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Robert Woods, QB Mason Rudolph, RB Kenneth Gainwell, DB Darius Slay, DB Jalen Ramsey, TE Jonnu Smith, DL Derrick Harmon, RB Kaleb Johnson, QB Will Howard

Key Departures:

QB Justin Fields, QB Russell Wilson, WR George Pickens, OT Dan Moore Jr, DL Larry Ogunjobi, WR Mike Williams, DB Donte Jackson, DB Minkah Fitzpatrick

Offense

Offensive Coordinator: Arthur Smith

2024 Ranks:

EPA/play: 21st Success Rate: 26th PPG: 16th (22.4ppg)

Projected Starting Offense (11 personnel):

QB Aaron Rodgers

RB Kaleb Johnson

WR DK Metcalf

WR Robert Woods

WR Calvin Austin III

TE Pat Freiermuth

LT Broderick Jones

LG Isaac Seumalo

C Zach Frazier

RG Mason McCormick

RT Troy Fautano

Offense Notes:

Pittsburgh's 2024 offense went through a whirlwind of changes. To start the season, Justin Fields led the team to a 3-2 record. He was soon replaced by Russell Wilson, who would win his first five starts and seven of his first eight games. However, after this good start, the team would lose four straight, never amassing more than 17 points in those contests. Wilson was largely ineffective outside of his patented moonball and ultimately led the team to a playoff loss against the division rival Ravens.

This season will be very different. Gone are Fields, Wilson, starting running back Najee Harris, and WR1 George Pickens (traded to Dallas). In comes QB Aaron Rodgers, bringing his talent, but also his drawbacks with him. Kaleb Johnson and Kenneth Gainwell reinforce the run game. The team also traded for WR DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks, before subsequently extending him. On paper, the team has gotten more athletic, but it will be a tall task for Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith to keep this offense workable.

Defense

Defensive Coordinator: Teryl Austin

2024 Ranks:

EPA/play: 10th Success Rate: 20th PPG: 8th (20.4ppg allowed)

Projected Starting Defense (Base 3-4):

DE Derrick Harmon

NT Keeanu Benton

DE Cameron Heyward

OLB TJ Watt

LB Patrick Queen

LB Payton Wilson

OLB Alex Highsmith

CB Darius Slay

CB Joey Porter Jr.

S Jalen Ramsey

S DeShon Elliott

Defense Notes:

Mike Tomlin always seems to keep his streak of no losing seasons alive on the back of his defense. 2024 was no different; the Steelers were stout on a down-by-down basis and good at preventing teams from scoring. The new additions to the linebacker room helped to reinforce the Steeler's dangerous front, making them a hard team to run on. While the Donte Jackson experience at CB2 was up and down, the team made it work.

2025 should see an even stronger Steelers defense. Investing the first round pick in a high-impact defensive lineman in Derrick Harmon should make the front even scarier. Adding Darius Slay, while older, should give stability to the CB2 spot. Coaching continuity + upgraded starters should lend the defense to being the strength of this team, once again.

Outlook

Overall, the Steelers are a difficult team to project in 2025. The defense should continue to be strong and keep them competitive, but there is a high amount of roster turnover on offense. Theoretically, Aaron Rodgers presents an upgrade to what Russell Wilson and Justin Fields were able to produce last season. Can adding Rodgers to the helm be enough?

Even after adding Rodgers, the offense might still be too limited to compete with the rest of the division. Baltimore remains strong and has fortified both sides of the ball. Cincinnati has Joe Burrow healthy for an entire offseason and was knocking on the door of the playoffs in 2024. In order for Pittsburgh to stay competitive, the defense must stay stout, and the offense must improve. These should be realistic expectations for a team that hasn't had a losing season in almost 20 years.

Expectation/Goal for 2025: Compete for AFC Wild Card

2025 Schedule

\(\begin{array}{c c} \textbf{GameWeek} & \textbf{Opponent} \\ \hline \text{Week 1} & \text{@ New York Jets, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 2} & \text{vs. Seattle, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 3} & \text{@ New England, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 4} & \text{vs. Minnesota} \\ \text{Week 5} & \text{-- BYE WEEK --} \\ \text{Week 6} & \text{vs. Cleveland, 1pm} \\ \textbf{Week 7} & \textbf{@ Cincinnati, TNF, 8:15pm} \\ \textbf{Week 8} & \textbf{vs. Green Bay, SNF, 8:20pm} \\ \text{Week 9} & \text{vs. Indianapolis, 1pm} \\ \textbf{Week 10} & \textbf{@ Los Angeles Chargers, SNF, 8:20pm} \\ \text{Week 11} & \text{vs. Cincinnati, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 12} & \text{@ Chicago, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 13} & \text{vs. Buffalo, 4:25pm} \\ \text{Week 14} & \text{@ Baltimore, 1pm} \\ \textbf{Week 15} & \textbf{vs. Miami, MNF, 8:15pm} \\ \text{Week 16} & \text{@ Detroit, 4:25pm} \\ \text{Week 17} & \text{@ Cleveland. 1pm} \\ \text{Week 18} & \text{vs. Baltimore, TBD} \\ \end{array} \)

Primetime games are BOLDED, all times EDT/EST