4 takeaways from Steelers gut-wrenching playoff loss vs Chiefs

Steelers are sadly far away from being true contenders

There is no longer just a quick fix for the Pittsburgh Steelers. This team has major needs all over the roster and not a fraction of the required draft capital to fill them all. The biggest hole will be at the quarterback position, as the Steelers really only have Mason Rudolph to look forward to at the moment.

Sadly, there are many other gaping holes on this team that act as added proof they really aren’t that close to competing with the best teams in the NFL right now. The offensive line is in shambles after neglecting the position for nearly a decade with any sort of elite draft capital. Likewise, Pittburgh’s off-ball linebackers were arguably the worst in the NFL this year.

Of the important ‘money’ position, Pittsburgh is still lacking most of them. The Steelers need at least one more offensive tackle, a starting cornerback, and a new franchise passer. This is in addition to the severe lack of depth all around their roster.

Even with $42 million in projected cap space next season, according to Over the Cap, this team isn’t going to be able to fill all the holes that need to be filled. We hope the Steelers can get back on track soon so they don’t waste valuable years of T.J. Watt’s future Hall of Fame career, but the truth is they are still very far away from being legitimate contenders.

This playoff game didn’t offer a lot of encouragement, but it’s hard to turn down an opportunity to make it to the post-season. Sadly, poor execution and play-calling were the stories of the game. Let’s hope the Steelers make some major changes in 2022.