While much has been said about the Steelers’ most pressing needs, these three positions are underrated ones that the team needs to address in 2022.
The Steelers enter the 2022 offseason with a lot of work to do. Their roster is filled with holes and their resources to retool aren’t as vast as many expect. While positions like quarterback and linebacker are the focus for most, there are some underrated positions that need to be addressed in 2022.
Here are three under-the-radar positions of need for the Steelers this offseason.
Steelers need an edge
Edge rusher, on paper, should be one of the Steelers’ best positions in terms of who is starting there in 2022. T.J. Watt just took home the defensive player of the year award while Alex Highsmith quietly had a strong second season for the team in 2021. Both are more than capable starters and can be counted on to make big plays.
Behind them though, unfortunately, is a bunch of question marks. While Taco Charlton held his own as a reserve, he is a pending free agent that may not be brought back. Even if he is, the team could easily upgrade over him. Derrek Tuszka’s play heated up down the stretch, but once again, he is an easily replaced backup. Both were fine as rotational pieces, but their depth was a mess once a single injury occurred.
Thus, finding a capable backup at edge rusher is vitally important in 2022. The Steelers thought that they had that in Melvin Ingram this season, but as we all know that didn’t pan out as expected. Edge rusher once again tops the list as a sneaky need for this team. Adding a capable reserve is a must in 2022.
Steelers need a running back
While Najee Harris is the undoubted future of this position, at least for the next four seasons, behind him on the depth chart leaves a lot to be desired. The top backups are Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland as well as Kalen Ballage, who is a pending free agent. None of those backs are worth giving snaps to in this offense and because of that, Harris is at risk of being run into the ground.
While finding a starting capable back isn’t needed obviously, finding a capable backup makes far more sense. While the team doesn’t need to be three deep at the position, having a player that can take on a drive every now again and give Harris a break would be a benefit. Add in the uncertainties at quarterback and the likely dependence on the running game moving forward and having a capable backup will be a must.
The team could look towards the draft here, but given the slew of other needs, signing a cheaper free agent makes the most sense. They shouldn’t go after a top name, but a lower-level option like D’Ernest Johnson or J.D. McKissic would be a good addition. Both can carry a workload if needed while offering a change of pace from Harris when he’s good to play. Finding a capable backup running back would be a wise move this offseason.
Steelers need some receivers
For the longest time, the Steelers had consistently one of the most talented and deep receiver rooms in the league. Names like Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster all made this unit one of the best in the league. While this group lacked the true star power of a top wideout last season, they still had the depth needed to be a decent group.
All of that depth is about to leave though, as both Smith-Schuster and James Washington may walk this offseason. That leaves two capable albeit questionable starters in Dionte Johnson and Chase Claypool. The team needs to refit this group in the offseason and add some speed, some physicality, and a capable slot receiver.
In all honesty, this group should see both a veteran free agent and a draft pick join the squad. Could the Steelers take a receiver in the first round? I wouldn’t rule it out, but even if they don’t one of their first four picks will likely target a receiver. Free agency is filled with options as well, meaning the team should have some flexibility with who they go with. No matter what though, there must be at least two new and capable faces in this room by the end of the offseason.
The Steelers have quite a few roster holes that will need to be filled in 2022. While the obvious ones have already been discussed, there are some underrated needs that need to be addressed as well. No matter if it is done through the draft or free agency, these three positions are ones of need and are currently being underrated by the fanbase.