The Steelers are likely set to see a lot of change over this next offseason, but here are four plays that won’t be missed.
Roster overhauls are a common thing in the NFL, and it seems as though the Steelers will see quite a shift in 2023. From their large list of pending free agents to the need to get some better talent on the roster, this is a team in need of a boost in talent.
While saying goodbye to some players can be hard, there is also a list of players that really won’t be missed. Perhaps they never lived up to expectations, or maybe they were never really accepted by the fanbase, but these four players will likely be playing elsewhere next season, and the Steelers won’t really miss them.
Steelers no longer have the rights over Mason Rudolph
No player has been treated worse on this roster in recent history than Mason Rudolph. The third-round pick was criticized by Ben Roethlisberger before he became a scapegoat for this team after he had to step in and start at quarterback in 2019. His lackluster play quickly made him a target for Steelers nation.
Most of this hate was unfairly given, and it is no surprise Rudolph wants off this team. From being a puppet candidate for quarterback last season to the fans constantly piling on him, Rudolph will almost certainly be playing elsewhere in 2023. Given Kenny Pickett’s status as the face of this franchise, this move won’t be the end of the world.
Malik Reed never found his footing with the Steelers
Malik Reed was a late addition to the Steelers roster, coming over from the Broncos for a swap of late-round picks. The trade made a lot of sense on paper, as Reed had been productive in years past and the Steelers needed a capable backup edge rusher. That said, his play was never anything more than average for this defense.
I do think a lot of this had to do with his size, as Reed is a notably small edge rusher. It made it hard for him to set the edge and hold up in the running game. While he could use some finesse moves to apply pressure, he was never a consistent force there either. Overall, it was a lackluster year for Reed.
It certainly wasn’t for a lack of trying, as Reed became the primary starter for the team after T.J. Watt was injured. Frankly, this team needs a capable backup edge that fits their scheme better than Reed. He almost certainly will walk this offseason, and that shouldn’t be a huge loss for this defense in 2023.
Devin Bush was a huge bust
The Devin Bush saga is seemingly coming to an end this offseason. After the Steelers aggressively moved up to acquire him, he quickly lost favor with the team and the city and now is poised to move on. While he flashed as a rookie, his play never improved from there, and frankly, he regressed as an overall linebacker.
While many point to the injury that he suffered in his second season, you can’t blame his lack of effective play entirely on that. While it may have still been bothering him last year, that doesn’t excuse the liability that he became on this defense. He should have been fully healed this past season, but his play wasn’t anything better than marginal.
It all came to a head when he was essentially benched late in the season for the combination of Robert Spillane and Mark Robinson. Neither of those players are great, but they provided a more consistent play than Bush did. He has no interest in being here and the Steelers don’t seem to want him back. I highly doubt anyone is missing Bush this time next year.
Larry Ogunjobi didn’t do enough for the Steelers
Of all the names on this list, Larry Ogunjobi had the strongest season. While he statistically wasn’t a monster with only 1.5 sacks, he had stretches where he was a great player along the defensive line. That said, he was paid eight million dollars last season, and he certainly didn’t meet the expectations that came with that contract.
I do think there is a world where Ogunjobi circles back to this team, but that will be dependent on teams not overvaluing him. He had inked a multi-year deal with the Bears, and every defense is looking for that interior pass rusher. While he wasn’t horrible last season, I do think he would benefit from a 4-3 scheme over the Steelers defensive front.
Assuming the Steelers can find a traditional end that fits what they want in base defense, I don’t think Ogunjobi will be sorely missed. Again, he didn’t have a horrible year, and his play was better than his stats would indicate, but overall, this defense can do better. He won’t be missed if the team properly invests in their defensive line this offseason.
The Steelers are set to have quite a few new faces on this roster in 2023. While they will look to retain some of their pending free agents, don’t be surprised to see all four of these names walk. Assuming they do, I highly doubt the team will miss any of them significantly during this next season.