It's hard to take the Pittsburgh Steelers seriously without a starting-caliber quarterback, which remains the case at this point. However, the club deserves massive credit for not letting one glaring area of need hamper their otherwise strong free agency haul.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan hasn't always received glowing reviews, to put it mildly. The criticism is often louder than the support, though he's quietly put on a masterclass this offseason. Pittsburgh has made several meaningful additions, and ESPN's Ben Solak seemingly couldn't agree more.
Solak listed the Steelers as the NFL's most improved team based on a handful of notable factors, such as contract details/value and roster flexibility. He loved Pittsburgh's acquisition of wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. The analyst also lauded the signings of running back Rico Dowdle, defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day, and defensive backs Asante Samuel Jr., Jamel Dean, and Jaquan Brisker.
NFL analyst gives the Pittsburgh Steelers well-deserved praise for quietly strong offseason
Pittman is an ideal complement to the Steelers' No. 1 wideout, D.K. Metcalf. Their compatible skill sets and presumed coupling with 42-year-old signal-caller Aaron Rodgers are why Solak believes "Pittsburgh is a great fit" for the former.
From there, Solak highlights Pittsburgh's other moves. One by one, he has something positive to say about each newcomer (and Samuel, who was retained). His glowing feedback should have Steelers Nation feeling good about what lies ahead, regardless of the unresolved situation under center:
"Dowdle has consistently proved he can moonlight as an RB1 if needed, and he has receiving chops in a committee," Solak wrote. "Dean is coming off a career year, but the Steelers didn't pay him like he's a CB1, so they might get a nice bargain there. Joseph-Day is a perennially valuable rotational defensive tackle, and Samuel looked healthy in the limited time he played last season. Brisker is a low-risk gamble on another health question mark in a secondary that needs depth to maximize Jalen Ramsey's versatility. Great work this year."
Pittsburgh brought in playmakers on both sides of the ball. They got a nice influx of skill-position talent, reliable veterans, and defenders with upside. Whoever their passer ends up being, whether it be Rodgers or someone else, is set up to succeed.