It's the preseason, which means we need to take performances with a grain of salt. Last year at this time, Pittsburgh Steelers fans watched Kenny Pickett shred vanilla defenses in exhibition action for a perfect passer rating only to lay an egg during the regular season.
At the same time, we all need to see more from this group. Russell Wilson was disappointing in his Steelers debut against the Bills, and this team that has struggled for years to put points on the board hasn't shown any signs of life during the 2024 preseason.
Things are going to change immensely when we get into the regular season and as the year marches on, but for now, here are three big-picture developments from Pittsburgh's disheartening preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Steelers don't have a 'franchise' quarterback on their roster
Though we've seen some incredible flashes from Justin Fields in his first two preseason games with Pittsburgh, it's hard to make a case that the Steelers are set for the future at quarterback. Despite getting himself out of numerous jams with his incredible athletic traits, Fields' accuracy has been spotty and his ability to read the field has been questioned during the preseason.
Primarily going against backups, we had all hoped Fields would lead the team to more than three offensive points scored. Russell Wilson hasn't been any better, as he did his best Kenny Pickett impersonation in his Steelers preseason debut.
Based on what we've witnessed so far, it looks like quarterback will be high on the agenda for Omar Khan and Pittsburgh's front office next offseason.
Steelers have more upcoming talent on defense than expected
Pittsburgh not only has the most expensive defense in the NFL, but their best players are getting up there in age. Cameron Heyward is 35 years old entering a contract year, while T.J. Watt turns 30 years old early in the 2024 season.
The good news is that there's hope for a future when it comes to the Steelers' defense.
Alex Highsmith and Minkah Fitzpatrick will be around for a while, but they won't be the only ones chipping in to keep Pittsburgh's defense top-notch. Outside linebacker Nick Herbig already looks like a pass rush specialist who can effortlessly and consistently find his way to the quarterback, while Keeanu Benton could be a cornerstone to the Steelers' defensive line of the future.
Meanwhile, unproven players with extensive injury histories like linebacker Payton Wilson and cornerback Cory Trice Jr. are proving why they were well worth the gamble in recent NFL Drafts. There's a lot to look forward to on the defensive side of the football.
Broderick Jones is not the player the Steelers thought they were getting
As numerous young players impress early in the preseason, one key player continues to disappoint. When the Steelers traded up to the 14th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, it was intending to add a building block to their offensive line. So far, Broderick Jones has looked like anything but.
The Georgia product has been steamrolled for back-to-back humiliating performances in his second preseason. While some could point the blame on a supposed elbow injury (he's been wearing a brace since August 2) or offensive line coach Pat Meyer, Jones' performance has been cringeworthy.
The hope is that the Steelers will finally stick him at left tackle and let him develop, but we have no reason to be confident that Broderick is the future of the offensive tackle position in Pittsburgh. His career outlook is concerning at this point.