The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons, and there's a lot to digest from their first game of the season. Offensively, Mike Tomlin's team was far from perfect, but there is no shortage of outstanding performances to highlight.
Many of these came from players who weren't with the Steelers before the 2024 offseason. Pittsburgh has yet to reap the benefits of players like Troy Fautanu and Roman Wilson, as injuries have plagued the rookies so far, but other new additions are off to a spectacular start.
Since taking over for Kevin Colbert, General Manager Omar Khan and Assistant GM Andy Weidl have restocked the Steelers' roster, and these four offseason decisions are already looking genius.
Signing DeShon Elliott in free agency
Most Steelers fans didn't give the DeShon Elliott signing a second though when Pittsburgh inked him to a two-year, $6 million deal during the 2024 offseason. Elliott wasn't a household name at the safety position like other players on the market (fans were banging the table for Justin Simmons), and he was entering his fourth team in six NFL seasons.
However, Elliott's Steelers career got a terrific start after nabbing an impressive interception and recording two pass defenses against the Falcons. In his first five seasons, the veteran safety only recorded three interceptions in 50 games, but he already has one in Pittsburgh.
There was a time when Elliott was known as a ballhawk. During his senior year at Texas, the big safety snagged six picks and returned them for 127 yards while punching in two defensive touchdowns. Perhaps he finally landed in the perfect situation in Pittsburgh.
Drafting Zach Frazier in Round 2
Nobody should have been upset when the Pittsburgh Steelers used their second-round pick to acquire Zach Frazier in the 2024 NFL Draft. This team had a significant need at center and Frazier was arguably the best player on the board when the 51st overall pick rolled around.
The West Virginia product wasted no time making his presence felt. He was an unsung hero of Week 1 when the Steelers defeated the Falcons and he already looks like a savvy veteran.
There were some NFL Draft analysts who believed Frazier could have been a first-round pick. This already looks like a tremendous value selection with a high payout.
Drafting Payton Wilson in Round 3
Zach Frazier wasn't the only value pick the Steelers made in the 2024 draft. When Payton Wilson was selected, Daniel Jeremiah believed he was one of the biggest steals of the draft.
Wilson, an All-American linebacker at NC State, had a lengthy injury history before being selected, but he already looked like Pittsburgh's best off-ball linebacker in Week 1. Wilson showcased speed, agility, play recognition, and the ability to sift through traffic and slip blocks.
The talented linebacker earned more snaps than starter Elandon Roberts in Week 1, and it's going to be difficult for defensive coordinator Teryl Austin to keep him off the field this year.
Extending Cameron Heyward's contract
There were many fans who were on the fence about whether or not to give Cam Heyward a lucrative contract extension. At 35 years old and entering the final year of his deal, allowing the veteran to play out his contract while pushing a decision about his future to 2025 seemed like a reasonable choice.
After one week, however, Heyward is already proving doubters wrong. The big defensive lineman looked as stout as ever against the run, and the groin injury he dealt with in 2023 no longer is affecting him.
Heyward earned the second-highest PFF grade on the team in Week 1 -- next to only the great T.J. Watt. Heyward's presence will be an asset this year, and he's already looking like the player we saw in 2022.