The 5 best moves from Steelers offseason

The Pittsburgh Steelers had quite the offseason in 2024. Most fans thought that it would be impossible for Omar Khan and the front office to top the excitement of last year. Somehow, they brought the same energy and aggressiveness this offseason.

Khan shocked the football world with some of his free-agent signings, and Pittsburgh spent a lot of money poaching LB Patrick Queen from the Baltimore Ravens for free agency. Still, this move lands just outside of the top five decisions the Steelers made during the 2024 offseason.

Recently, I've taken the liberty of ranking the best moves from Pittsburgh's offseason based on value, upside, and cost to the team. Let's start with number five.

5. Signing QB Russell Wilson

Some fans would argue that this move deserves to be in the driver's seat, and I get it. nothing is more important than the quarterback position, and the price was certainly right for a veteran with loads of wins and playoff experience under his belt. However, I'm just not a believer in Russell Wilson at this stage of his career.

Much like new OC Arthur Smith, Wilson needs to shake off three consecutive years of questionable performance before I can believe that he will be an option that could put this team over the top, and at his age, that will be extremely hard to do.

Having said that, signing Wilson to the veteran minimum on a one-year deal is an extremely low risk move. I just hope the Steelers are willing to make a chance at QB if things don't go well early on.

4. Drafting OT Troy Fautanu

Many draft experts believed that Troy Fautanu was bordering on a top 10 player in the 2024 NFL Draft, so getting him at pick 20 is a treat. Fautanu is a high-character player with a remarkable physical demeanor who happens to come at a premium position at offensive tackle.

The former Washington product isn't exactly a prototype though. He stands at just 6'3 3/4'' and he turns 24 years old during his rookie season. This could potentially cap his upside in the NFL, but he should be a solid player with position flexibility thanks to his impressive athletic traits and size profile.

3. Drafting WR Roman Wilson

It's hard for most teams to match the value that the Pittsburgh Steelers received when they added Roman Wilson to their roster with the 84th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Wilson, the former No. 1 wide receiver at Michigan, has incredibly soft hands and fast, smooth movement skills.

There are questions about his short compact frame ( 5'10 3/4'', 72 1/2'' wingspan), and some draft analysts don't believe he will be a WR2 in the NFL. However, I love the total package here and value at a premium position. This was an easy decision for Omar Khan and Andy Weidl to land a high-floor receiver who could see immediate work in their new-look offense.

2. Drafting LB Payton Wilson

You aren't going to convince me that the Steelers found any better value in the draft than when they stole the nation's best linebacker with the 98th overall pick in 2024. Yes, Payton Wilson has an extensive injury history which includes knee and shoulder surgeries. But if he were two years younger and had two fewer injuries, he'd be a first-round pick.

Wilson isn't guaranteed to pan and his career path will be determined by his health. But this was a no-brainer decision for a player who could be an X-Factor on an NFL defense -- even if it's just for one contract. This was my second-favorite move the Steelers made during the 2024 offseason.

1. Trading for QB Justin Fields

My favorite move the Steelers made during the 2024 offseason is the winner by a landslide. Early in the offseason, we were talking about trading as much as a second-round pick for Justin Fields because of his youth and elite physical tools. As it turned out, Pittsburgh didn't have to give up a fraction as much.

Omar Khan ultimately landed Fields for a sixth-round pick (which could become a fourth-rounder depending on playing time). Fields is a fresh 25 years old -- a full decade younger than Russell Wilson -- and he's coming off the best season of his NFL career with the Chicago Bears.

Entering Year 4, Fields is a longshot to be a bonafide franchise quarterback as the odds are against him. But there's no question the tools are undeniable and he happens to play the most important position in professional sports. This was the best move the Steelers made this offseason, even if it doesn't ultimately work out.