We passed the quarter mark of the 2024 season, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are off to a respectable start. If the season ended today, Mike Tomlin's team would be heading to the playoffs. However, there's still work to do if they want to be considered true contenders this year.
The first quarter of the season showed us which players were up to the task and who fell short so far. Now that we've had a chance to digest the film as we gear up for Q2, let's hand out some Steelers' First Quarter Awards.
Steelers MVP (Most Valuable Player)
It shouldn't come as a surprise, but T.J. Watt gets my award for Pittsburgh's Most Valuable Player of the season after the quarter mark of 2024. While there's always a case to be made to hand the MVP to the quarterback, Watt has been playing at an elite level and Defensive Player of the Year honors are within his grasp if he can stay healthy and continue at this rate.
Watt raises the level of his defense in a way that very few players around the league do for their respective teams. He's been the most frequently chipped player in the league, according to Pro Football Focus, and the attention he draws from opposing offenses allows his teammates to feast.
LVP (Least Valuable Player)
I hate to come down too hard on an undrafted rookie who was thrust into a tough spot, but Beanie Bishop Jr. earns the Least Valuable Player award after the first quarter of the season. While players riding the bench serve a smaller role, Bishop has been the worst among Steelers who play a prominent role with the team this year.
The rookie slot cornerback has had an awful time in pass coverage this season, and opposing teams have had no issue identifying and exploiting the weakest link on defense. Bishop could turn things around as he gets more comfortable in his role, but his performance on the field has been tough to watch.
MIP (Most Improved Player)
Nick Herbig certainly wasn't bad as a rookie, but the second-year edge rusher took his game to a whole new level at just 22 years old in year two. Herbig already proved to be one of the best pass rushers coming off the bench in the NFL, and when Alex Highsmith went down with a groin injury, the 2023 fourth-round pick proved the stage wasn't too big.
Herbig has tremendous burst and dip off the edge that is lethal to opposing offensive tackles who are left on an island. He earns my stamp of approval to be named the Most Improved Player on the Steelers' roster through Q1 of the 2024 season.
Best Offensive Player
Justin Fields hasn't been perfect, but he's been everything the Steelers needed him to be so far. While Fields still uses his legs when necessary, the polarizing quarterback has changed his game style to fit the style of offense Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith want to run.
If Pittsburgh is willing to give him more flexibility and control of the offense, the team could see better results when it comes to putting points on the board. Fields isn't guaranteed to be this team's starting quarterback by the end of the season, but he has done exactly what's been asked of him so far and is a valuable member of the team. He earns my award as Best Offensive Player through the quarter mark.
Best Defensive Player
Because T.J. Watt already earned the Steelers' MVP in the first quarter, I have Cam Heyward receiving the Best Defensive Player Award. Heyward isn't the same pass rusher he used to be, but his run defense has never been better.
Heyward uses his bullish strength to control weaker offensive linemen at the point of attack and easily discards them to stuff the run if the play comes anywhere near him. DeShon Elliott was considered for this award, but I have him earning a different honor in the first quarter of the season.
Rookie of the Quarter
With first-round pick Troy Fautanu out for the season and third-round receiver Roman Wilson yet to play a game, the options were limited for rookie of the year. Linebacker Payton Wilson has been impressive so far, but Zach Frazier ran away with this award after Q1.
Frazier, a second-round center out of West Virginia, has been more dominant from the gate than anyone could have imagined. His forte is run blocking, as he lives to drive defenders into the turf. This is already shaping up to be one of the steals of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Best Play of the Quarter
While we could choose from a wide variety of splash defensive plays, I have Calvin Austin's 55-yard touchdown reception as the Best Play of the Year for the Steelers. Pittsburgh hasn't gotten many explosive plays from their offense this season, but this one takes the cake.
Justin Fields hit Austin on a post route against the Chargers and the speedster wide receiver did the rest. This gave Pittsburgh a two-score lead against Los Angeles with just seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to put the game on ice.
Biggest Surprise of the Quarter
Dan Moore Jr. was in consideration for this award and deserves an honorable mention. However, my Biggest Surprise of the Quarter award goes to safety DeShon Elliott. The veteran safety was signed as a free agent during the 2024 offseason. Nobody expected he would give this team the performance he delivered in the first quarter of the season.
Elliott has been a speeding missile all over the field for the Steelers. In addition to being one of the best run-defending safeties in the NFL early in the season, Elliott also made numerous plays in pass coverage. The free agent signing grossly outplayed his contract already.
Biggest Disappointment of the Quarter
It pains me to say this, but Broderick Jones has been by far the most disappointing player on the Steelers roster in Q1. Jones, Pittsburgh's 14th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, was projected to be the future of the offensive line. So far, however, he looks noticeably worse than left tackle Dan Moore Jr.
The biggest reasons for this are mental lapses, penalties, and missed assignments. The flashes are all there, but the inconsistencies make him the least reliable player on a Steelers offensive line that already dealt with three season-ending injuries.