As the Steelers start to turn their attention to the offseason, it is about time their report card showed up in the mail. Many had high hopes for Pittsburgh's defense going into this campaign, and for the most part, they held up to those standards. Much like the rest of the team, their defense started to crumble towards the end of the year. It was a tough conclusion not just for the defense, but for the whole team.
Mike Tomlin continues to try and find answers for winning playoff games. He might pass the regular season mark each year, but he has continued to go one-and-done in the postseason. Nothing has changed and it looks like the Steelers will be willing to keep this disaster afloat.
Defense wins championships, we are told, but the rest of the NFL is wising up to new philosophies. Here are my grades for the Steelers' defense for the 2024 season.
Steelers overall defense grade: B-
For the most part, the defense played solid from week to week. They started to flub during the final five games of the season, but their offense also only scored an average of 17 points or less in that span. With that being said, this is the most expensive defense in the NFL, so the Steelers' defense should consistently be good. They helped win games, but they also failed to close out others.
Steelers defensive line grade: B+
Cam Heyward was fantastic this year and he locked himself into place for a Hall of Fame honor once his career is over. Hopefully, he can somehow win a Super Bowl, Heyward is deserving of such a triumph. Larry Ogunjobi wasn't terrible this season, but he only produced a sack and a half, which could make him a cap casualty. Overall, it was a decent year up front, but they need to get younger.
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Steelers EDGE grade: B+
For a while, it looked like T.J. Watt was in the perfect position to win another Defensive Player of the Year award. The second half of the season saw a drop-off in production, so the chances of him winning that award look to be slim. Nick Herbig showed some great things early on, and Alex Highsmith played well even though you would've liked to have seen more sacks from him this year.
Steelers linebacker grade: B
Pittsburgh invested a lot of resources in upgrading their inside linebacker spot this past offseason. For the most part, it paid off. Patrick Queen started slow, but he produced well down the stretch. Payton Wilson saw his role continuously grow throughout the year, and his stock is on the rise. Elandon Roberts was the most physical linebacker and should be someone the Steelers bring back.
Steelers cornerback grade: D+
Things started strong for the Steelers' cornerbacks this season. Everything continued to go up and down from there. Inconsistency is something that haunted this group. Joey Porter Jr. had some rough outings this past year, but he also produced some good battles. Donte Jackson might have produced some interceptions, but his coverage abilities at the end of the season were troubling.
Steelers safety grade: B-
It is shocking to say that DeShon Elliott outplayed Minkah Fitzpatrick throughout the campaign. He was the best signing Omar Khan made this past free agency. It's not like Fitzpatrick played terribly, but he has been noticeably quiet the past two years. Elliott was a fantastic addition and should continue to be a nice piece in the secondary. It was a respectable year for the group, but Fitzpatrick needs to pick up his play to justify his contract.