PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – There have been a number of moves including a new quarterback room, seven draft choices the team is high on and a major coaching change. What are the top five moves of the offseason as Steelers OTAs begin on Tuesday.
5-Zach Frazier
Of all of the draft picks, no one has a more direct line to start than the former West Virginia center. The Steelers first tried a third-round pick who barely played center in college. He was sent away after toying with making him a part-time fullback. The Steelers then went to a veteran who they released with a year left on his contract. Everything points to Frazier being a plug-and-play second-round selection. There are only emergency options, it's Frazier's job.
4-Russell Wilson
He heads into training camp as the new starting quarterback. As much as the Steelers are looking for stability at the position, Wilson is trying to prove he's still an elite or at least top half NFL quarterback. The numbers were seven wins in 15 starts, 66.4% completion, 3070 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions, he also was sacked 45 times after being dropped 55 times in 2022. Whether this is a one-year top or more is really up to Wilson, but a big chance for the 35-year-old to extend his career.
3-Patrick Queen
Elandon Roberts in the final year of his contract. Cole Holcomb may not play this year and Mark Robinson is still a work in progress. The Steelers needed a play-maker in the middle and after trying it with first-round pick Devin Bush and various other options, a three-year, $41 million contract for Queen to be the standard at middle linebacker. In his four years at Baltimore, he started every game with 454 tackles (297 solo), 37 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, 15 passes defended, five forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, four interceptions and a touchdown.
2-Justin Fields
Missing on Kenny Pickett as a first-round pick three years ago, a potential franchise quarterback at the cost of a conditional sixth-round draft pick. The trick is after seeing how he fits the system and finding a contract that both can agree on as Fields will be a free agent after the 2024 season. In 38 career starts with the Bears, 10 wins, 60.3 completion percentage (61.4 in 2023), 6674 yards, 40 touchdowns, 30 interceptions, 135 times sacked.
1-Arthur Smith
For three years it was the side of the ball that hindered better overall results. Last year, 28th in the NFL scoring 17.9 points per game, in 2022, 26th at 18.1 points per game and 21st in 2021 at 20.2 points per game. The slide led to the unprecedented move of firing offensive coordinator Matt Canada in-season in 2023. Smith is coming off a three-year stint as head coach where his offenses were 26th in scoring in 2021, 15th in 2022 and 26th in 2023. He got the opportunity to be a head coach due to his success as the Titans offensive coordinator. Those teams were run based but they hit big plays in the passing game. He must bring consistent offense if the Steelers are going to get out of this rut.
There are other new players who will get an opportunity to make a difference with this team, but none more than these five.
