PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – An offseason full of moves, signings and drafting, a simple question-of the newcomers, who will have the best season?
Aaron Rodgers is the easy answer as no position has a more direct impact on any game in any sport than the quarterback. Is that the answer for the Steelers, if so, who might best the second, third or fourth most impactful newcomer.
QB Aaron Rodgers
Quarterbacks have the most direct impact on any game. They are the most important single position in sports. Rodgers won only five games last year, was 24th among starting quarterbacks in completion percentage, but was eighth in yards (3897), seventh in touchdown passes (28), eighth in plays of 20-yards or more (51), 10th in plays of 40-yards or more (7). The 41-year-old was sacked 41 times, ninth most around the league. This will likely depend on if you view it as Rodgers was able to overcome offensive line issues or you view it more on Rodgers not getting rid of the ball or being able to elude rushers.
WR DK Metcalf
The 6’4” receiver has had at least 900 yards receiving in every one of his six NFL seasons with 992 yards in 12 starts last year with five touchdowns. Metcalf had at least three receptions in every game last year and becomes, by far, the biggest target for Rodgers.
CB Darius Slay
His third NFL team in 13 years, the 34-year-old Slay started 14 games for the World Champion Eagles last year with 13 passes defensed. It was the first season since his rookie year that Slay didn’t have an interception playing 81 percent of the snaps. Slay played almost exclusively on the outside and is the Steelers second highest ranked corner as 23rd best in the league in 2024.
TE Jonnu Smith
To think of where he came, in 2022, Jonnu Smith was averaging 9.1 yards-per-catch with 27 receptions with the New England Patriots. He impacted to 50 receptions with the Falcons the following year and then the huge jump last year in his only season in Miami. The 29-year-old beat his career high in receptions by 38 and career yards by 302. He led all NFL tight ends with 88 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. Jonnu is now reunited with his old offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
DB Jalen Ramsey
It’s the second time Ramsey has been traded in his career and brought in to be a play-maker the Steelers didn’t have in Minkah Fitzpatrick the last two seasons. The 30-year-old started all 17 games for the Dolphins last year with a pair of interceptions, 11 passes defensed, six tackles for loss and a career-high four quarterback hits. It’s where Ramsey plays is the big question.
RB Kaleb Johnson
In discussing Jonnu Smith’s improvement, same could be said for Johnson. The third-round draft pick tailback went from 463 yards and three touchdowns as a junior at Iowa to 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns last season and named the Big 10 Running Back of the Year. He was also explosive with 21 rushes of 20-plus yards and nine touchdown runs of 25-plus yards. Steelers need splash.
DL Derrick Harmon
It had been since 2009 that the Steelers drafted a defensive tackle in the first round. They addressed an area of need, following up the Keeanu Benton second-round selection of a couple of years ago. Harmon led all college interior defensive linemen in quarterback pressures last season at Oregon with 55. He also had two of his best games against national champion Ohio State.
OT Troy Fautanu
Not technically a newcomer, injury wiped out most of Troy Fautanu’s rookie season. A season coaches were excited about due to what he showed during all of the offseason work. They put him in a competition with the incumbent starter, which he won. His ability to get to the next level, footwork, just overall athleticism impressed all. Now that he’s back, expectations are as high for him as they were for center Zach Frazier.
Who steps up as a Steeler?