The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team looking to take that next step in 2023. General manager Omar Khan has changed how the franchise operates a little bit in the offseason as this offseason was as aggressive as the Steelers have ever been in free agency.
Cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan were brought in to bolster the secondary along with second-round pick Joey Porter Jr. Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts were both signed as Pittsburgh overhauled their linebacker group, moving on from Myles Jack, Devin Bush Jr. and Robert Spillane.
On offense, the Steelers brought in another weapon for Kenny Pickett, acquiring wide receiver Allen Robinson from the Los Angeles Rams. His veteran presence should help immensely and he creates a strong trio with Diontae Johnson and George Pickens. Most importantly, the Steelers upgraded in the trenches.
In free agency, Isaac Seumalo was signed away from the Philadelphia Eagles. With their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Steelers traded up with the New England Patriots to select Broderick Jones out of Georgia.
This is a strong roster, but adding some depth wouldn’t hurt ahead of training camp. In the opinion of Joe Tansey of Bleacher Report, continuing to address the offensive line is the way to go.
He suggested that the Steelers make a trade for either Yoshua Nijman of the Green Bay Packers or Terence Steele of the Dallas Cowboys. Nijman is playing out this season on a restricted free agent tender and would be a versatile piece to add as a potential swing tackle.
Steele suffered a torn ACL and MCL near the end of the 2022 season, which could keep him sidelined for the entire 2023 campaign. Acquiring him would be more of a long-term move, should the Steelers be comfortable with his rehab, as a potential long-term bookend with Jones.
Last but not least on Tansey’s list would be a potentially massive upgrade at linebacker. Isaiah Simmons had his fifth-year option declined by the Arizona Cardinals and could use a change of scenery to get his career on track.
Pittsburgh knows a thing or two about getting the most out of versatile defenders and Simmons could be the next in a long lineage of them in the Steel City. Given his impending free agency, the former Clemson star shouldn’t cost too much from the rebuilding Cardinals.
Acquiring Simmons would be a low-risk, high-reward move for the Steelers. He has the potential to be a long-term building block given his athleticism and versatility. But, if he doesn’t show enough in 2023, the team can let him walk in free agency in 2024.
