Steelers Recent Offseason Hits and Misses, Part 1
Once the Super Bowl concludes this weekend, the NFL will shift its focus to the team-building process that unfolds over the next few months. Since the Steelers were eliminated in the Wild Card round, many fans have already turned their attention to potential roster additions for the upcoming season.
With that in mind, it’s a good time to look back at some of the Steelers’ biggest hits and misses in free agency since the start of the decade. As free agency marks the first phase of the offseason, let’s dive into some of the key moves—both good and bad—that have shaped the team in recent years.
The Hits:
DeShon Elliott
Outside of Cameron Heyward—who continues to age like fine wine—it wouldn’t be too outlandish to say that, on a roster loaded with defensive talent at all three levels, DeShon Elliott could easily be considered the Steelers’ second-best defensive player in 2024.
He provided much-needed playmaking for a secondary that struggled to generate splash plays from big names, contributing to six turnovers while also being a live wire in run defense with his sure tackling. Even more impressively, he delivered this level of performance on a bargain contract, earning just $3 million per season in base salary. His impact, combined with the value of his deal, makes him an undeniable addition to the Steelers’ list of free agency hits.
Elandon Roberts
The way Elandon Roberts has played during his tenure so far epitomizes the classic Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker. He’s a prototypical “thumper” who makes his presence felt in the run game. While he has occasionally struggled in pass coverage, his leadership and durability have made him a steady and valuable presence in the linebacker corps, even as injuries have depleted the room around him.
He brings Super Bowl pedigree and is shifting seamlessly as a rotational piece with Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson now taking on the bulk of the work load. It would be in the Steelers best interest to try bring Roberts back for the 2025 season rather than letting a player of his elk walk in free agency.
Miles Killebrew
This may be one of the most underrated free-agent signings for the Steelers in recent memory. He put together a First-Team All-Pro season on special teams in 2023 while earning consecutive Pro Bowl nods over the past two seasons. Additionally, he is a highly respected leader in the locker room, having been named a team captain for three straight years since 2022.
His addition from the Lions has provided a major spark to the Steelers’ special teams unit, which has been the most consistent phase of the team in recent seasons. His three blocked kicks stand out as game-changing plays, often coming at crucial moments. Beyond that, his steady performance and ability to provide depth on defense in a pinch have made him an invaluable asset during his tenure.
The Misses:
Mitch Trubisky
A Steelers free agency miss list wouldn’t be complete without the addition of Mitch Trubisky. He was brought in to serve as a bridge between the end of the Ben Roethlisberger era and the beginning of the Kenny Pickett era. Unfortunately, that bridge was much shorter than intended, as his stint as the starter came to an abrupt end in Week 4 of the 2022 season against the Jets, making way for Pickett.
During his tenure in Pittsburgh, he appeared in 12 games, serving as both a starter and a backup. He posted a 3-9 record while amassing 1,884 passing yards, 8 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. These are damning numbers for a quarterback expected to provide a stable transition between eras for the Steelers.
Mason Cole
Brought in alongside Mitch Trubisky, Mason Cole was signed to patch the glaring hole in the middle of the Steelers’ offensive line left by the failed Kendrick Green experiment. Cole was expected to bring stability but failed to deliver. After a rocky first season, his play completely collapsed in 2023, turning him into a liability and making him a frequent target of criticism from the Steelers fanbase.
His underwhelming tenure in Pittsburgh led to his release after just two seasons, cutting short his three-year contract. His struggles ultimately forced the Steelers to invest in the position, selecting Zach Frazier in the second round of the 2024 draft—a move that finally provides hope for a long-term solution at center.
Van Jefferson
Perhaps unfairly, Van Jefferson makes this list—not due to his talent or contract, but because of the role he was thrust into. After following his former head coach, Arthur Smith, to Pittsburgh for the 2024 season, Jefferson was expected to serve as the Steelers’ No. 2 wide receiver. However, this role proved to be well beyond his capabilities, as he seemed to be living off the reputation of his Super Bowl-winning season with the Rams.
Jefferson finished the year with just 276 yards and two touchdowns—numbers more in line with a WR4 than a legitimate second option. He had clearly lost a step, limiting his effectiveness as a deep threat, and he struggled to create separation on his routes. Given his underwhelming impact, it’s unlikely he will be part of the Steelers’ 2025 wide receiver room, and his brief stint in black and gold won’t be remembered fondly.
What do you think, which recent Steelers free agency acquisitions have been left off these lists…
I’d say the combination of MyCole Pruitt and Cordarelle Patterson had to be, in aggregate, one of the worst decisions by the team, particularly given these guys were supposed to help facilitate the change in offensive direction with Arther Smith as OC. They combined for a total of 255 yards from scrimmage despite the fact that Pruitt was in on about 35% of the offensive snaps and Patterson was in on about 13%.
Yup. I think they might want to look into another option at tight end anyway. Pruitt should be out, Heyward is lackluster as a TE, and they run a whole lot of big sets. If the TEs are going to see the field that much, then I think they should be finding a difference maker there. I never see anyone mention TE as a need, but I see it as a rather large one. I’d like to see a pickup of a hybrid type player that’s more like a big receiver that can line up at TE.
I don’t htink you can call 3rd string RBs and 3rd string TEs misses.
That’s exactly what I was going to say. There’s a big difference between coming in to be the expected starter and falling flat than there is to come in as a depth piece that really doesn’t have to be utilized because they didn’t play well enough to demand to be on the field or there wasn’t a need to go that deep at the position group.
I agree and I feel like the Steelers may want to stay away from former Arthur Smith players. I still feel like the other misses had a larger effect on the team as a whole due to the role they were in.
I know there have been some misses, especially at WR, but I like the way Khan has been approaching the draft and FA. If they can pull out another solid draft and find a few goons (I use that positively here) off the street, then this ship might have a good chance at floating. I know they fell apart toward the end of the season, and that may have spoiled a lot of people’s attitude toward the team and Tomlin, but at one point the team was 10-3. I think that speaks to a roster you can build upon. This is going to be a huge offseason for Khan and his legacy as a Steeler GM.