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Are the new-look Pittsburgh Steelers done spending money?

By Russell S. Baxter

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 31: Myles Jack #44 of the Jacksonville Jaguars looks on during the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 31: Myles Jack #44 of the Jacksonville Jaguars looks on during the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
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It’s amazing what salary cap room will do for a franchise not used to being busy in free agency. The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a solid offseason to date.

One of the league’s most successful franchises entered the 2022 offseason without one of its most successful performers but with something the organization had not seen in quite some time.

The retirement of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger concluded an 18-year career in the Steel City that saw the club reach the Super Bowl three and the Black and Gold hoisted two more Lombardi Trophies.

So general manager Kevin Colbert and head coach Mike Tomlin turned to the future with some salary cap room (via Spotrac) for a change. There were those skeptics who felt the Pittsburgh Steelers would stick to their traditional ways and rely more on the NFL draft than bringing in veterans. But Colbert and company put that to rest in the span of one week.

Certainly not business as usual for the Pittsburgh Steelers

There’s a new man to challenge at the quarterback position acquisition in Mitch Trubisky. The second overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears spent this past season with the Buffalo Bills. There are a pair of interior blockers in Mason Cole (Vikings) and James Daniels (Bears) who are hoping to upgrade an offensive line that has been a sore spot in recent seasons.

Colbert addressed the defensive side of the ball with the additions of cornerback Levi Wallace and rangy linebacker Myles Jack. The former totaled a pair of interceptions for the Bills this past season and tied for the team lead with 10 passes defensed. Jack looks to upgrade a unit – now under the guidance of defensive coordinator Teryl Austin – which ranked dead last in the league against the run in 2021.

The Steelers also upgraded their special teams with the signing of Gunner Olszewski, who earned All-Pro honors in 2020 and should add a big-play element to the return game.

All told, the six additions are solid pickups. But are Colbert and the organization done in terms of adding veteran talent? There are still some names floating around out there and some are tying them to Tomlin’s club and the Steelers still have some money to spend. Yes, it’s indeed been a different kind of offseason in the Steel City.

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