Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 Training Camp Preview: The new-look offense is all the talk in the Steel City

Training camp opens this week in Latrobe for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and this off-season has been unlike any other. They traded last year’s starter Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles and signed two starting quarterbacks from last season in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. They also traded starting wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, and have yet to really replace that hole in the offense. There are several questions that need to be asked about the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers, today we look at the Steelers offense.

Quarterbacks

• Russell Wilson
• Justin Fields
• Kyle Allen
• John Rhys Plumlee

The Steelers have taken their quarterback room from a year ago and totally turned it upside down. Gone are Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph after limited success. In the off-season they signed veteran Russell Wilson to lead an offense that ranked 28th in passing yards. Wilson threw for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns last season for the Broncos, but many feel he is on the backside of his career. If Wilson fails to get the offense moving, the Steelers also traded for Justin Fields who’s play making abilities may be hard to pass up. It will be interesting to see if Pittsburgh will switch from Wilson to Fields from time to time, to keep defenses guessing. Kyle Allen and John Rhys Plumlee will battle for the QB-3 spot. Allen has started 19 games in his NFL career and has thrown 26 touchdown passes in 30 career games. Plumlee was an undrafted free agent out of UCF.

BIggest Questions? 

• Will Russell Wilson improve the Steelers passing game? 
• Will Justin Fields become the starter by season’s end?

Running Backs

• Najee Harris
• Jaylen Warren
• Cordarrelle Patterson
• La’Mical Perine
• Daijuan Edwards
• Jonathan Ward
• Aaron Shampklin

Pittsburgh had a run-heavy offense in 2023, and finished the league 13th in total rushing yards. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren were one of the best 1-2 punches in the league last season, and with the young talent being added to the offensive line, 2024 could be a big season for running the football at Acrisure. Cordarrelle Patterson was brought in for his special teams ability and he could take advantage of the new kickoff rules in place for 2024. Look for La’Mical Perine or undrafted Daijuan Edwards out of Georgia to take a hold of the RB3 spot. Both have the capability to be an option out of the backfield as a pass receiver. Patterson could add versatility with his ability to be lined up out wide or he could be a short yardage runner. 

Biggest Questions?

• How will the young guys mesh on the offensive line and how will it affect the run game?
• Will the Steelers try and be a more balanced offense?

Tight Ends

• Pat Freiermuth
• Darnell Washington
• Connor Heyward
• MyCole Pruitt
• Rodney Williams

Many experts felt that Pat Freiermuth was set to have a breakout season in 2023. But between injuries and poor quarterback play, Freiermuth only hauled in 32 catches on the season, his lowest total in his three-year career. With new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith taking over and veteran Russell Wilson under center, look for Freiermuth to have a bounce back season. Smith loves to get tight ends involved and with not much after George Pickens to count on at wide receiver, Draft Nation thinks Freiermuth can put up career best numbers in 2024. Washington settles into the backup role and has the ability to really help the run game with his blocking prowess, and be a red zone weapon with his 6-foot-7 frame. Connor Heyward has turned himself into a valuable playmaker on offense and finds ways to make plays as the third tight end. MyCole Pruitt could make a push for a roster spot and has been a player that has put up numbers under Arthur Smith in the past. 

Biggest questions?

• Will Pat Freiermuth have a bounce back season and prove that the Steelers didn’t reach in round two to draft him?
• Will Arthur Smith find a way to get Darnell Washington more involved in the offense and take advantage of his height and athleticism?

Wide Receivers

• George Pickens
• Van Jefferson
• Roman Wilson
• Calvin Austin III
• Scotty Miller
• Quez Watkins
• Dez Fitzpatrick
• Marquez Callaway

The Steelers parted ways with Diontae Johnson and traded him to Carolina for cornerback Donte Jackson. The only problem with this trade is the fact that the Steelers now have question marks about who can handle the WR2 spot. George Pickens is without doubt the No.1 receiver, but after him you have Van Jefferson and Roman Wilson fighting for the other starting spot. Roman Wilson was a third-round pick out of Michigan and has the potential to grow into a starting receiver. Van Jefferson is a four-year veteran who should fill the No. 3 receiver void, but lacks the overall production you want to see from a No. 2. Calvin Austin has been a disappointment so far in his career, but how much of that is because of poor quarterback play? Austin has big play potential and in the right situation may be what the Steelers need from the slot position. Scotty Miller, Quez Watkins and Dez Fitzpatrick all have the ability to add some production as well. The receiving corps though will run through George Pickens, who was able to haul in 63 passes for 1,140 yards last season with very questionable quarterback play. Pickens should take a big step forward this season with stronger quarterback play.

Biggest Questions?

• Will the Steelers look to sign or trade for a wide receiver who can step into the starting lineup alongside George Pickens?
• Will George Pickens become a top-10 wide receiver that many feel he can be?

Offensive Line

• Center- Zach Frazier
• Center- Nate Herbig
• Guard- James Daniels
• Guard- Isaac Seumalo
• Guard- Mason McCormick
• Guard- Spencer Anderson
• Tackle- Broderick Jones
• Tackle- Troy Fautanu
• Tackle- Dan Moore
• Tackle- Dylan Cook

Pittsburgh has selected an offensive tackle in the first round two years in a row. And once you add in a center selected in the second round last year, the offensive line has huge potential, but is very raw. Broderick Jones started on the bench and became a solid and reliable tackle by season's end. Although he played right tackle last season, he will be the Steelers starting left tackle for years to come. 2024 first round pick Troy Fautanu should start at right tackle, and should give the Steelers offensive line a very talented set of bookends. Zach Frazier out of West Virginia was selected in round two and appears to be an instant upgrade over last season’s center Mason Cole. All of the Steelers experience on the offensive line comes from their starting guards, James Daniels and Isaac Seumalo. Dan Moore and Nate Herbig will be called on first in case of injury on the line, and Pittsburgh could use a veteran signing to help out the depth. With such a young offensive line you have to expect some bumps in the road, but the upside should be exciting.

Biggest Questions?

How long will it take this young offensive line to gel into a competent unit?

Will the Steelers run game be affected by the two rookies in the starting lineup?