Pittsburgh Steelers: Offseason Panic Mode 2021 Edition

The Pittsburgh Steelers just came off a season where they started 11-0. They’d finish 12-4 and lose a high-scoring playoff game to the Cleveland Browns. If they’re not careful, 2021 can be an ultimate panic mode season

Strength of Schedule

Yes, any given team can beat another in today’s NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers had to go out and take care of business just the same as anyone else. However, their believability as a true playoff contender slowly faded as the season went on. While it does get tougher to get wins in the northern part of the country once the cold weather hits but it’s no excuse for overly poor play.

Bad games against Dallas where they barely beat back up Andy Dalton. Another where the Ravens played themselves out of a win more than Pitt played into one. On the highlight reel, they looked like contenders, watching the games week to week they did not.

Ben Roethlisberger Decision

Is Big Ben a $41 million man? Is he worth passing on a deep draft class at quarterback for their future? Mason Rudolph stepped in and had a game that was respectable so can Pitt move on from Roethlisberger and draft a QB to develop if Rudolph isn’t Ben’s successor? At 39 years old, no player is worth 25% of your salary cap when your team doesn’t have money to spend.

More NFL: Ravens Offseason Panic Mode 2021

Success At A Price

Pittsburgh playing better than expected early on will cost them in the long run. Teams had to have seen how well their free agents played this season and will be ready to pay up in the free agency. 2021 will be hard to have continuity when your playmakers will walk and you have to make bargains to fit contract needs. With that being said …

No Cap

No that’s not new slang, the Steelers literally are sitting at a deficit as far as cap space goes. Free agency is tough when you don’t have money to spend, your star plays are in contract years, and you still have holes to fill. As of writing this, there are only five teams in worse shape this offseason in terms of cap space than the Steelers. This offseason will have to be a very creative one.

Pittsburgh benefitted from a lot of good breaks this season and it came back around in their final few games. If they want to continue to have the same success next year, their entire offseason needs to be filled with the right moves. Filling voids, signing bargain players, and adjusted contracts to pony up for their shortcomings is a must. If not, the Pittsburgh Steelers will quickly sink into panic mode.