Steelers' three biggest needs following free agency

There are still a few big-name players on the open market, but with the bulk of free agency over, teams must turn their attentions to the 2024 NFL Draft to fill out their rosters.

The Steelers have been one of the most active teams this offseason, adding quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, running back and special teams ace Cordarrelle Patterson and linebacker Patrick Queen.

Here are Pittsburgh's three biggest needs following free agency.

Center

The Steelers have not added a center to their roster since releasing 2023 starter Mason Cole earlier this offseason. Many believe the team will use its first-round pick (No. 20 overall) on the position, especially after head coach Mike Tomlin's recent comments.

Per The Athletic's Mark Kaboly, Tomlin said of the position class that "after a couple centers in the draft, it will likely not be plug and play."

Plug-and-play is exactly what Pittsburgh needs with the options left on the open market not being ideal. The two centers Tomlin may well be referring to are Oregon's Jackson Powers-Johnson and West Virginia's Zach Frazier.

Wide receiver

The Steelers are also still in the market for a wide receiver after trading Diontae Johnson to the Panthers. 

They have been linked to free-agent wide receiver Tyler Boyd and named as a potential trade option for 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Both could happen or neither could, but one thing is for sure, Pittsburgh wants to add a playmaker or two.

Luckily, this year's draft is rich with wide receiver talent and there hasn't been a team better at drafting wide receivers outside of the first round than the Steelers. Don't expect anything different this year.

Offensive tackle

This year's draft is also deep at offensive tackle, which is the third-most important position for the Steelers to add. They seem to really like Dan Moore Jr., but he allowed eight sacks in 2023, per Pro Football Focus.

Pittsburgh traded up in the first round of last year's draft to acquire Broderick Jones, but he played his rookie season at right tackle rather than his original primary position of left tackle.

If the team can land a right tackle in the draft, it would allow Jones to shift back to the left side and begin the process of moving on from Moore Jr., who is entering the final year of his rookie deal anyway.