Let me start by saying- I hate the Pittsburgh Steelers. I mean real, true loathing. Growing up in central Pennsylvania, I have spent my life surrounded by Steelers and Eagles fans. Let me tell you, there is only one thing on the face of this planet that will ever make you want to hang out with an Eagles fan. That is if your only other option is a Steelers fan. When I agreed to cover the AFC North for the 2020 NFL Draft, I kind of forgot that meant I’d have to think about the Steelers for more than 2 minutes.

The Steelers had a pretty boring offseason, not surprising since they are right up against the cap. To add to that, they lack a first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft due to the Minkah Fitzpatrick deal last year (worth it). Their biggest addition is a player who has been there more than a decade already. Still, let’s put cole slaw on every sandwich for some disgusting reason, and do the Belly Up Fantasy Sports thing.

Traded/Released by the Organization:

DT Javon Hargrave
C B.J. Finney
LB Tyler Matakevich
TE Nick Vannett
S Sean Davis
CB Artie Burns
FB Roosevelt Nix
LB Mark Barron
LB Anthony Chickillo

Acquired/Signed by the Organization:

TE Eric Ebron
FB Derek Watt
G Stefen Wisniewski
CB Breon Borders
DT Chris Wormley

Draft Needs:

The Steelers have weaknesses across the roster. On the offensive side of the ball, the line is solid but aging. James Conner’s health is a concern, and his production dropped last year quite a bit. That could be a symptom of Ben Roethlisberger missing the entire year but is still concerning. Getting some options behind him should be a priority in the draft. James Washington had a decent year, but depth at wide receiver is needed, too.

The defense has more key pieces than it had for years. T.J. Watt came into his own as a force last season. Devin Bush had a solid rookie campaign. Everything changed with the addition of Fitzpatrick, though. The Steelers looked to be headed to the bottom of the division once Ben went down, but Fitzpatrick jolted the defense in a real, tangible way. I will miss playing Artie Burns twice a year. Edge rusher, linebacker, and cornerback help would all be welcome from the draft.

Fantasy Implications:

Having Roethlisberger back will make a huge difference for all of the offensive stars in Pittsburgh. Whether Washington can develop into enough of a threat to keep JuJu Smith-Schuster open and help him return to form is an issue. The health of Conner is an issue. The lack of men with questionable morals is an issue. Unfortunately, barring a smart pick in the draft, it just doesn’t seem there are enough reprehensible people here to recreate the magic of the Sexual Assault All-Stars of 2017.

Quarterback:

Big Ben returns after missing a season with an elbow injury. Will he return to his old self quickly? Considering he has had a similar physique to the Michelin Man for the last few years, I don’t think it will make much difference. Now Steelers fans just need to hope he stays away from locked bathroom doors and motorcycles this offseason. Even I don’t want to have to watch Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges again.

Running Back:

Hopefully Conner can get healthy, and hopefully the return of Roethlisberger opens up lanes for him again. As much vitriol as I have for this team, no one can deny the feel-goodness of Conner’s story. Truly, I am pulling for the guy. Jaylen Samuels, on the other hand, is a turd sandwich. If the Steelers don’t get depth here and Conner goes down, I don’t want anyone in this backfield.

Wide Receiver:

Smith-Schuster should at least get back to being a WR1 this year with Ben throwing the ball again, barring injury. Washington could have a breakout year now that there is an actual QB again, too. Behind them, there isn’t much. Call me a homer (Clemson fan), but keep an eye on Deon Cain if no one else gets added to the room. Eric Ebron is an interesting addition here. I have this odd feeling like Ebron gets hype every offseason and almost always disappoints, though. I get the same feeling about whoever the Steelers TE is.

Conclusion:

I hate the Steelers. Fitzpatrick and Watt scare me as a Browns fan. The whole offense scares me to some extent as a fantasy owner. I’ll gladly let someone else run with Conner as their RB1 if they’d like. Smith-Schuster is the only guy I feel comfortable taking early. If Ben goes down (or finally catches a charge) this year, I think the Steelers best bet would be to pump Terry Bradshaw full of cocaine and throw him out there for one last ride. Anything is better than the whiniest frat boy on the planet. #MylesIsFree

One last stop in Baltimore as our AFC North pre-draft coverage wraps up with the Old Browns. Stay tuned to Belly Up Fantasy Sports for my 2020 NFL Draft analysis. Follow me on Twitter to find out as soon as it drops. Check in with Craig Talley as he keeps you up to date with the NFC North and some other great articles at Belly Up Sports while you wait!