The Pittsburgh Steelers gave their roster an unprecedented makeover in the offseason. The traditionally stoic front office uncharacteristically made headline trades, let homegrown talent walk in free agency, and allowed a particular quarterback to dictate the immediate future of the franchise.
The drastic philosophical change came as a breath of fresh air for much of Steelers Nation, as “this is the way we’ve always done it” had run stale in Pittsburgh. There’s an excitement surrounding the team that we haven’t felt since the Killer B’s, an excitement that a 7th consecutive playoff loss could very suddenly halt.
Those playoff losses have forced urgency into the organization, not just through personnel moves but also defensive philosophy. We expect to see T.J. Watt play both left and right edge, decreased snap counts for veterans like Cameron Heyward due to added defensive line depth, and the uber-talented and versatile Jalen Ramsey moved all around the defense.
This kind of defensive talent and versatility could mark the return of the “Blitzburgh” Steelers, giving the defense the ability to not only confuse a quarterback and offensive line but take advantage of their weaknesses in a big way.
Looking ahead at the first quarter of the regular season schedule, there is a common weakness among the first four opponents that the Steelers are uniquely qualified to take advantage of.
Each of the first four Steelers’ opponents drafted an offensive lineman in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Week 1: New York Jets – Armand Membou
The Jets’ new regime put an immediate emphasis on the trenches by drafting Armand Membou 7th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. He’ll join 2024 first-round pick Olu Fashanu as the bookends of the Jets’ offensive line.
In my pre-draft scouting, I ranked Membou as the 10th overall prospect, but noted he was far from a finished product
“a raw talent, he projects as a plus starter but will take some time to develop.”
During preseason Membou showed that he still has a long way to go..
The NFL and especially its schedule makers don’t care how long it takes a player to develop. Armand Membou’s first assignment? T.J. Watt.
Watt enters the 2025 season hungry. After a “down year” of only 11.5 sacks, and many Steelers fans writing him off as a declining player during his recent contract negotiations, the former Defensive Player of the Year may feel he has something to prove.
His first opportunity comes against a raw, 21-year-old, rookie offensive tackle. I expect T.J. Watt to start the season off with a bang, making it a long day for his former teammate, Jets QB Justin Fields.
Week 2: Seattle Seahawks – Grey Zabel
Grey Zabel was selected 17th overall as the first piece in the rebuild of the Seahawks’ offensive line. Zabel joins QB Sam Darnold and Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak as newcomers in Seattle.
Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas are intact as the Seahawks’ tackles, but the interior offensive line is still very much questionable. Zabel has looked the part in the exhibition portion of his NFL career, but the real football is yet to begin.
Pro Football Focus was very impressed with Zabel’s ability in the preseason, but they don’t think as highly of his interior offensive line mates. Starting right guard Anthony Bradford finished 2024 with an overall grade of 48.3, which was 118th of 136 guards in the NFL. The all-important center position will be held down by Jalen Sundell, a 2024 undrafted free agent who will be making his first start in 2025.
Zabel may have impressed on his own, but the offensive line is a unit that can only be as good as its weakest link. The Steelers improved mightily along the defensive line through the draft with the additions of Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black, the fifth-round pick who has taken Steelers Nation by storm.
The rookies combined with veterans like Keeanu Benton and 2024 First Team All-Pro, Cam Heyward, the Steelers have more than enough interior talent to take advantage of the Seahawks’ underwhelming interior offensive line, and its rookie guard.
Week 3: New England Patriots – Will Campbell
The dynastic Patriots run is well over, proven by them being under the direction of their third Head coach in as many years, with the hiring of Mike Vrabel. The ex-linebacker brings toughness back to the team, along with another familiar face. Josh McDaniels returns as Offensive Coordinator, a post which he won three Super Bowls at with the Patriots.
Along with the Super Bowl victories, he amassed a 7-2 record against the Steelers as the offensive shot caller of the Patriots, but those accomplishments were done with Tom Brady.
In his short NFL career, Drake Maye is often seen on the move, due in part to his excellent athletic ability, as well as his poor offensive line. To address it, the Patriots selected Will Campbell 4th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Many projected Campbell to be a guard in the NFL due to his 32 5/8″ arms, short for a prototype left tackle. Though the Patriots selected him to be the blind side protector for Drake Maye, and in his brief preseason appearances, that’s where he’s played.
Campbell earned an 80.1 pass blocking grade in the preseason, but he only played 15 snaps. In week 3, he’ll have to hold off the Steelers’ overwhelming edge players for 60+ snaps. Veteran OC Josh McDaniels is well-equipped to scheme against the Steelers’ defenses of old, but not this one. Being four deep at cornerback, this defense can play man-to-man coverage across the board and overwhelm a young quarterback and left tackle with its embarrassment of riches in the front seven.
Week 4: Minnesota Vikings – Donovan Jackson
In week 4, the Steelers travel to Dublin, Ireland, to face the Minnesota Vikings and their rebuilt offensive line. Before drafting the Ohio State standout, Donovan Jackson, 24th overall, the Vikings addressed the center and guard positions by signing priority free agents, Ryan Kelly and Will Fries.
The new interior players join tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill to create a very formidable offensive line, on paper.
Fries and Kelly have familiarity after being teammates in Indianapolis, but each will also be playing next to an unfamiliar face at right tackle and left guard. The only two returning starters, the tackles, might as well be on opposite ends of the pond; the communication is crucial along the interior, though.
On paper, the Vikings show four good offensive linemen and a rookie. On the field, they have never played a meaningful snap together.
The Steelers’ deep, pass-rush-heavy front seven has an arsenal of ways to attack the minds of these new linemates, who will be playing just their fourth game together. Loading up the interior with bodies to get a Cam Heyward one-on-one with rookie Donovan Jackson could prove fruitful, time and time again. No better “welcome to the NFL” moment like a veteran First Team All-Pro staring you down.
Final Thought
The already talented Steelers’ defense only became stronger in the offseason. Added pieces like Derrick Harmon, Yahyah Black, Jack Sawyer, Cole Holcomb (back from injury), and Jalen Ramsey can all be used in combination with the Steelers’ already effective pass rush to help confuse and attack the quarterback. The early-season schedule falls perfectly for the Steelers, as long as they take advantage of the young players they will face.
