The Pittsburgh Steelers have a quarterback situation to sort out as they approach the 2024 season. Former first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett will be going into his third year and hasn't lived up to expectations so far. Art Rooney II made sure to publicly state that the franchise is committed to getting back to competing for championships, and that starts under center.
The Steelers have been included in conversations regarding plenty of quarterbacks ahead of free agency. The goal is for Pittsburgh to bring someone in that will provide legitimate competition for Pickett, giving him a chance to prove that his track record isn't a reflection of who is actually is as a player. However, there is a very possible reality where the Steelers end up acquiring a quarterback who is simply head and shoulders above Pickett from the start.
Former Detroit Lions quarterback, Dan Orlovsky sees the Steelers choosing a veteran starter over someone who will be asked to push Pickett. While Justin Fields has been on Pittsburgh's radar, having someone like Kirk Cousins on the roster would end up giving the offense a more immediate boost, rather than just hoping. Orlovsky was on The Stephen A. Smith Show on Friday, where he explained why Cousins should be the quarterback for the 2024 Steelers.
"Number one would be Kirk Cousins... I know the Achilles injury, you know, is part of it, Stephen A. What would you rather have, a known -- you know Kirk Cousins is a good player, we know that! Okay, we know he's a good player, he's had moments of really good football, he's had moments of just okay, but more often you can, like, go to the bank; he's going to be good!"
Cousins suffered a torn Achilles eight weeks into the 2023 season, cutting short a promising season that saw the quarterback bring the Minnesota Vikings from 1-4 to 4-4 before the injury struck. As severe as that type of injury is, Orlovsky wasn't concerned about the lingering effects that it would have on Cousins. In fact, it would be Cousins' ability to remain in control throughout his rehabilitation that would translate directly onto the football field.
"Here's the thing, Stephen A, you don't get good at that position right now in the league when you are strictly a pocket passer if you don't obsess about the small things and the details. That's why the injury doesn't concern me, because I have full belief that Kirk is going to come back completely healthy and the version that he was before the injury, because he's obsessed with the small details and the little things that matter, because that's how he plays the game! ... By far, it would be Kirk Cousins for me!"
Before the injury, Cousins was lighting up defenses to the tune of 18 touchdown passes against only five interceptions. It is truly a testament to Cousins that a 35-year-old quarterback coming off a major injury is still seen as one of the top acquisitions ahead of the 2024 season. If the Steelers have the same kind of confidence in Cousins that Orlovsky voiced, it could mean a very sudden end to the Pickett experiment.
Steelers Have A Great Supporting Cast
While a great deal of the attention and focus has been on the quarterback conundrum in Pittsburgh, whoever ends up under center in 2024 and beyond will be doing so with an excellent group surrounding them. The Steelers have invested heavily in the defense, and bulked up during the 2022 and 2023 seasons with a desire to return to a bruising rushing attack.
Whether it is Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren in the backfield, or the combination of Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, and James Daniels on the offensive line, Pittsburgh wants to run the ball well. Harris and Warren will be running behind a large, strong, hungry line that knows what is expected of them. Coming into a situation like that would be a welcomed sight for whoever Pittsburgh brings in.
Along with the running game, Pittsburgh has an expensive, talented defense that is eager to show what they are capable of doing. TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Joey Porter Jr., Cameron Heyward, and plenty of others want to create a confident scenario for their quarterback to function within. If a passer knows that his defense will shut down opposing offenses and get him the ball back consistently, it makes his job that much easier. Cousins, Pickett, or another name yet to be known will all be playing in an environment ripe for success; all that's left is for the quarterback to take them there.
Would the Steelers be more successful with Kirk Cousins or Justin Fields in 2024?
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