How much will Steelers offense improve with Russell Wilson and Arthur Smith? It can’t get worse, can it?

“Let Russ Cook” is a thing of the past, but the Steelers offense will be improved in 2024 after a series of changes, including the addition of Russell Wilson.

The QB room was completely overhauled after Pittsburgh also traded for Justin Fields and sent Kenny Pickett to the Eagles. WR Diontae Johnson was traded to the Panthers, while the Steelers took OG Troy Fautanu, C Zach Frazier and WR Roman Wilson with their first three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Matt Canada era has passed and former Falcons coach Arthur Smith takes over as offensive coordinator. Did you understand all this?

Wilson and Smith haven’t exactly made a lot of positive headlines in recent years, but they’re certainly an upgrade for an offense that ranked 27th in EPA per game last year. Pittsburgh’s 17.9 points per game were the fewest by a 10-win team since the 2005 Bears. Ouch.

Steelers fans will be delighted to know that the new offense will be a mix of the sensational football they know and love, with the big-play ability they desperately needed.

The foundation of Smith’s offenses during his tenure with the Titans (2019-20 offensive coordinator) and Falcons (2021-23) was running the ball with play-action throws downfield. The Falcons and Titans ranked in the top five in run rate and play action with Smith, similar to the numbers from Wilson’s time with the Seahawks.

NFL is alongside Russell Wilson and Arthur Smith

Pittsburgh was still living in the stone age with Canada, posting the lowest action rate (10.4%) of the entire NFL during its three seasons. He also had the ninth-shortest passing average (7.4 yards), a far cry from the rate the Falcons recorded with Smith (8.2 yards), which was the sixth-longest in the NFL.

Wilson may not be as agile as he used to be, but he still has one of the best-looking deep balls in the NFL, which is a huge upgrade over the Steelers’ options from last year. As the chart below shows, Wilson was better than the league average last year in terms of deep ball throw frequency and accuracy. Pickett, not pictured below because he didn’t qualify, had one of the highest error rates on deep passes last year.

That could mean instant chemistry with George Pickens, who will be the focal point of the Steelers’ passing game with Johnson out of the picture. Pickens managed to lead the NFL in yards per reception last year despite an up-and-down season. He’s a great deep threat, catching 12 passes thrown for 20+ air yards and outside the numbers in 2023, a number surpassed only by Tyreek Hill. Wilson could bring out the best in Pickens, as he has led the NFL in completions on those passes over the past five seasons.

Wilson will also have options in the middle of the field in Wilson, who led the FBS last year in percentage of catches from the slot going for first downs (87%).

Pittsburgh still needs improved offensive line play to fuel the run-centric attack and protect Wilson. The Steelers allowed the eighth-highest rate of natural pressure (37%) last season (natural pressure = pressure without blitz) – a bad game that would be even more exposed with Wilson, who holds the ball longer than most and takes many bags. Enter Pittsburgh’s top two draft picks, Fautanu and Frazier, who could immediately step into starting roles alongside James Daniels, Isaac Seumalo and Broderick Jones. I don’t expect Wilson to return to Pro Bowl form (he was outside the top 20 EPA per game last year), but this system and some of its supporting casts should be a better fit for him than they were in Denver.

And while Pittsburgh wasn’t able to pull off a blockbuster trade for the likes of Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel, there’s reason to believe this offense has a higher ceiling than in years past and could perhaps help deliver Pittsburgh’s first playoff victory. since the 2016 season.