Steelers free agency grade roundup: How did Omar Khan do in 2024?


Patrick Queen #6 of the Baltimore Ravens defends in coverage during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on December 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California.
Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images

Omar Khan gets everything from an A to a C.

With the main portion of free agency in the rearview mirror, NFL analysts across the mediasphere have taken part in the time-honored tradition of grading free agent classes. Of course, the true “winners” and “losers” of free agency will not become apparent until each team’s signees actually step foot on the field, but it’s still worth taking a look at how Steelers GM Omar Khan’s second offseason haul of free agents is perceived across the internet.

The grades below are meant to encompass all the Steelers’ offseason moves up to the point of each article’s publication, even if the individual blurbs may only mention one to two players. The dates of each reference article is included, as not every publication has factored the Steelers’ latest moves into their grades.

Brad Spielberger of PFF (3/14)

We called our shot here on Queen becoming the next Tremaine Edmunds type signing, a fourth-year breakout of sorts — carrying over a strong second half of 2022 — who earned Pro Bowl honors as a former first-rounder. However, Pittsburgh was able to anchor this deal to the other upper mid-tier linebacker deals signed this offseason instead of closer to the true top of the market. Queen is a great fit alongside Elandon Roberts, though coverage will be a bit of a concern over the middle, with two disruptive forces coming downhill. And it’s a great value.

Grade: B+

Dallas Robinson of Pro Football Network (3/15)

Wilson, on a league-minimum salary, is good value, but will he move the needle for the Steelers? The same goes for Queen, who signed for less than expected but has rarely been productive unless playing alongside All-Pro LB Roquan Smith.

Jackson is a good cornerback, but he was a release candidate. Giving up Johnson and a pick swap for a marginal CB upgrade was a mistake.

Grade: C

Garrett Podell of CBS Sports (3/17)

The Steelers are going all-in this offseason. They completely re-built their quarterback room and will spend just $4.5 million in the process. Pittsburgh will go forward with Russell Wilson as its QB1 after trading Pickett. The Steelers got valuable insurance behind Wilson in Fields, who was had for a 2025 sixth-round pick that will turn into a fourth-rounder if Fields plays 51% of the team’s snaps this season,.

Pittsburgh solidified the middle of their defense by signing Queen, a Pro Bowler during his final season in Baltimore. The Steelers’ next move might be at receiver; they’re slated to meet with Mike Williams this week.

Grade: A

Nate Davis of USA Today (3/20)

For the price of $1.2 million (Russell Wilson) and a conditional sixth-rounder next year (Fields), they’ve vastly upgraded their quarterback room, which says goodbye to Mason Rudolph, Mitch Trubisky and former first-rounder Kenny Pickett. TBD how it all shakes out, but the Wilson-Fields combo should give this a team a better opportunity to win in January beyond its nine or 10 regular-season victories.

The big money went to Queen (3 years, $41 million), who will attempt to solve a long-running inside linebacker issue but must prove he can be Batman and not just the Robin he was next to Roquan Smith in Baltimore. Also feels like there’s more to be done at receiver than the pickup of Van Jefferson after trading Diontae Johnson to Carolina for Donte Jackson.

Grade: B+

Dan Pizzuta of The 33rd Team (3/25)

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback room will be turned over to Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Those are two low-cost fliers to improve the quarterback play from the Kenny Pickett era.

One of them could emerge to impress in Arthur Smith’s offense, but it’s also possible neither is a difference-maker.

The biggest financial commitment was to LB Patrick Queen for three years and $13.8 million guaranteed. Queen improved in his final season with the Ravens, but it remains to be seen if he’ll keep that up without Roquan Smith next to him. (…) Pittsburgh still needs help along the offensive line to aid a unit that was about average in pass block win rate last season, especially with Wilson and/or Fields playing behind them.

Wide receiver is a need after Johnson was traded. Signing Van Jefferson is not enough to run out along with George Pickens and Calvin Austin.

The Steelers could also use another cornerback with Levi Wallace unsigned and Darius Rush penciled in to play the slot.

Grade: C

NFL draft profile 2024: Malachi Corley (Wide receiver, Western Kentucky)


Western Kentucky Hilltoppers wide receiver Malachi Corley (11) advances the ball during the college football game between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the Indiana Hoosiers on September 17, 2022, at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana.
Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Could “the YAC king” be headed to the Steelers in 2024?

Approaching the 2024 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, their strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.

Malachi Corley is one of the most intriguing prospects in this year’s draft class, and the Steelers have shown interest. Could Corley be donning the black and gold this season?

The basics on Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley

  • Position: Wide receiver
  • Class: Senior (Western Kentucky)
  • Size: 5’11, 215 pounds
  • Age: 22
  • Projected draft round: Round 3

Offensive stats via Sports Reference


Malachi Corley scouting report

The comparison you’ll be hearing all draft season for Malachi Corley is Deebo Samuel. And although it feels lazy to compare Day 2 draft targets to some of the NFL’s top offensive weapons, in this case it’s fairly accurate.

With a running back build at 5’11, 215 pounds, Corley is a thickly-built receiver and gadget weapon. He received a lot of his touches on screens, with Western Kentucky taking advantage of Corley’s 4.46 speed and bowling ball physique to inflict YAC terror on opposing defenses (No. 11 in all clips).

WKU ran a very screen-heavy offense, meaning that when Corley wasn’t receiving, he was oftentimes blocking. He’s a willing, effective blocker who uses his size to clear a path through the secondary, with great power in his initial punch. In the play below, he’s almost a little too eager to initiate contact with the defender, but it’s a good problem to have.

Corley’s hands were a mixed bag on tape. In some instances, he’d grab the ball in stride, immediately turn his head, and find a lane, showing off his ability to quickly process the defense. Other times, there were concentration drops on easy balls. And at 5’11, Corley has a smaller catch radius and struggles with contested catches. At this point in his career, Corley is much more of a perimeter running back than a polished threat at wide receiver.

However, while Corley struggles with jump balls, he has no problems catching over-the-shoulder passes when they hit him in stride.

As a route runner, Corley is similarly a work in progress. He has a quick first step off the line, but he doesn’t create much separation on his routes. He lacks elite acceleration and doesn’t vary his speed much or cut quickly.

On the play below, he struggles to break away from the defender and can’t haul in the pass.

Against zone, Corley is better, with a good feel for finding open spots in the defense.

Corley is at his most dangerous on short screens. He has fantastic open field vision, contact balance, and power, rarely going down on first contact against defensive backs.

As a result, WKU often used Corley as a gadget player, with the receiver getting occasional reps as a running back and constantly receiving touches at or behind the line of scrimmage. He isn’t the fastest receiver in the class, but at full tilt he can easily blow by linemen and linebackers, while still having the compact build to hold up in that area of the field.

However, separation remains the name of the game for most NFL receivers, which is where Corley remains incredibly raw. He’s unlikely to be an immediate starter, but he has the unique build and athleticism to be an exciting gadget player at the next level who, with the right coaching, could develop into a Deebo Samuel-level weapon.

Strengths

  • Running back build, runs through defensive backs
  • Excellent at following blocks in open field
  • Good speed for size (215 pounds)
  • Great blocker

Weaknesses

  • Not a sudden route runner
  • Inconsistent hands, poor catch radius
  • Incredibly raw, limited route tree
  • Didn’t play much against top-notch competition

What others are saying about Malachi Corley

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com

Corley is a big, physical wideout who has been asked to carry a heavy workload for Western Kentucky using his talent after the catch. Corley’s highlight reel will be full of broken tackles and general carnage left in his wake. He’s an average route-runner with the tools to improve, but a disappointing drop rate and contested-catch rate are concerns relative to the way he plays the game in space. Like Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel when they were prospects, Corley has had a heavy percentage of his targets schemed around him and he will need to prove he can become more than just a quick-game bully or gadget guy. He’s good at what his team asked him to do, which is a great jump-off point for evaluators considering him as a Day 2 selection and future starter.

Chris Pflum of Big Blue View

Corley’s greatest upside will be in offenses that weaponize spacing and alignment to create traffic on the defense, while also scheming opportunities to get the ball to skill position players in space. Modern “West Coast” offenses could make particularly good use of Corley and he has the potential to be a high-volume and high-upside option for them.

Offenses that ask receivers to beat one-on-one matchups or value more conventional receivers will likely look elsewhere. However, Corley has the potential to be a highly productive and versatile weapon as a slot receiver or slot-back (to use an older term) in the right situation.

Rob Gregson of A to Z Sports

Corley is a bowling ball from the perimeter which creates problems for defenses as they aren’t prepared for his level of physicality and dense frame.

When given manufactured touches you can see how Corley is a Swiss Army knife that can align in the slot or out of the backfield and make plays with the ball in his hands.

Teams will be concerned about how long he can play the way he wants before getting injured, along with his rawness as a true WR. But for organizations that need a spark or influx of dynamic talent, Corley fits the bill.

Malachi Corley’s fit with the Steelers

Corley doesn’t seem like the greatest fit for the Steelers at first glance. The team has plenty of slot/gadget types already, with a gaping hole at WR2. However, at this stage in his career, Corley seems much more suited for the former than the latter due to his inability to separate and incomplete skillset.

However, the Steelers have shown a lot of pre-draft interest in Corley. While he might not be a great fit on the outside, at least initially, his blocking prowess and tough-nosed style of play is a philosophical fit for the Arthur Smith offense. If schemed correctly, Corley could be something special at the NFL level. If he’s available at one of the Steelers’ two third-round picks in the upcoming draft, he’d be worth a look.

TL;DR: Corley is a raw wide receiver prospect who’s built like a running back. A tough, hard-to-bring-down runner in the short passing game, he’ll have to greatly improve his route tree to take his game to the next level.

What are your thoughts on Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!

How to watch Washington Wizards vs. Brooklyn Nets: TV channel, NBA live stream info, start time

3rd Quarter Report

The Nets are on the road but looking no worse for wear. They have jumped out to a 92-91 lead against the Wizards.

The Nets came into the contest with some extra motivation after the loss they were dealt the last time these two teams faced off. We’ll see if they’re able to flip the script or if it’ll just be more of the same.

Who’s Playing

Brooklyn Nets @ Washington Wizards

Current Records: Brooklyn 27-45, Washington 14-58

How To WatchWhen: Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 7 p.m. ETWhere: Capital One Arena — Washington, District of ColumbiaTV: Monumental Sports NetworkFollow: CBS Sports AppOnline streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)Ticket Cost: $11.45What to Know

The Wizards will be in front of their home fans on Wednesday, but a look at the spread shows they might need that home-court advantage. They will take on the Brooklyn Nets

Charlotte Hornets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: How to watch NBA online, TV channel, live stream info, start time

3rd Quarter Report

Fortunes may be turning around for the Hornets after losing five in a row. They have jumped out to a 100-96 lead against the Cavaliers. The Hornets’ offense has been firing on all cylinders thus far, outscoring their total from last Monday with time still left to play.

The Hornets came into the match with some extra motivation after the loss they were dealt the last time these two teams faced off. We’ll see if they’re able to flip the script or if it’ll just be more of the same.

Who’s Playing

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Charlotte Hornets

Current Records: Cleveland 44-28, Charlotte 17-54

How To WatchWhen: Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 7 p.m. ETWhere: Spectrum Center — Charlotte, North CarolinaTV: Bally Sports SE CharlotteFollow: CBS Sports AppOnline streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)Ticket Cost: $11.49What to Know

The Cavaliers will be playing the full four

LeBron James holding Anthony Davis, Lakers back from reaching full potential? | First Things First

Nick Wright, Kevin Wildes and Chris Broussard discuss the latest news in the NBA including the Los Angeles Lakers comeback win vs. Milwaukee Bucks. The FTF crew also address the notion that the Lakers are better without LeBron James.

22 HOURS AGO・first things first・6:46

NBA DFS: Top DraftKings, FanDuel daily Fantasy basketball picks for Wednesday, March 27 include Darius Garland

USATSI

There are a couple of revenge games on Wednesday’s NBA schedule following in-season trades earlier this year. James Harden returns to Philadelphia tonight, flanked by Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, and he could look to light up his former team and reward any daily Fantasy basketball managers who utilize him in NBA DFS picks. The Clippers and 76ers played just three days ago in which Harden had a quiet game with 12 points and 14 assists, while Philly’s always appealing NBA DFS stack of Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris saw each player go for 24 points in a Sixers win.

Another reunion contest will be Knicks vs. Raptors, and while the likes of RJ Barrett, OG Anunoby and Immanuel Quickley are all out, Precious Achiuwa will be active. He’s averaging nearly nine more minutes

Steelers NFL Draft Hub: Mock drafts, player profiles & more for 2024


The pick graphic for the Pittsburgh Steelers on display during Round One of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station in Kansas City, MO.
Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The 2024 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, set to take place Thursday, April 25 through Saturday, April 27 in Detroit, Michigan, and the team at Behind The Steel Curtain will be here to guide you on all things Pittsburgh Steelers leading up to the action. Following their 10-7 season and eventual first-round playoff exit in the wild card, the Steelers are slated for the No. 20 overall pick, with plenty of needs to address throughout the offseason.

Here, we’ll be keeping track of our collection of Steelers scouting reports, Steelers mock drafts and 2024 NFL mock drafts throughout the offseason. Be sure to bookmark this page to stay up to date on the latest Steelers draft content!

Steelers mock drafts 2024, by analyst

Mike Nicastro

Jarrett Bailey

NFL Draft player profiles, by position

Quarterback

Offensive line

Wide receiver

Running back

Defensive line

Cornerback

Steelers mock draft roundups

A look at who the NFL’s leading draft analysts are projecting the Black & Gold will be selecting in 2024…

Steelers pre-draft visit tracker: All top 30, local visits ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft


Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Amarius Mims (65) against the TCU Horned Frogs during the CFP national championship game at SoFi Stadium. 
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Keeping track of who the Steelers have interest in ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.

With free agency winding down, the NFL’s main focus in the upcoming weeks will be the 2024 NFL Draft beginning on April 25. Ahead of the big day are top 30 visits, where NFL teams are allowed to bring up to 30 players on individual visits to their facilities for a private meeting. In-house visits with local players do not count towards the total.

With only limited slots for visits, looking at a team’s list of top 30 visits is a great way to keep an eye on the prospects they are most interested in. However, teams can also use the visits to feign interest in players or simply to answer medical questions they have about certain prospects.

Regardless, pre-draft visits remain an essential part of the draft season each year. Follow along with this article to receive updates on every reported Steelers pre-draft visit. The latest entries will be at the top of the article.

Total top 30 visits reported: 10/30

Georgia OT Amarius Mims

Reported by Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga

South Carolina WR Xavier Legette

Travis Glover’s visit was reported the day prior.

Mizzou DL Darius Robinson

Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley

Florida WR Ricky Pearsall

Georgia State OT Travis Glover

Northern Iowa DT Khristian Boyd

Florida State DL Braden Fiske

Reported: West Virgina C Zach Frazier

Originally reported by Bleacher Report and The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler, the Twitter/X post announcing Frazier’s meeting with the Steelers was eventually deleted.

If it happened, the meeting likely didn’t count against the Steelers top-30 total as Frazier is a local player.

Washington RB Dillon Johnson

Steelers NFL Draft 2024: Bailey mock draft 2.0


COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 30 West Virginia at TCU

Jarrett Bailey’s Steelers’ mock draft 2.0

With the first waves of NFL free agency having come and gone, the Steelers still have glaring needs on the offensive side of the ball, which I address in my second Steelers mock draft.

Round 1, Pick 20: OT Amarius Mims, Georgia

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 11 Ole Miss at Georgia
Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The worst kept secret is that if Mims is available at 20, the Steelers are taking him. At the Combine, there were a lot of conversations about how much Pittsburgh likes Mims, as well. This would allow the Steelers to move Broderick Jones to left tackle and start Mims on the right side.

Round 2, Pick 38 (projected trade with Titans): C Zach Frazier, West Virginia

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 01 West Virginia at Pitt
Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Steelers use their extra draft capital acquired from the Kenny Pickett trade to move up and complete their offensive line by taking Frazier. They send the No. 51 and No. 98 picks to the Titans to move up to No. 38 and select their new franchise center to give them a lineup of Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, Frazier, James Daniels, and Amarius Mims.

Round 3, Pick 84: WR Jamari Thrash, Louisville

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 31 Reese’s Senior Bowl
Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Thrash could be the immediate replacement for Diontae Johnson. That’s not to say he’ll immediately be as good, but the potential is there. He is great against man coverage and creating his own space, and his 2.35 yards per route run was higher than the national average. Over his last two seasons at Louisville, he caught 124 balls for 1,971 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Round 4, Pick 119: WR Malik Washington, Virginia

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 18 Duke at Virginia
Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

I think the Steelers double dip at receiver. It doesn’t look like the Tyler Boyd deal is getting done, and the likes of Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins, and Calvin Austin will compete to be the fourth receiver on the depth chart. Washington was one of the best pure slot receivers in college football in 2023. He caught 111 passes for 1,384 yards and nine touchdowns. He had one of the highest yards per route run in the nation at 3.15, and his 35 missed tackles forced led all of college football. He was also second in the nation in receptions from the slot and he led the country in receiving yards from the slot. A wide receiver room of Thrash as the X, George Pickens as the Y, and Washington in the slot with Jefferson, Austin, and Watkins (or Denzel Mims/Marquez Callaway if one of them beat out Watkins for a roster spot) sounds good to me.

Round 6, Pick 178: CB Kamal Hadden, Tennessee

Texas A&M v Tennessee
Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images

Hadden is one of my favorite sleeper cornerbacks in this class. In a normal year that wasn’t so stacked, he would be a day two pick. He allowed just 12 catches for 96 yards all season and picked off three passes. He allowed a passer rating of seven in 2023. SEVEN. He could come in and start before the middle of the season. I’d say Week 1, but we know how the Steelers handled Joey Porter Jr. last season, so don’t expect them to start a sixth-round rookie from day one. Regardless, this would be a home run in the sixth round.

Round 6, Pick 195: DT Marcus Harris, Auburn

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: FEB 03 Reese’s Senior Bowl
Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Harris was tremendous against the run on the defensive interior, but also wreaked havoc as a pass rusher. He had seven sacks and 16 hurries on the quarterback. Pittsburgh’s defensive line depth is shaky at best, even after the signing of Dean Lowry. It’s very possible Harris could come in and outperform DeMarvin Leal and Isaiahh Loudermilk.

Terrible Towel Tales: Analyst critical of Steelers’ moves at quarterback


Los Angeles Chargers v Denver Broncos
Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Steelers news and commentary from Wednesday, March 27th

Welcome to the Terrible Towel Tales, where we’ll highlight some of the latest stories permeating Steelers media for your reading pleasure every Monday through Saturday. In today’s news…

Analyst Gives Steelers a C for Free Agent Haul | Chris Ward, Steelers Now

One analyst is not impressed with the Steelers’ free agency haul, however. Dan Pizzuta of the 33rd Team gave the Steelers a C, as he’s lukewarm on the moves they made and thinks there’s still a lot of areas to be addressed.

“The Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback room will be turned over to Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Those are two low-cost fliers to improve the quarterback play from the Kenny Pickett era. One of them could emerge to impress in Arthur Smith’s offense, but it’s also possible neither is a difference-maker,” Pizzuta wrote.

Steelers’ Mike Tomlin Responds to Brandon Aiyuk | Noah Strackbein, All Steelers

Once the noise got loud enough, Aiyuk sent a tweet to Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, letting him know he’s heard the two look alike. At the NFL Meetings, Tomlin was asked about the recent message and, with a slight laugh, responded.

“I’ve heard a lot of that recently, yes,” Tomlin said with a smirk.

A trade for Aiyuk would only add to an already big offseason for the Steelers. To this point, they’ve traded Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles and Johnson to the Panthers, signed Russell Wilson, and acquired Justin Fields through a trade with the Chicago Bears.

Rooney happy with new market, excited about additions | Dale Lolley, Steelers.com

The NFL announced new markets for several teams this week, with the Steelers’ rights being extended to Germany. They also have marketing rights in Mexico and Ireland, giving them access to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the U.S., through fan engagement, events and commercial opportunities.

“We were happy with the announcement that we were awarded Germany as our third global market opportunity so we can have more activities in Germany and look forward to continuing to build our fans,” Rooney said Tuesday as the meetings concluded.

That announcement also opens the opportunity for the Steelers to perhaps host a game in Germany at some point in the future, along with potential games in Mexico and Ireland, as well.