The Steelers might have completely revamped their offense from just a couple of seasons ago, but the defense has just gotten some tweaks.
Joe Haden? Gone, still unsigned in free agency. Stephon Tuitt? Retired. Joe Schobert? Released and still unsigned in free agency.
As for the rest, it returns mainly intact, with some key free agent additions.
Flush with cap space for the first time in decades, the Steelers were more active than they ever have been in free agency. And they didn't spend their money on just one side of the ball. Linebacker Myles Jack, cornerback Levi Wallace, defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi and defensive back Damontae Kazee all were brought in as free agents and should help bolster the defense.
But those tweaks were needed after the defenses slipped to 20th in scoring defense -- the only thing that matters -- after ranking third in 2020. They need to get back to that lofty level in 2022.
Where do the new additions put the Steelers defense within the AFC North for 2022? Let's take a look:
DEFENSIVE LINE
1. Steelers
2. Bengals
3. Ravens
4. Browns
Analysis: We're not considering edge rushers here, just interior defensive linemen. And in Cam Heyward, the Steelers clearly have the best player at the position within the division. And it's really not close. The return of Tyson Alualu after missing most of last season with a fractured ankle along with grabbing Ogunjobi, who spent last season with the Bengals, makes this easily the strongest group in the division. The Steelers will bring Chris Wormley, who had seven sacks last season, off the bench. The Bengals still have B.J. Hill and D.J. Reader, which is a solid, if unspectacular, duo on the inside. Baltimore brought back Calais Campbell and Michael Pierce and have Justin Madubuike, but Campbell and Pierce are at the point in their careers where they can no longer be effective full-time players. They have a lot of mileage. Rookie Travis Jones has potential, but this group isn't quite as good as that of the Bengals. Cleveland's interior defensive line is, well, awful. Jordan Elliott and Taven Bryan don't offer much, while Perrion Winfrey was added in the fourth round of the draft. This is a real problem area for the Browns.
EDGE RUSHERS
1. Steelers
2. Browns
3. Bengals
4. Ravens
Analysis: T.J. Watt, like Heyward, is the best pass rusher in the division. But the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year doesn't have the lead at his position within the division that Heyward does due to the presence of the Browns' Myles Garrett. Alex Highsmith working on the other side of Watt is a nice second option. He had 26 pressures last season, half the total of that of Watt, but just six fewer than Heyward. Garrett, like Watt, carries a lot of weight. Jadeveon Clowney on the other side is more hype than actual performance. In eight NFL seasons, he has 41 career sacks and has never reached double digits. But he's disruptive against the run. The gap between the top two groups and the Bengals isn't as big as it was due to Cincinnati's signing of Trey Hendrickson last season. Hendrickson has back-to-back double-digit sack seasons and his running mate, Sam Hubbard is a solid player. The Ravens are clearly last here with Odafe Oweh and Tyus Bowser not being anywhere near the class of the top three groups.
LINEBACKERS
1. Bengals
2. Browns
3. Steelers
4. Ravens
Analysis: This was a tough group to judge. The Bengals have Logan Wilson, who's coming off a solid season, but next to him is Germaine Pratt, who is just a guy. The Browns have promising second-year player Jeremiah Owuso-Koramoah, but he's undersized and could struggle this year with Cleveland's clearly overmanned defensive line. Anthony Walker next to him is a JAG (just a guy). The Steelers added Jack, and he carries a lot of weight since he'll be the every-down linebacker. They need Devin Bush to bounce back to his pre-injury level of play. If that happens, they could vault to No. 1 on this list. Much like the struggles the Steelers have had with Bush, the Ravens have had similar issues with former first-round pick Patrick Queen. Young linebackers often struggle with so much responsibility on their plate. Josh Bynes next to him is solid, however.
CORNERBACKS
1. Ravens
2. Steelers
3. Browns
4. Bengals
Analysis: Marlon Humphrey is clearly the top cornerback in the division. In fact, he's a top-5 corner in the NFL -- when healthy. He's coming off an injury, so we'll see how he bounces back. Marcus Peters on the other side has always been a boom-or-bust player. Now on the wrong side of 30 and coming off a major injury, we'll see if he's more bust than boom this season. But the Ravens also added Kyle Fuller to play the slot. It's a good group -- though getting a little long in tooth. Putting the Steelers second here will raise some eyebrows, but Cam Sutton, Wallace and Ahkello Witherspoon are all solid, proven NFL corners. Add Kazee in the slot, another proven veteran, and the Steelers don't have a clear weak spot. Remember, we're looking at the whole picture here. Denzel Ward is a very good player for the Browns, and second-year corner Greg Newsome had a decent rookie season and could turn into a good player. But Greedy Williams has never lived up to his hype. And who is going to be the slot? The Browns don't have an obvious answer there. The Bengals start Eli Apple, who is the definition of journeyman at the position, having been on four teams in six seasons. Chidobi Owuzie on the other side is a solid player, as is Mike Hilton in the slot, though Hilton can be a liability in coverage. That's why the Bengals selected three defensive backs in the draft. They know their corners are an issue.
SAFETIES
1. Ravens
2. Steelers
3. Bengals
4. Browns
Analysis: It's a close call between the Ravens and Steelers at the top, but the additions of both Marcus Williams along with rookie first-round pick Kyle Hamilton to go along with Chuck Clark, a solid veteran, gets the Ravens the nod here. The Steelers return Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds, a very solid duo, and added Kazee to the mix, which gives them better depth than they have had in years here. Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell are a solid 1-2 punch here for the Bengals, and Cincinnati added three rookies who all can play safety, including Dax Hill, in the draft. The reason? Bates still hasn't signed his franchise tag tender and has said he won't don't so. This could turn into a Le'Veon Bell situation for Cincinnati. With Grant Delpit, John Johnson and Ronnie Harrison, the Browns aren't bad here. They just don't match up with the rest of the division.
OVERALL
1. Steelers
2. Ravens
3. Bengals
4. Browns
Analysis: Really, the Steelers stand above the others, though Baltimore's secondary should make that unit a top-10 group -- if it can stay healthy. They're typically a well-coached group. I would expect the Steelers, if healthy, to be a top-5 unit. Again, they're well-coached, as well, and are the odds-on favorite to lead the league in sacks once again. The Bengals should be around league average, while the Browns are clearly last.
