The Pittsburgh Steelers had another mediocre year last season, finding a 10-7 record and getting wiped out in the first round of the playoffs like usual. But after many changes the Steelers mean business this year.

First off, they needed an offensive coordinator change. They fired Matt Candad and brought in Arthur Smith. Now yes, he struggled at the Falcons but that’s cause his main coaching spot is offensive coordinator and he was hired as a head coach at Atlanta. But when he was with the Titans a couple of years back he led a top-five offense for a couple of seasons. The Steelers are hoping to get the same effect out of him this year after struggling with their offense last year. I give this signing a B+.

Now onto one of the major ones: the signing of Russel Wilson.  The Steelers needed a veteran guy back there and they got just that. The signing of Russel Wilson should add some new flare to the offense which is much needed. And I definitely think Wilson is better than Pickett. So as Steelers fans, we are hoping Wilson still has some of his old Seahawks swagger left for us. I give this an A signing.

Now a signing that caught everyone off guard was another QB signing: the Steelers picked up QB Justin Fields. Now even though we just signed Wilson, Wilson is very old and probably only has a good year or two left. And with Fields, I feel he was rushed into the starting role in Chicago and was never really able to show his true self. This is why I think sitting behind a veteran for a year for Fields will be very positive and I think he will learn a bunch and eventually become the Steelers guy in the next couple of seasons. I also give this signing an A.

Now this signing solidified the Steelers having a top-five defense in the league. They pick up middle linebacker Patrick Queen from the Ravens. Queen is a very good young linebacker who has been atop of the league for the last few seasons as being constantly good and a threat in all areas. And when you pair him with Highsmith and Watt, that linebacker core will be lethal. I give this an A- signing.

Now this is the last big player the Steelers acquired. This one I wasn’t so happy about; I wasn’t mad but I wasn’t thrilled. The Steelers traded Dionte Johnson, who has been good, but hasn’t ever been a scoring threat for the Steelers. And I think especially with George Pickens playing so well, it was time to make him our guy. So Dionte Johnson was traded to Carolina and the Steelers acquired CB Donte Jackson. Jackson has always been a solid corner and will fit in well with Joey Porter back there but I do think the Steelers could’ve gotten maybe a little bit of a more versatile corner. But still, I would give this trade a B.

Overall, I feel the Steelers bolstered the coaching staff and made their team better while drastically upgrading the offense for this season and years to come. The defense is legitimately a top-five defense now in the league with the signings. The Steelers will and should see massive improvements next year.