5 reasons the Steelers will make playoffs without Antonio Brown

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 09: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers watches his team during warm ups before the game against the Oakland Raiders at the Oakland Coliseum on December 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /

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PITTSBURGH, PA – JANUARY 14: Artie Burns #25 and Joe Haden #21 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrate a third down stop during the fourth quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Heinz Field on January 14, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jaguars defeat Pittsburgh 45-42. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

3. The secondary can improve

The Steelers headed into this offseason with improving their defensive backfield as one of the organization’s top priorities. Adding an extra first-round pick to their draft arsenal should make it much easier for Pittsburgh to accomplish that goal.

It would be a major surprise if the Steelers don’t select a quarterback early in the 2019 Draft. In fact, it would be a significant shock to us if Pittsburgh doesn’t go with a corner in the first round. Guys like Greedy Williams, Byron Murphy and Deandre Baker all figure to hear their names called on Day One in April.

Any of those three guys have the talent to make an immediate impact on Tomlin’s secondary. Inevitably they’ll get burned a couple of times as most every rookie does, but they will make this defense much more consistent by the end of the year. That will pay off huge for Pittsburgh by the time the postseason arrives.

Steelers fans might not like the idea of trading Brown for a guy like Byron Murphy, but it’s important to remember they didn’t give their No. 1 wideout away for free. The need they can fill with the first round pick received in the Brown deal will allow Pittsburgh to fill an important roster hole.

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