Mark Madden: Steelers are underinvested at 3 most important positions

The three most important positions in football are quarterback, cornerback and left tackle.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are woefully underinvested at those positions.

Rookie Dan Moore Jr. did a creditable job at left tackle. But he is a fourth-round pick. Pegging him as the long-term solution at that crucial position is quite a leap of faith. Salary cap-wise, Moore is a bargain next season at $1 million.

Mason Rudolph was a third-round choice. He carries a $4 million cap hit. Rudolph will be an average starting quarterback, no better. (Coach Mike Tomlin says Dwayne Haskins has a chance to compete with Rudolph for that job. Don’t believe it, and don’t believe any of the wild notions ricocheting everywhere about the Steelers getting a prominent veteran QB.)

Cornerbacks Joe Haden and Ahkello Witherspoon are free agents. In terms of any appreciable quality, the lone returnee at that position could be Cameron Sutton, who has a cap figure of $5.2 million.

The Steelers’ biggest assets are a few superstar performers on defense: edge rusher T.J. Watt, defensive end Cameron Heyward and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

That defense allowed 42 points at Kansas City in Sunday’s playoff loss. The Chiefs scored touchdowns on six straight possessions.

You can’t reinvent football’s priorities. That’s not up to the Steelers.

Unfortunately, the perceived possibilities at quarterback will be discussed ad nauseam till Week 1 when Rudolph takes the first offensive snap — and even after that.

Rudolph is a lock to start. That won’t stop the local media from blindly speculating about the imminent arrival of Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr, Russell Wilson, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jameis Winston or whoever else.

But remember, this is the same local media who told you the Steelers could make a game of it at Kansas City, maybe even win.

Kansas City crushed the Steelers, exactly like I told you.

Rudolph will be the Steelers’ starting quarterback in 2022, exactly like I’m telling you.

The Steelers are in a tough spot at quarterback. There’s no point using their first-round choice (20th overall) on a mediocre QB prospect in a draft that’s weak at the position. (Yes, that includes Pitt’s Kenny Pickett.) There are too many other needs to address.

If the Steelers lost their minds and traded for, say, Rodgers, the Steelers would make the playoffs but wouldn’t win the AFC North. They might win a playoff game but wouldn’t win the Super Bowl. They might win more but wouldn’t win enough.

The draft picks surrendered in a trade for Rodgers or another prominent quarterback would cripple the rebuilding process. That QB’s salary would skew the salary cap.

But we’re still going to debate what isn’t a debate. Bitterly and way too much.

The other big offseason discussion will be about receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who returned early (we’re told) from shoulder surgery (there’s a report he nearly lost the arm) to register an incredible five catches for an amazing 26 yards at Kansas City.

Smith-Schuster said afterward that he’d like to sign a four-year contract with the Steelers. Twitter bleats about making this brave young man a “Steeler for life.”

Smith-Schuster played six games and did very little. He missed the rest of the games because of his bum shoulder. He averaged just 7.8 yards per reception.

So for that, Smith-Schuster should be made a “Steeler for life?” Smith-Schuster thinks he merits a four-year contract?

Hubris is one heck of a drug. So is social media.

Safety Terrell Edmunds is also a free agent. He is mediocre and has betrayed his pedigree as a first-round pick.

But Edmunds contributes more than Smith-Schuster. If Edmunds had been a second- or third-round pick, he’d be considered a success. (Edmunds has played 64 games out of a possible 65 in his four seasons. When you don’t get hurt, there’s never a brave comeback story.)

Smith-Schuster is beloved. That is, by far, his primary talent.