Mark Madden: Steelers aren't settling but are still a long way from Super Bowl contender

With the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s not just who they’re getting. It’s what they’re doing. They’re no longer settling.

They signed quarterback Russell Wilson, which effectively pulls the plug on Kenny Pickett. (Pickett might not know that yet. You might not, either.)

They signed Patrick Queen, 24, a linebacker in his absolute prime. He made second-team All-Pro last season. He’s not cheap, he’s not vanilla, he’s not marginal, he’s not typical of those the Steelers usually pursue in free agency. Queen is another stud on a defense that needs to be as good as its payroll.

Queen also crossed the rivalry bridge from Baltimore, which makes it sweeter. He’s going to have to tackle new Raven Derrick Henry, which makes it tougher.

The Steelers traded receiver Diontae Johnson to Carolina. That destination guarantees Johnson will regret leaving. (He nearly went to Kansas City. Talk about feast or famine.) Johnson was a pox upon the Steelers: overpaid, quit on plays, bad teammate, middling stats.

The return was cornerback Donte Jackson. It was impossible to look great with Carolina, but perhaps he’ll be better in Pittsburgh. At any rate, the Steelers needed a cornerback. Still do, probably.

Stuff is happening. Here’s hoping it’s good. But at least it’s stuff.

It would have been easy to do what was expected: Stick with Pickett because he’s your guy, sign sloppy seconds in free agency, keep Johnson because he’s a Mike Tomlin favorite. (Or was.) Ride the status quo.

This is different. Here we go. “Renegade” and all that.

GM Omar Khan is getting credit for this change in offseason philosophy, and he’s certainly not an innocent bystander.

But when an organization recalibrates, look at the new guy. Assistant GM Andy Weidl joined the Steelers two years ago after serving in a similar capacity with Philadelphia, where the Eagles were known for bold moves.

It’s not just who the Steelers are getting. It’s who they’re dumping.

Good riddance to cornerback Patrick Peterson, who came to the Steelers as a heralded veteran but couldn’t cut it and talked too much. Even now, after being released, Peterson bleats about Joey Porter Jr. missing him as a mentor, the Steelers need a nickel, he’d gladly take a pay cut and come back, blah, blah, blah.

You got cut. Shut up. Go away. Have some dignity.

The Steelers are moving in the proper direction. But I’m not sure they’re necessarily going to do that much better.

Before their recent moves, I saw them as perhaps winning 10 games. Now I see them as definitely winning 10 games.

Can they win the AFC North? Probably not.

Will they make the playoffs? Probably, but it’s not a lock.

Can they win a playoff game after not doing so for seven years? Maybe. Wilson gives them that chance. If they got the right matchup.

Keep in mind that the NFL’s other teams are also making what they feel are improvements. The Steelers aren’t operating in a vacuum.

But the offseason isn’t over.

Whatever else the Steelers do, especially the draft, must focus on improving the offense.

Yinzer Nation fantasizes about plucking cornerback L’Jarius Sneed from Kansas City. He has a delightful name, is just 27, is an excellent cover corner and is available under the parameters of the nonexclusive franchise tag.

But if Russ is going to cook, he needs better weaponry. (He also needs somebody to snap him the ball. The Steelers don’t have a center.)

The Steelers’ offensive components aren’t that good.

Johnson’s departure creates an obvious hole. George Pickens has the talent of a No. 1 receiver but is a basket case. Tight end Pat Freiermuth is overrated and can’t block. Tight end Darnell Washington can block but can’t catch. Running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are a solid tandem but hardly eye-popping.

The offensive line won’t be what it should be until Broderick Jones moves where he belongs, from right tackle to left tackle.

The Steelers are better now than when free agency started. But they need to get better still. They’re a long way from being Super Bowl contenders.

Oh, and the Steelers got a better punter. It would have been difficult to get a worse punter.