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The Pittsburgh Steelers will enter the upcoming 2021 NFL campaign in a very interesting position. Although the Steelers strung together 11 consecutive wins to begin last year's regular season, Pittsburgh quickly fell into a major rut, failing to reach the divisional playoff round.
After losing four of the team's last five regular season games following that perfect 11-0 start, the Steelers then immediately fell short upon barely sneaking into the postseason as the rival Cleveland Browns put up a whopping 48 points in the AFC Wild Card Round. Even with the Browns sending the Steelers home early and Pittsburgh seemingly needing to head in a very different direction moving forward, the once heralded AFC North franchise ultimately elected to bring back veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger this offseason as aforementioned Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals all majorly improved.
If “Big Ben” plays like he did last season, the 2021-22 season will surely be his last in the “Steel City” as the Steelers definitely won't be able to keep in the AFC North division this time around. Because the upcoming season almost certainly hinges on the play of Roethlisberger as far as Pittsburgh is concerned, the Steelers should pick up the phone and immediately call former Tennessee Titans right tackle Dennis Kelly.
If Roethlisberger, and the Steelers, are going to succeed this season, “Big Ben” is going to need to stay as upright as possible as he has become less and less mobile as the years have gone on. Roethlisberger looked like a statue in the pocket last season as his arm strength has certainly decreased as well. With this being the case and Roethlisberger now another year older heading into 2021-22, adding Kelly to the mix could do wonders for a team looking to compete in the AFC.
The 31-year-old Kelly is not only a proven winner atop the highest level, but the veteran blocker has proven time and time again that he is versatile, adaptable and a capable starter as a NFL offensive tackle.
Last season, Kelly served as the Titans' starting right tackle for the entire 2020-21 campaign, one that saw running back Derrick Henry rush for more than 2,000 yards. Not only that, but the Titans won the AFC South division and punched a ticket to the postseason once again. During his time in Tennessee, though, Kelly had to pay his dues before eventually becoming the team's starter along the right side of the offensive line. Prior to being slotted in as the team's bonafide right tackle, Kelly served in more of a plug and play capacity for head coach Mike Vrabel and can help out wherever and whenever called upon.
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Kelly notably filled in for several injured Titans players all over the offensive line in recent years and has blocked for one of the best running backs of the modern era in Henry. If anyone on the current free agent market knows what it takes to protect a declining quarterback and a rookie rusher, it is no doubt Kelly. The Titans elected to find the team's next long-term solution at right tackle via the 2021 NFL Draft as Kelly wasn't the most youthful option for Tennessee while the longtime offensive lineman could help more than a few teams from around the league — Pittsburgh included.
With Pittsburgh parting ways with a slew of talent, veteran presence and leadership along the offensive front this offseason, adding a player like Kelly could go a long way for the Steelers, a team that seems to be caught in a strange position at the present moment. Although Pittsburgh has a stellar defense and some young players at premier positions, the team's backfield remains by far its biggest question mark.
It is also worth noting that Roethlisberger is not the only one that can use the services of a player like Kelly heading into 2021-22 as the Steelers selected former Alabama Crimson Tide running back Najee Harris in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. In addition to an aging quarterback, the Steelers also have a rookie running back on their hands, which can be hit or miss even with Harris becoming a stellar collegiate player at Alabama.
As it stands today, the Steelers are in line to start Zach Banner at left tackle, a newcomer in Trai Turner at left guard and a rookie in center Kendrick Green in addition to Kevin Dotson at right guard and Chukwuma Okorafor. It isn't incredibly farfetched to say that Kelly would be an instant improvement if added to almost every position along the Steelers' offensive line.
