The transition from monitoring offseason transactions to overseeing offseason training — even if on a virtual basis — began Monday for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This period, also known as Phase 1 of the NFL’s conditioning program, provides an opportune time to analyze the moves the Steelers made — or didn’t make — since their season ended Dec. 29 in Baltimore.

Over the past four months, the Steelers have added and lost players, tendered contracts to restricted and unrestricted free agents, added six draft picks, 10 undrafted players and raided the XFL while crafting a 90-man roster.

Some positions were strengthened, others weakened. With that in mind, here is a ranking of 12 position groups on the roster with one overarching thought: Did the Steelers get better, worse or stay the same?

1. Tight end

One of the biggest weaknesses heading into the offseason became a strength with the Eric Ebron signing. If Ebron can show the Pro Bowl form he displayed in 2018 (66 catches, 750 yards, 13 touchdowns), he can provide a red-zone target the Steelers lacked last season.

Paired with Vance McDonald, Ebron represents an upgrade over Nick Vannett, who had just 13 catches in 13 games after being acquired from Seattle. The addition of Ebron also should enable offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner to utilize two tight-end sets, a luxury he didn’t have last season with two young quarterbacks under center for most of the year.

2. Outside linebacker

Using the franchise tag on Bud Dupree enabled the Steelers to keep one of the NFL’s top pass-rushing tandems intact for one more year. T.J. Watt and Dupree combined for 26 sacks last season, and both are hitting the prime of their careers.

Anthony Chickillo was a high-priced backup option the Steelers could afford to jettison, and he played just 13% of the defensive snaps last year. Third-round pick Alex Highsmith and former undrafted free agent Ola Adeniyi can help pick up the slack and perhaps even allow defensive coordinator Keith Butler give more rest to Dupree and Watt, who logged 90% and 86% of all defensive snaps, respectively.

3. Quarterback

The return of Ben Roethlisberger from right elbow surgery automatically makes the position stronger than at the end of last season, when a combination of Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges couldn’t deliver a playoff berth.

The Steelers are putting all of their faith in a healthy Roethlisberger, which is why they didn’t target a veteran in free agency or a developmental passer in the draft. If Roethlisberger’s comeback experiences a hiccup — or worse — this position takes a tumble in the rankings. For now, all the news about Roethlisberger’s return remains positive.

4. Wide receiver

Roethlisberger’s injury and a full season without Antonio Brown combined to limit the production of the Steelers’ young pass catchers.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, battling injuries and facing double teams, had his worst NFL season. James Washington showed growth in his second season. The Steelers will expect more from him and Diontae Johnson, who led the team with 59 catches as a rookie.

By drafting Chase Claypool in the second round, the Steelers provided a downfield threat who could alleviate some of the double coverage Smith-Schuster faced last year.

5. Cornerback

With the exception of offering restricted free agent Mike Hilton a contract, the Steelers maintained the status quo at cornerback, which was a defensive plus last year.

Steve Nelson’s arrival in 2019 solidified one side of the coverage with dependable Joe Haden handling the other. Hilton will be back in the slot, and Cam Sutton is a capable backup. The Steelers also expect 2019 third-round pick Justin Layne to take on a bigger role in his second season.

6. Tackle

Another position that experienced almost no change from 2019. By making moves to address the interior, the Steelers seem to be confident in keeping Matt Feiler at right tackle. The backup plan is for Feiler to swing inside to left guard, with Chuks Okorafor and Zach Banner competing for the right tackle spot.

Left tackle Alejandro Villanueva is entering the final year of his contract, and the Steelers need a Pro Bowl performance from him much like they got in 2017 and ‘18.

7. Defensive line

Cameron Heyward returned from a torn pectoral muscle to become an All-Pro player. The Steelers will see if Stephon Tuitt can make the same jump after a torn pec cost him the final half of the 2019 season.

The answer to losing nose tackle Javon Hargrave in free agency was to trade for Chris Wormley, who is more of a subpackage interior defender, and take a flier on seventh-round pick Carlos Davis. Veteran Tyson Alualu could factor into the mix at all spots on the line, and Isaiah Buggs could factor into the rotation in his second season.

8. Running back

James Conner’s health, as usual, keeps this group from being ranked higher. Conner missed six games last year and led the team with 464 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

Fourth-round pick Anthony McFarland provides the type of speed the Steelers have lacked in recent seasons. The Steelers also could give Conner and Co. some help by using the fullback more frequently. Derek Watt provides an upgrade over Roosevelt Nix in that regard.

9. Interior offensive line

The answer to a 34-year-old left guard’s retirement was signing 31-year-old Stefen Wisniewski to a two-year contract. However, he might end up replacing versatile backup B.J. Finney rather than starter Ramon Foster.

Wisniewski provides a backup option at center in the event he doesn’t unseat fourth-rounder Kevin Dotson and/or Feiler at left guard.

The Steelers also need for center Maurkice Pouncey and right guard David DeCastro to continue playing at a Pro-Bowl level now that they are 30.

10. Safety

A position that includes first-team All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick entering his first full season in Butler’s defensive system gets only a low ranking when factoring in the moves made in the offseason. The Steelers didn’t make many to strengthen the positional depth behind Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds.

Jordan Dangerfield primarily is a special teams player, Marcus Allen has 18 career defensive snaps in two seasons and sixth-round pick Antoine Brooks is a developmental hybrid safety/linebacker.

11. Special teams

According to sports writer Rick Gosselin’s detailed rankings, which take into account 22 kicking-game categories, the Steelers had the NFL’s ninth-ranked special teams in 2019. That was before the Steelers lost core special teams players Chickillo, Tyler Matakevich and Johnny Holton.

Derek Watt essentially will replace Matakevich, and the Steelers drafted Claypool and Highsmith, in part, because of their special teams skills.

At least kicker Chris Boswell won’t have to look over his shoulder this summer. A return to form in 2019 — Boswell made 29 of 31 field-goal tries and all 28 extra points — staved off any competition in training camp.

12. Inside linebacker

Wary of using Vince Williams in pass coverage, the Steelers reduced his snaps from 71% in 2018 to 37% last year. That was with Mark Barron taking his place in the middle. Then, Barron was released in a salary-cap move, and Matakevich signed with Buffalo in free agency.

By ignoring the position in the draft, the only backups to Devin Bush and Williams from last season are Ulysees Gilbert III (zero career defensive snaps) and Rob Spillane (one). Unless the Steelers add to this group, inside linebacker is the weak link of the offseason.

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