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Steelers: Eric Weddle in Black and Gold?

By Josh Fitzer

Oct 4, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers free safety Eric Weddle (32) is introduced before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers free safety Eric Weddle (32) is introduced before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s no secret that the Steelers pass defense needs some help. We expect them to address the issues in the secondary this off-season. Maybe a free-agent or two, and definitely in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Eric Weddle is one of the best safeties in the NFL. He’s set to be an UFA (Unrestricted Free Agent) in 2016. Since being a 2nd round pick (37th overall) by the San Diego Chargers in the 2007 NFL Draft, Eric Weddle has been quite the impact. Weddle has recorded 19 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles, 4 touchdowns, 71 pass deflections, 6.5 sacks and 849 tackles. But with all this success, his relationship with the Chargers has gone south, quickly.

The relationship started to go sour after the Chargers refused to give Weddle a new deal. Weddle signed a five-year, $40 million contract extension in July 2011. It sounded like this alone was making Weddle want to leave San Diego.

Then, crap hit the fan. The Chargers fined Weddle $10,000 for watching his daughter perform at half-time. To make matters worse, the Chargers put Weddle on IR (injured reserve) before their Week 17 game at Denver.

There’s a lot more to this story, but I’ll just get right to the point.

Dec 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers safety Eric Weddle reacts during an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers safety Eric Weddle reacts during an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Now, I’m not sure how much money Weddle is demanding. But if the Steelers could get him for a good price, should they sign him? Weddle is a free-safety, and so is Mike Mitchell. But I’m sure Weddle would be able to switch over to strong-safety. He’s been a consistent playmaker in the NFL. He would un-doubtfully help a Steelers secondary that is in bit of a flux.

Keep in mind, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell have contracts expiring soon, the Steelers will have to think about that when looking Weddle and other free-agents.

Okay, listen. The Steelers are never the team to make big splashes in free-agency, and they never have been. They’ve signed free-agents here and there, but have mostly filled their needs through the draft. It would be uncharacteristic for the Steelers to sign Weddle, but this is the NFL, and anything could happen.

I’m not going to sit here and say that the Steelers are stupid if they don’t sign Weddle. Yes, he’s a playmaker, but rarely does one player make a struggling defense amazing, again.

It’s going to be very interesting how GM Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin approach this off-season, especially free-agency.

Here we go, Steelers! Here we go!

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