Steelers Free Agency: Where to Start?

It seems impossible these days to have a discussion about the Steelers free agency situation without mentioning the inevitable departure of Troy Polamalu. Well we can go in a different direction because thinking of him being forced out or forced into retirement while I understand the reasoning still kind of makes me want to crawl into a fetal position and weep.

So which direction, not Polamalu related, should the Steelers go this year in free agency? NFL free agency is different than the draft because you can target a specific player or position, and then figure out if the money and the player make sense. The draft really all depends on where you’re picking, who is available, and who amongst the available players can make the greatest impact.

Jan 3, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers safety Mike Mitchell (23) during an AFC wild card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens game at Heinz Field. The Ravens defeated the Steelers 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Free agency officially begins on Tuesday but teams can start negotiating tomorrow with free agents. In free agency, you’re also looking for immediate impact. Free agent acquisitions aren’t afforded much of a learning curve to learn your system and start creating results. It’s just the nature of the beast.

There’s still a debate over last year’s free agent acquisition, Mike Mitchell, on how effective he can be on the future based on the fact that he didn’t come in and make immediate positive impacts.

The Steelers were very active last year in free agency, spending $38 million on acquiring free agents from the market as opposed to their usual routine of re-signing their own guys and building through the draft. The Steelers are in the position to “win right now” whilst transitioning their defense under a new coordinator.

With the Steelers’ offense as potent as it is at the moment and the defense going through (never say rebuilding) a transition, why not approach free agency with an offensive mind? The Steelers aren’t expected to be as active as they were last year so with a few additions, the team can add more offensive and special teams weapons and allow Keith Butler to build his defense from the ground up through the draft.

The Steelers offense essentially carried the team last year to an 11-win season and the first division title in three years. Why not keep riding the offense to carry the team some more? You kind of have to strike while the iron (or steel) is hot, so to speak, so why not give Ben Roethlisberger every chance and weapon to realize his and the team’s goals before it’s too late?

I’m not suggesting drastic changes are even necessary and no team has ever won a Super Bowl based on the addition of one free agent but if the team can put more building blocks around Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, their three strengths on offense then Keith Butler can truly build his own Steelers defense from the ground up at the same time.

Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t need wide receiver help, that’s for sure. With Brown, Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton, the Steelers’ offense has about as exciting a wide receiving corps as anybody. But that doesn’t mean you just rest on your laurels and leave it alone. The team could make the free agent acquisition of a Ted Ginn Jr. or Jacoby Jones, who can be a fourth or fifth receiver or a return specialist, whichever the need is greatest.

Obviously, the offense would benefit from not having Antonio Brown returning punts as little to no true No. 1 receivers across the league actually serve returning duties as well so the return services of Ginn or Jones would help the offense if even if they never take an offensive snap. Both Ginn and Jones were released by their respective teams and shouldn’t command large contracts as their receiving skills have certainly taken a back seat to their returning effectiveness of late.

The Steelers could benefit from the addition of a receiving tight end through free agency as well. Charles Clay was transition tagged by the Miami Dolphins, meaning they would be able to match any offer he received, but Jordan Cameron will be an unrestricted free agent and reportedly wants out of Cleveland badly.

Neither is known very much for their blocking but both are known very much to be excellent receiving tight ends with good speed, hands, and separation. Skills the Steelers can definitely benefit from on offense.

If the Steelers acquired receiving tight ends they may be in the market for a fullback. Packers’ fullback John Kuhn will be an unrestricted free agent and is a solid fullback who can block, run, and catch. He’s a versatile player and can bring versatility to the Steelers’ offense by creating space for Bell to run but also holding blocks and opening up options for the above mentioned receiving tight ends. And he can catch, if needed.

With the offensive numbers the Steelers put up last season, can you imagine what numbers Roethlisberger, Brown and Bell can produce if almost every player on the offensive side can protect, compliment, and enhance what they already do?

I’m not suggesting that all these players would be a perfect fit, just merely suggesting the idea of going on the offensive for free agency and freeing up the rounds of the draft for defensive backs and linebackers.

What do you think, Steeler Nation?

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