The Steelers are not looking to rebuild just yet. Here are five budget free agents Pittsburgh needs to target this offseason.
While the Steelers have never been a team flush with salary cap space, this year will prove to be a tough one. With the total cap space likely floating around $180 million, the team will be forced to make quite a few tough decisions.
This doesn’t mean they can’t target some free agents, it just means that the free agents they will be targeting will be cheaper than what has been seen over the past few offseasons. Here are five cheap free agents the team could try to sign.
WR Dede Westbrook
While a name that certainly won’t inspire many fans, the Steelers could do far worse than having Dede Westbrook as their starting slot receiver in 2021. The soon-to-be-former Jaguar is what he is at this point – an average to slightly below average slot receiver. He doesn’t have a defining trait, and instead relies on not being the top target and producing well enough for a slot option. Would the team want him around long-term? No, but a one-year, veteran minimum contract for Westbrook could intrigue the team.
Though the Steelers already have three receivers that are better than Westbrook, they are lacking true slot threats. Westbrook could come in and fill that role well enough, so the team doesn’t have to invest an early draft pick in it. While the team excels at drafting receivers, they have a lot of holes that will need to be filled this year. Westbrook is a band-aid, but one that the team could utilize in the short-term. Add in his return ability, and he could really help fill out this depth chart.
DT Justin Ellis
The Steelers got a shocking result from Tyson Alualu’s switch to nose tackle this past season, as the veteran put up a great season despite having a mostly average career. As a run stopper, the team had few better than Alualu, and he was often forcing pressure in the passing game as well. While he is aging, he may still have a better market than most expect. Ideally, the team will get him back with a cheap cap hit, but if he lands a better deal elsewhere, Pittsburgh will need a contingency plan.
Look no further than the Ravens Justin Ellis. While he is no spring chicken either anymore, Ellis does one thing exceptionally well throughout his career: he is a powerful run stopper. His 0.5 career sacks showcase his obvious issues with rushing the passer, but he can take up space in the run game. He is a throwback to the old-school nose tackles that did just that.
Luckily, those payers don’t get paid that well anymore, and it would be shocking to see Ellis get more than the minimum. That said, he could add to the defensive line rotation and come in during goal line and obvious running plays. While getting a young option like Carlos Davis more snaps would be the first goal, mixing in Ellis would keep this line fresh. Again, this is based on Alualu going elsewhere; but if he does, the team should have a cheap fix in a player like Ellis.
OT Kelvin Beachum
This signing almost makes too much sense for the Steelers, as their offensive line is going to take a huge hit this offseason no matter who they can resign. Kelvin Beachum would provide depth at both tackle spots and given the above-average play he had as a starter this past year, he could push either of the younger options. As well, the team likes to use their third tackle as a tight end on occasion, meaning Beachum wouldn’t just be an emergency option.
He has obvious ties with the Steelers considering that they drafted him, and it could be a great opportunity for him to return. The team will almost certainly lose Alejandro Villanueva this offseason, and even if Pittsburgh is comfortable with Zach Banner and Chukwuma Okorafor starting, Beachum would be reliable and cheap depth.
The biggest issue will be his cost. While he will certainly be cheap, he may have enough suitors to get more than the minimum in the offseason. Even if the Steelers have to get him on a two-year deal though, his cap hit could be mitigated this first year. While expecting him to be a good starter like he was is a stretch, getting a season or two of solid play as a depth piece could go a long way in rebuilding this offensive line.
CB Jason Verrett
Once upon a time, Jason Verrett was an up-and-coming cornerback. Injuries have made the prospects of him ever being more than a rotational player a stretch though. Now, he is a slot-only option that is mostly forgotten about by fans. That said, the Steelers are set to have both of their slot capable corners be free agents, and if neither return, the team will have to get creative with who they start.
Adding a player like Verrett on the cheap could be another band-aid that the team is forced to use this season. While he is probably worse than either Cameron Sutton or Mike Hilton, he should be far cheaper than either cornerback. Verrett is coming off his best season since 2015, but that was mostly due to him actually playing in the majority of games. His play wasn’t spectacular, but it was serviceable.
If the Steelers signed him, he could be penciled in as the starting slot option going into the year. The team would still need someone behind him given his injury concerns, but if he can stay healthy, he could have a solid season. Pittsburgh’s secondary is pretty good to begin with, so adding a capable, albeit injury-riddled player could keep this unit strong. Verrett’s market will be limited due to his injury history, but that could allow the Steelers to get a capable starter for cheap next season.
RB Marlon Mack
If the team is committed to fixing the running game, they will likely draft a running back relatively early. If, however, they feel confident in Benny Snell and wanted to add a capable player to push him, grabbing a cheap free agent could do the trick. The running back market is pretty deflated, so and option like Marlon Mack could be had at or close to the minimum. If he signed for that, the team may be able to save a draft pick in return.
Mack is a great power back who has struggled to stay healthy for a whole season. As well, he isn’t much of a receiver, but he can block and has some speed for a player his size. He compares favorably to James Conner honestly, as he is a better overall runner but lacks the pass-catching prowess that Conner has. If he was willing to play at or close to the minimum, the team could build a strong stable of backs with little to no draft investment.
While he wouldn’t be a long-term option, the Steelers could invest very little in Mack and get a productive player out of him. Perhaps a two-year deal with a minimal signing bonus could lure him to the team. No, he wouldn’t be expected to start for multiple years, but Mack could string together a productive season with the team in 2021.
While the Steelers will be limited by their cap space in terms of what they can do, there should be a plethora of cheap options that the team could invest in. Will they be huge impact players? Probably not; but they could provide solid value for their cost. The team will have to scrape the bottom barrel for players, but sometimes they could pay off bigger than expected.