The Pittsburgh Steelers could stand to improve their edge defender depth. Could Melvin Ingram be a potential free-agent target?
After losing both Bud Dupree and Ola Adeniyi this offseason, many thought the Pittsburgh Steelers would address the edge defender position in the NFL Draft. However, April came and went, and Mike Tomlin’s team only spent a 6th-round draft choice on the position.
While I believe the Steelers got some pretty good value with Quincy Roche late in the draft, edge defender is a position that took a serious hit for Pittsburgh this year. Even with the respectable play of Alex Highsmith, we can’t expect him to be Bud Dupree in his first full season as a starter. What’s most terrifying is the severe lack of depth at the position, as Pittsburgh could be one injury away from deploying Cassius Marsh as a full-time player.
Following the draft, the Steelers missed out on a chance to grab former Pro Bowl edge rusher, Ryan Kerrigan. However, it was reported that they were one of the teams in the running. Despite Mike Tomlin’s statements essentially outlining his “next man up” mentality, I believe the Steelers are still open to adding a major upgrade to the depth of the position. Could Melvin Ingram be an option?
Why Steelers could pursue Melvin Ingram
According to Spotrac.com, Ingram is projected to make $11.4 million in yearly value. However, I would be floored if he was able to haul in anywhere close to that amount. One NFL expert I talked to believed he would sign between the $5-6 million range. This is much more manageable for Pittsburgh.
In addition to potentially grabbing Ingram at a discount, the team could always structure his contract in a way that lowers his first-year cap hit – leaving the team money left over in the event of injuries this season.
In terms of his fit with the team, Ingram makes a lot of sense. While not quite as explosive or overall athletic as Bud Dupree, Ingram has a squatty, powerful frame that can hold up at the point of attack and help shut down the run.
Prior to landing on IR last year, Ingram has averaged over 8.5 sacks per season from 2015-2019. As a result, he was selected to three straight Pro Bowls from 2017-2019. Ingram has experienced with his hand in the dirt and rushing from off the line of scrimmage, so what the Steelers would ask him to do would be something that he’s already familiar with.
Even with his reputation, Ingram wouldn’t necessarily take over Highsmith’s job as the right edge rusher. Rather, the Steelers would have a healthy rotation where Ingram would regularly spell T.J. Watt and Highsmith of snaps. Since starting his career back in 2012, Ingram has a plethora of experience at both the right edge and left edge position, so he would have no problem manning either spot for Pittsburgh in their pass rush rotation.
At the end of the day, Melvin Ingram would give the Steelers much-needed depth on the edge and would greatly improve the defense overall. This is a move that Pittsburgh must consider in the final year of their Super Bowl window.