3 free agents Steelers must consider before training camp
By Tommy Jaggi
The Pittsburgh Steelers recently stumbled upon some extra cap space. Here are three big-name free agents they must consider signing.
David DeCastro was a terrific football player for the Steelers. There is little doubt that his tenacity and overall presence on the field will be missed. However, releasing the former All-Pro guard may not be all bad. In doing so, Pittsburgh saved a good bit of money.
Because of the drop in salary cap for the 2021 season due to the pandemic, money has been extremely tight for the Steelers this offseason, and they were forced to let some notable veterans sign elsewhere. Now with over $13.1 million in effective cap space to work with, according to Over the Cap, Pittsburgh finally has the firepower to make a play at a quality free agent.
There are three high-profile players who have caught our eye from the beginning, and any one of them could be a reality at this point. If Pittsburgh is really serious about bolstering their roster and competing for a championship, they must consider signing one of these three free agents:
EDGE Justin Houston
This is quite possibly my favorite overall player still in free agency. Though Justin Houston is now 32 years old, you wouldn’t know it after watching him play last year. Over the past two seasons, the former All-Pro edge defender combined for 19.0 sacks, 21 tackles for a loss, and 30 quarterback hits, according to Pro Football Reference.
The Steelers suffered a big loss when Bud Dupree signed with the Titans this offseason. While Alex Highsmith proved capable as a rookie in 2020, Houston could give them a massive boost in their edge rotation. Instead of shuffling in a player like Cassius Marsh, they could get a legitimate pass rush specialist who could tee off on quarterbacks late in the game. Houston would be a terrific signing, and the Steelers finally have the funds to make it happen.