6 free agents Steelers must sign to replace Tyson Alualu

Steelers should sign Short

If the Steelers wanted to add a veteran that could get after the quarterback, veteran Kawann Short would be the best fit for the team. The former Panther has seen his past two seasons been ravaged with injury, and he now finds himself as a free agent looking for a home. While he isn’t a traditional fit for the team, his ability to get after the quarterback is unmatched and would make this line rotation that much more potent.

Now, Short would likely be a hybrid nose tackle given his previous roles and most natural fit along this line. He has defensive end flexibility while the size to play the inside, similar to how Alualu was when he made the switch. The main difference is that Short is a far worse run defender than Alualu, which makes him a very untraditional nose tackle option.

With both Davis and Buggs being more stereotypical nose tackle options though, Short could still have a rotational role at nose tackle. Trying to block a line that has Short, Cameron Heyward, and Stephon Tuitt is a daunting task for any offensive line, and it would likely wreak havoc if they all got on the same page. While his run defense would be on the weaker end, Short would make the Steelers pass rush even better if he were to be signed.