5 free agents the Steelers should pursue in the coming weeks

Steelers could explore OLB Jaylon Smith

Jaylon Smith on the Pittsburgh Steelers seems crazy, but it doesn’t seem impossible. Smith was released by the Dallas Cowboys primarily because he isn’t the best in coverage and they needed a change, as well as freeing up some money. What Smith can offer Pittsburgh is not at outside linebacker, but at inside linebacker. Smith could join Devin Bush and Joe Schobert on the inside and provide stronger depth as well as a great on-field production.

Jaylon is always around the football, especially when a running back has it. From 2018-2020 he had over 120 tackles each season with the number of tackles getting higher each year by more than 10, showing he got to the football more. Smith would do great as a rotational piece with the Steelers defense and would be a lot of help with stopping the run along with quick short passes like slants or screens.

Tackling isn’t the only part of Jaylon’s game that the Steelers can benefit from. He provides another sideline-to-sideline linebacker because of his speed, which then begs the question of him as a part-time pass rusher. He doesn’t spend a lot of time in the offensive backfield, but when he does he gets to the QB or ruins a run play. He is undersized to be a pass rusher but his speed might play a role in that area. Whether or not the Steelers would use him in the pass rush area, I still believe this would be a signing that could be worth it, an inexpensive signing, but one with a high ceiling.