With free agency coming up, the Steelers have to get aggressive and land a top-level free agent to aid in their rebuild.
The Steelers are in a unique position as a team this offseason, as they have more cap space than they typically do. While they won’t be adding every top name in free agency, they should be making more of a splash than what they typically do. If they do go big, these six names make the most sense as free agent targets.
Steelers won’t sign all of these names
To be clear, I am not advocating that the Steelers sign every name that is mentioned on this list. That is unrealistic for the team. That said, with anywhere between 25-35 million in cap space (depending on what roster moves they make), this team could afford one or maybe two of these names in free agency.
Remember as well, the way the Steelers structure their deals typically involves a reduced first-year cap hit. That means even if they signed someone for, say, 15 million a season, that first-year cap hit would be in the realm of probably 5-7 million depending on the actual contract.
The team needs talent this offseason, and with the cap space to do it, landing a top free agent would be big. No matter who is playing quarterback for this team, a bad team around them will doom them to fail. The team has to be aggressive while they still can be. With all of that said, here are six names the Steelers should be willing to break the bank for in free agency.
Steelers must sign Jensen
Ryan Jensen is one of the premier centers in today’s game. He joined the Buccaneers after a good, not great, stint with the Ravens and he has absolutely dominated ever since. As both a run blocker and a pass blocker Jensen is effective. He was one of the best linemen on an arguably elite offensive line.
The Steelers, meanwhile, had one of the worst blocking units in the league last year. Headlined by Kendrick Green, the interior of this unit has a lot of question marks moving forward. That said, adding a player like Jensen can help alleviate the situation. He can be signed and dropped in as the starting center immediately.
To say this would be an upgrade is an understatement. The Steelers need a new face or two along the interior and Jensen would instantly bring some of the nasty back at center. This would allow Green to potentially move back to guard as well. Kevin Dotson and Jensen bullying defensive lines would be a huge help in 2022.
As for compensation, Jensen will likely want to be one of the top paid centers in the league. That would mean he is on a deal averaging between 12-13 million dollars. While he is past 30 years old, he should be able to maintain this level of play for the foreseeable future. He would be a huge addition to a line that was devoid of talent.
Steelers must sign Oluokun
The Steelers witnessed some of the worst off-ball linebacker play in years in 2021 as both Joe Schobert and Devin Bush dropped the ball for this defense. While Bush will be back, he will likely have a new running mate. While it seems like the team may target a linebacker in the draft considering their interest in some of the names, a free agent is also a likely choice.
Foyesade Oluokun has had one of the harder paths to success in the league, but he has been a capable starter for the Falcons since being drafted in the sixth round out of Yale. Undersized and only a marginal athlete, Oluokun quickly made it onto the field and made an impact in coverage. Now four years into his career, Oluokun has become a consistent and talented starter.
While not an elite linebacker in the mold of Fred Warner, Oluokun does everything that you need out of a linebacker. His coverage skills are what got him on the field early, but he has made strides as a run defender. He racked up almost 200 total tackles last season which indicates he is instinctive and willing to make a hit.
In terms of a new deal, Oluokun will probably be looking to top Corey Littleton’s deal and land somewhere around or just below Myles Jack. That would mean in the realm of 12-14 million dollars a season. While that is expensive, getting a consistent threat at linebacker is long overdue. Adding Oluokun gives the team flexibility for the rest of the offseason as they wouldn’t be forced to add a linebacker in the draft if the value doesn’t present itself.
Steelers must sign Scherff
Ever since being drafted in the top five of the 2015 draft, Brandon Scherff has been a consistent force along the interior of the Commanders offensive line. He made the early move from tackle to guard and his rare blend of athleticism and power makes him one of the best players at his position in the league.
He enters free agency after playing off the franchise tag twice and seems destined to be on a new team this year. At only thirty years old, Scherff has plenty of quality play in him left, as interior linemen can play well into their mid-thirties. The Steelers have a huge need at guard and Scherff would be a plug-and-play star there.
Since being drafted, Scherff has been voted to the Pro Bowl five times as well as getting an All-Pro nod in 2020. He is still playing at a high level as both a run and pass blocker. With the Steelers desperate for a good lineman, Scherff would easily become the best player among the group if added and would likely stay that way for the foreseeable future.
There is some inherent risk with adding Scherff. The veteran hasn’t played an entire season since 2016 due to injury. Add in the fact that his contract will likely outpace the rest of the guard market and there is some risk associated with signing him. The risk may be worth it though to land Scherff, as he is a premier player at his position.
Steelers must sign Davis
The first of two cornerbacks on this list, Carlton Davis has been a classic case of the best-case scenario working out in the draft. He was taken due to his size, speed, and potential while at Auburn, and he has improved every season since being drafted. Now he is a premier player at his position and is looking to get paid.
The Steelers have a present need at cornerback with both Ahkello Witherspoon and Joe Haden set to be free agents. While there is a good reason to believe that Witherspoon will be back, the team could still use more talent at cornerback. This team rarely breaks the market when signing anyone, but they have a track record of being more aggressive at cornerback with both the Haden and Steven Nelson deals from years back.
Davis would be a natural fit in this offense as well. He has the size and speed to play in man and can hold his own in zone coverage. While a complete lock-down cornerback, he does a great job of limiting the opposing team’s top receivers. The Steelers struggled in coverage down the stretch, so getting a player with Davis’ skill set would be huge.
Davis will likely want to get paid as a top-three cornerback this offseason. That means he will make at least 19.5 million on his new deal, and there is a good chance his average yearly pay is 20 million dollars. That is a lot of money to give to a non-quarterback, but it would be worth it for the Steelers. Adding Davis would take cornerback off the needs list entirely. He has to be a target worth spending up for.
Steelers must sign Brown
A name that a lot of people should have circled, especially if Zach Banner is released this offseason, is Trent Brown. While he has bounced around the past few seasons and has struggled some with injury, he is the definition of a mauling right tackle. His size and power would help boost this team’s rushing attack.
Brown was a late-round pick for the 49ers in 2015 that blossomed as a starter with the Patriots. He signed a big free-agent contract with the Raiders in 2019 before getting traded back to the Patriots last offseason. He has been great when on the field, as he has consistently graded out as an above-average right tackle.
The issue with him is healthy, as he has only played in 25 games over the past three seasons. 2021 saw him get healthy by the end of the year though, so ideally, he enters the offseason finally healthy. Even if he doesn’t play a full season, having a player of Brown’s caliber would be immense. All of this is especially true when you consider how weak this tackle draft class is.
The biggest question with Brown is what kind of money he wants. Talent-wise, he is easily a top-five right tackle, but healthy definitely lowers that bar. He almost certainly won’t get anything close to the 16.5 million a season he got with the Raiders. 9-11 million over a year or two may work for the Steelers. Healthwise there is a lot of risk here, but compared to what other tackles get, Brown would be a worthwhile investment.
Steelers must sign Jackson
A name that almost every fan has underlined right now, it will be interesting to see what the Patriots do with J.C. Jackson. While seen as one of, if not the, best young corners in the game, the Patriots are notorious for allowing their players to test free agency. Jackson would almost certainly kick start a bidding war if he hits the market, and it should be a bidding war the Steelers enter into.
Jackson was undrafted out of Maryland due to off-the-field concerns, but those issues have seemed to have alleviated themselves. His play, on the other hand, has been consistently great. As a man cornerback, Jackson is consistently graded out as one of the top options in the whole league. The worst quarterback rating that he has ever given up is 66.5 in 2020.
Better yet, Jackson has a knack for taking the ball away. He has an absurd 17 interceptions over his past two seasons and has recorded 25 total in his young career. Not only is he shutting down opposing receivers, but he is also making quarterbacks pay when they test him in coverage. At only 27 years old, there is a real chance Jackson continues playing at this high of a level for another three-five seasons.
The only blemish on Jackson’s record is his tackling, which isn’t great overall. He seems to be more focused on preserving himself for coverage plays which would have to be changed if he were signed. As well, his contract should end up resetting the cornerback market as he will get well over 20 million a season. While that is a lot of money for one player, Jackson would easily be the best free agent to ever sign talent-wise. The Steelers would be adding an elite secondary member if they targeted Jackson. It would be well worth the money.
While the Steelers don’t have as much cap space as some seem to think, they should have more than enough to add a few key free agents. While this team rarely breaks the bank, one or two of these six names could change that. Keep them in mind as the Steelers prepare to enter free agency.