6 former Steelers that could be brought back in free agency

Steelers could bring back Sanders

The final two names on this list are bigger ones that would take on more starting duties as opposed to reserve roles. The first of the two, and the elder of the two, is Emmanuel Sanders. Sanders was a fine option for the Steelers after being drafted, but he never achieved much more than being the third option for this offense. His subsequent years with the Broncos, Saints, 49ers, and Bills have been far more fruitful.

While Sanders is getting older, he is still a fine slot receiver that can run sharp routes. While his athleticism is waning, he proved last year that he can still win deep if given the chance. With JuJu Smith-Schuster set to be a free agent and likely leave, Sanders could come in and serve as his replacement in the slot.

While some will write him off for his age and comments he made after he left the Steelers (essentially, he was upset that the team didn’t value him), both sides could benefit from working with each other. Sanders would enter a young receiving room that he could help mentor while the team gets a capable veteran option. Sanders will likely want a contract similar to what he got last year (6 million a season), but that is doable for a player of his caliber.