The Steelers have some cap space to work with as they turn their attention to filling some voids on the roster.
The Steelers will come into the season with many different needs that have to be addressed to field a relevant team in 2022. They have some cap space to spend this offseason and it will make free agency a little more interesting than usual. This franchise doesn’t like building their team through outside players in this process, but they won’t have a choice this time around.
If the team wishes to be competitive this upcoming season, then they will have to be creative. Acquiring players from outside the organization then filling out the rest with some quality draft selections. It is entirely possible that this club could stick to their old ways and do little in free agency and then stick to adding players mostly through the draft. Their cap space could expand further if they’d like.
This club currently has about 30 million to work with as they look at different free agents of interest, but that number could jump up. With different restructures and cutting some players, that number could grow another 15 million or more onto their cap space. It seems likely that the team will get more cap space before they start spending when the signing period starts.
There are many different free agents that Pittsburgh could re-sign before they depart for the open market as well. That could eat into the nice amount of cap space that the team is currently seeing. Some big names like Joe Haden, Terrell Edmunds, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and others could be gone by the time free agency begins. Those are all major locker room guys that have been starting for this team for a while now.
It will be a tough challenge for the Steelers to overcome all of these question marks heading into the offseason, but it isn’t impossible. There are certain positions that this team needs to focus on once free agency begins and they will try their best to accomplish that task. The draft will be another major component going forward but this process is the start of the talent acquisition part of the new league year.
Strong Safety
Safety might not seem to be a major area of focus, but it will need to be. Minkah Fitzpatrick is still one of the top free safeties in the league, but Terrell Edmunds is going to become an unrestricted free agent soon. A replacement will need to be brought in if the team cannot re-sign their starter.
Luckily for the Steelers, there are some interesting options that will hit the open market. It is hard to find decent strong safeties in this league. Edmunds has been steady over the last two seasons and deserves a pay raise. That might not come here so this club will need to get creative to find a new starter at the position.
Jordan Whitehead, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jordan Whitehead is from Pittsburgh and played mostly as a strong safety for Tampa Bay since he was drafted there. He was a solid value in the later rounds of the draft, but he will be in line for a nice payday. It would make sense for the Steelers and Whitehead to have interest in each other once free agency opens up. The need is there and so is the fit for both the franchise and the player, plus he will turn just 25 years old this month.
Jabrill Peppers, New York Giants
Jabrill Peppers is another interesting option for Pittsburgh when the negotiating period begins. He has not been a turnover machine during his days in the NFL, but he knows how to get his nose in the run game and cover consistently. He was once labeled as a first-round bust but he is making a nice professional career for himself. He is coming off a season-ending knee injury so a shorter-term deal might make this a real possibility, even though it would be a gamble.
Middle linebacker
Devin Bush will be back again no matter what the fans think or hope. Joe Schobert in Pittsburgh has not worked out and he could potentially be a cap casualty. Bringing in another linebacker will be an option in free agency as some names have popped up. The linebacker position in the middle of the field needs better players and these options could happen.
Bobby Wagner and Jordan Hicks are both solid players that could get some looks but they will command a big market of teams chasing after them. The black and gold will likely focus on other players that have some upside and could have a smaller market. This position doesn’t get talked about enough when it comes to the need.
Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings
Anthony Barr was once a Pro Bowler in this league before things have slipped some for him. He hasn’t been bad but his progression to super-stardom has been fading away. Barr has been a consistent tackler and has shown some ability to cover as well. His speed has been his best ability but converting him to a 3-4 defense could be a task.
A.J. Johnson, Denver Broncos
A.J. Johnson is deemed to be one of the top linebackers in this class of free agents. He did have some legal issues in the past before he had been acquitted. He is a solid tackler that could have concerns in coverage at times. That might sound like a concern, but Pittsburgh will trust Bush to most coverage and allow Johnson to get after the passer.
Leighton Vander Esch, Dallas Cowboys
Leighton Vander Esch makes this list as the black and gold showed interest in this player when he came out of college. The Boise State product has been up and down in the NFL at times. His coverage abilities are still not the best but his play in the run game and coming in for blitzes have been there. He is still young and someone that would make sense for Pittsburgh.
Cornerback
The secondary could really be in a state of flux once free agency begins with the number of players that will hit the open market. It is possible that the Steelers will lose two starting cornerbacks this year and that will be a major concern as the offseason plays out. Joe Haden and Ahkello Witherspoon will likely leave the team and sign elsewhere. It is going to be a new-looking positional group when 2022 rolls around.
This crop of free agents at the position has some depth but focusing on the draft might be another good option. There are some good prospects coming out of college but with the amount the black and gold might lose in free agency they might have to double-dip. Signing a free agent and drafting a corner might be the route this club needs to take.
Carlton Davis, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carlton Davis was one of the best members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense when he was on the field. The biggest concern for this player is his struggle to stay on the grass due to injury issues. He continues to get hurt throughout his career but when he plays, he is a tough press corner. He would likely be best as a borderline number one corner, but his best play would be the second option in a good cornerback room.
Darious Williams, LA Rams
Darious Williams was one of the unknowns about the Rams defense this past year as many thought he could be a weak link but he was the opposite. He played well and will get a handsome payday when he can start negotiating. He is a smaller corner with a twitch that makes him sticky in coverage. His pathway to this point in his career reminds many of Mike Hilton but he mostly plays on the outside, which the Steelers are searching for.
Offensive tackle
Offensive tackle has one spot open for the Steelers. Zach Banner seems to be returning but he is a question mark since injuries have hampered him from taking the right spot. This is an important position that could see an upgrade after Chuks Okorafor departs the team. There are some interesting names that Pittsburgh could show interest in.
This rebuilding offensive line could also focus on a left tackle option if that becomes a reality. Dan Moore Jr. seems to have shown enough to have the left tackle spot won but an upgrade could always be looked at as well. In that case, Moore would shift over to the right side and then the club would have both starting tackles fixed.
Trent Brown, New England Patriots
Trent Brown has had an up and down career in the NFL and that could potentially hurt his market some. He was a big free agent before and signed a massive deal with the Raiders. He would only be traded back to the New England Patriots where he gathered his career back. He has an injury history and that is a concern but his ability when healthy is really good. He could be a quick fix at right tackle as long as he stays healthy.
Eric Fisher, Indianapolis Colts
Eric Fisher was deemed a first-round bust before he was able to figure some things out in the NFL. He is not the best tackle in the league, but he could be a serviceable starter for a team like the Steelers. He can play either side, but this deal would probably have Moore stay on the left and have Fisher slide over to the right. He played well for the Colts, but he doesn’t seem to be a Pro Bowler anytime soon either.
Offensive guard
Guard kind of depends on what the team wishes to do with Kendrick Green. If they’re content with having him at center, then a starting guard spot needs to be filled. There are some interesting names to monitor as the free agency period gets closer. The interior of this offensive line is going to need to be fixed first before the tackles get meshed out as well.
Brandon Scherff, Washington Commanders
Brandon Scherff has been one of the most looked-over players since he joined the league. Perhaps that’s because he was in Washington, but this guard has been one of the most consistent in the NFL. The market for this player might be in high demand so the Steelers could miss out, but he would help fix this front right away.
Austin Corbett, LA Rams
Austin Corbett is another free agent that is coming off winning a Super Bowl with the Rams. His team has very limited cap space and that will lead to many players departing the team. Corbett has been a swing player across the interior of the offensive line there since he joined the team. He finally settled as a starting guard and has been a steady contributor ever since.
Laken Tomlinson, San Francisco 49ers
Laken Tomlinson found a nice home with the San Francisco 49ers as his career was brought back to life. He was drafted high by the Detroit Lions years ago, but it didn’t work out for him nor his employer during that marriage. Tomlinson is a solid starter but wouldn’t make as many impacts as a signing of Scherff or Corbett would bring with him. This is a starting guard that would be a nice fallback option if the team can’t sign the other two names.
Center
Center will be another area of focus for this club. Kendrick Green has not done well enough to go into next season as the sure-fire starter at the position. Bringing in competition will be an area of focus this offseason. There will be other positions across the offensive line that will need to be addressed. This is still a rebuilding group, but they need to figure out these trenches to get better.
Ryan Jensen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ryan Jensen has already been connected to the black and yellow before the official signing period begins. He is a Super Bowl champion that has been a leader in Tampa Bay for years. He is expected to get a new deal on a three-year contract that will pay him between ten and 13 annually. That’s a lot of money for a 31-year-old but it might be worth it.
This center would bring leadership and stability with him and that is what this offensive front needs right now. This would be a great addition to the locker room, and he fits what Mike Tomlin is looking for in their lineman. They want nasty and physical players; Jensen fits that bill.
Ben Jones, Tennessee Titans
Ben Jones has been the center for the Tennessee Titans for about a decade. He has never been in discussion for the top center in the league, but he has been one of the most consistent. Not many have noticed him throughout his career, and they are making the same mistake heading into free agency. The Steelers need to be interested in this player if they miss out on others. He is a veteran guy that could be an interesting option if his market isn’t crazy.
Brian Allen, LA Rams
Brian Allen is coming off a Super Bowl championship and will likely get a nice market when he looks for a new deal. He was a solid centerpiece for that offensive front that kept Mathew Stafford upright in 2021. He doesn’t turn 27 until October so he would fit what the team normally does, sign free agents 30 or younger. This would be another solid option for the position as the center market seems stronger than others.
Quarterback
Quarterback is going to be the biggest focal point for the Steelers during this offseason. They have done their homework on the draft options, but they might not be able to select one. Free agency has some bridge-type options that could keep this team competitive until they find a franchise option going forward. Signing a veteran and drafting at the position could also be an option as well.
Teddy Bridgewater, Denver Broncos
Teddy Bridgewater just seems like a good option for Pittsburgh heading into a bridge year if they can’t address the position in the draft. He has shown reliability during his starts in the NFL since coming out of Louisville. He has become less mobile since his major knee injury, but he still shows some ability to move.
He is probably one of the better players at his position in this free agency class. He is a conservative starter and won’t wow anyone, but he can help lead this club to victory. Bridgewater is a better option than Mason Rudolph and could be somewhat cheap depending on his market. This one might be the best option for this team for now and into the future.
Mitchell Trubisky, Buffalo Bills
It sounds like Mitchell Trubisky will be in high demand once the signing period begins. He is still young and carries a first-round pedigree even though his starting days in Chicago were not brought with rounds of applause. He is not the best player but would bring some competition to Rudolph. The name of the game for this free agent is untapped potential.
Whichever team signs him will think that they can get more out of him and see him as a prospect still. He does carry a solid starting record with him during his days as a Bear. That will also attract teams with a good defense that can try and carry him. This could be an option for the black and gold but not the most likely to happen.
Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints
Jameis Winston had rumors to come to the Steel City just a few years ago and that rumor mill could come up again. He was playing steadily for the New Orleans Saints before he had a season-ending injury. This player is still young and has the best chance to be the longest-lasting signal-caller in this class. That injury will make many teams concerned when he can come back healthy.
He has it nice in New Orleans, but that team has a terrible cap situation to figure out. It would be a little bit of a gamble signing Winston, especially after his injury. He will also be paid the most with terms on his next contract. This would be a starter that you are signing, not necessarily a bridge deal that many would expect the Steelers to do in a free agency landscape.
The Steelers have a lot of work to accomplish in free agency and they have some money to work with. There are too many holes to fill so they will need to get creative.