With the initial flood of free agency past us, these six players would still make a lot of sense for the Steelers to sign.
The Steelers have been one of the more active teams in free agency so far. While they haven’t been giving out any mega-deals, they are targeting a lot of mid-range talent to fill a few of their roster holes.
With cap space still left and needs still needing to be filled though, the team has to keep adding to their roster. Here are six free agents the Steelers have to continue to target for the remainder of free agency.
Steelers must target Fackrell
A name that I have really gravitated towards in recent weeks, Kyler Fackrell is the definition of what you want in a third edge rusher. He isn’t elite in any one category of play, but he does well setting the edge against the run and can get after the quarterback in a reserve role.
That is evident by the 23.5 sacks he has compiled over the six years his career has spanned. Add in the fact that he can still play special teams and there isn’t much to dislike about Fackrell.
He only played on a one-year deal last season worth just above the minimum. It seems likely he plays for less than 2 million dollars again this season. For a Steelers team lacking depth at the edge position, getting a cheap veteran in Fackrell would be a huge boost. Both starters could rest more as Fackrell can hold his own on defense. He is a name to keep in mind as free agency continues.
Steelers must target Evans
While everyone has gravitated towards Myles Jack as the must-sign prospect following his release, I feel like he isn’t an ideal fit. While a talented player in his own right, adding him next to Devin Bush gives you two athletic players more adept in coverage than in run defense. The pairing on paper wouldn’t work, and Jack certainly won’t be cheap, so I hesitate to add him to this list.
A name that still does make sense is former Titans’ first-round pick, Rashaan Evans. Evans was a relative disappointment as a first-round pick as he failed to make any significant strides in coverage. As a result, this led to a reduction in playtime. Last season he was nothing more than a two-down linebacker focused on stopping the run.
The Steelers need a player like that though, especially with the struggles the group saw from their off-ball linebackers trying to stop the run. Evans would likely play on a relatively cheap deal and could slide in and serve as that Vince Williams-like enforcer.
As well, the team could still draft and develop one of the talented linebackers that are available in this class. Evans would be a cheap insurance policy for the short term though and makes a lot of sense as a potential free-agent addition.
Steelers must target Collins
The safety market has been surprisingly more robust than it has normally been over the past few off-seasons. Top names are getting paid like stars while mid-tier names are getting healthy salaries to join their respective teams. Assuming Terrell Edmunds does walk, finding a capable replacement is vital even if the team wants to draft someone to replace him long-term.
Landon Collins just makes sense for this team. He was at one point seen as one of the best safeties in the league before settling into mediocrity with the Commanders. While he was never bad, the contract he had was bloated and caused him to be overpaid. Finally released, Collins would still be a decent solution at safety if added in place of Edmunds.
The best aspect about signing Collins is the fact that he was cut this offseason. That means signing him doesn’t impact the compensatory formula, an additional benefit of bringing him in. Assuming he wants a fair deal for his services, Collins would be a smart addition to this safety room. He is still a good strong safety and one the Steelers could use while replacing Edmunds.
Steelers must target Landry
Jarvis Landry is an underrated receiver that any team could use. He runs sharp routes, makes tough catches, and always finds a way to pick up the first down. No, he isn’t going to win deep with his speed. That isn’t his game but working out of the slot he can become a dependable and sure-handed option for any quarterback.
With no news on JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Steelers need to be ready to play someone else out of the slot. Landry can serve in that role and arguably be an upgrade there. While he stopped doing it as much with the Browns, Landry can also be an efficient return man, further adding to his value. He would be a savvy veteran as well in a young receiver room and serve as a leader for other players here.
Like Collins, Landry has released this offseason, meaning that any team that signs him won’t have his value counted for in the compensatory formula. This is all a good thing and a reason why he should be a big target for the Steelers this offseason. Adding him fixes the slot receiver need as well as adds some veteran leadership to this young receiver room.
Steelers must target Mathieu
This is a name I have honestly gone back and forth on. Despite the rumors that the Steelers are trying to sign Tyrann Mathieu, his fit with the team seems like a stretch. As already discussed, the Steelers need a strong safety if Edmunds decides to walk in free agency. The issue is, Mathieu is much more of a free safety, and given his size, he wouldn’t be an ideal fit for strong safety.
That isn’t to say the Steelers couldn’t play him at strong safety, but rather he would break away from their typical mold for the position. Typically, the strong safety is over six feet and weighs over 210 pounds. The bigger bodies naturally hold up better in run defense. Mathieu doesn’t fit any of those criteria though, making his fit with the team questionable, to say the least.
Where Mathieu could realistically play is in the slot, as his size and aggressiveness would be a huge aid there. That said, paying him top dollar as he deserves for only slot snaps is an overpay. Could Mathieu still end up a Steelers signing? Sure, you can’t rule it out. That said, I find it unlikely he ultimately winds up in Pittsburgh.
Steelers must target Jackson
A name I have been banging the drum for since the beginning of the offseason, a logical cornerback addition for this team is former Panther Donte Jackson. Known for his solid coverage skills, insane athleticism, and good ball skills, Jackson would be an upgrade at corner and one that helps usher in the next wave of Steelers secondary post-Joe Haden.
The cornerback market has been far less busy than I thought it would be on top of this. Carlton Davis and J.C. Jackson signed for far less than most expected them to, meaning that a deal for Jackson would be far more affordable. He could realistically only get 12-13 million a season, which is just over what Haden made on his last deal.
While the team did add Levi Wallace on a short and cheap deal, that shouldn’t dissuade them from adding another cornerback. Jackson would be a monumental signing at this point, as two of the Steelers’ biggest positions of need would be in much better shape if he were added. With the team still possessing a healthy amount of cap space, targeting Jackson needs to be the next move for this team.
The Steelers have done a decent job of addressing their needs in free agency so far. That said, with the initial rush of signings out of the way, there are still moves that need to be made. In particular, these six free agents would be logical next targets for the team as they continue to try and retool this roster.