3 biggest regrets for the Steelers from free agency

Extending Chukwuma Okorafor

The offensive line was one of the biggest issues in Pittsburgh last year, yet the team re-signed Chukwuma Okorafor to a three-year contract worth $29.25 million. While Okorafor will only turn 25 in August, and there is still room for some growth, paying nearly $10 million annually to a player who you are hoping will become a worthy starter is a risky proposition. Not attempting to upgrade at one of the positions the team was weakest at last season was a mistake that the Steelers will regret.

Unlike the other players on this list who were fairly cheap, La’el Collins is one free agent that the Steelers could have splurged on. Unlike Orlando Brown and Terron Armstead who were supposed to be the top dogs in average annual value due to their position at left tackle, Collins is a right tackle, so he wouldn’t be a blindside protector, but he’s a very good right tackle.

Collins will be 29 this season, and still has several high-end seasons left in him. Collins played left tackle in college at LSU, so the Steelers could’ve opted to keep him at right tackle, or move him back to left tackle while playing Dan Moore Jr. on the opposite side. He would’ve served as a massive upgrade to the offensive line, and given the Steelers a legitimate tackle to pair with Moore while he continues to grow and progress.

However, he is not the only option the Steelers could have had that would’ve been better than Okorafor. Morgan Moses signed with the Baltimore Ravens for half of what Okorafor made, signing a three-year, $15 million contract. While he is already 31, he is a better player right now than Okorafor is, and is half the price.

Additionally, Joseph Noteboom, who will be 27 years old this season signed for three years and $40 million with the Rams, and while he is a little more expensive than Okorafor, would’ve been an upgrade for the team.

Despite a successful early portion of the offseason, with quality signings such as Mitch Trubisky, Myles Jack, and James Daniels, the Steelers made three moves that they will regret when all is said and done. They will now look to the draft to address their other holes and improve upon some of the positions they already addressed.