The Pittsburgh Steelers have a tradition of finding talent but there are some former players still looking for new jobs in 2022.
The Steelers have another offseason where they added new players to the franchise and re-signed some other their own talent back. There have been many good players that come and go during this time of year. Those players have had mixed results upon leaving the team and trying to continue their careers elsewhere.
Some players left because it was in their own best interest, while others fell out of favor with the team itself. There are still some former Steelers on the free-agent market that can sign with any of the 32 NFL clubs. Some have been recent players for the black and gold, and some have not been with the franchise for a while.
Honorable mentions
Trai Turner, Guard
Trai Turner was the starting right guard for the Steelers last season, and it wasn’t a great marriage. he once had a promising career with a Pro Bowl on his resume earlier in his career. The team needed to find a quick replacement since David DeCastro surprisingly retired. They went with Turner since he had experience and would come on a cheap deal.
This did not work out for either side. Turner would not return to his Pro Bowl form, and he would help display one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. It just didn’t work out and soon this player could be on his way out of the league soon if he can’t find his game. He is currently a free agent and will likely be signed at some point to battle for a starting spot, but it seems like his best spot will be a depth player.
Steve McLendon, Defensive tackle
Steve McLendon was a solid nose tackle for the Steelers during his time here. He left many years ago and has played for both the New York Jets and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He won a Super Bowl with the Bucs, but he did it more in a depth role. His career seems to be nearing the end, even though he is still playing solid football against the run.
L.J. Fort, Linebacker
L.J. Fort was a journeyman before he got to Pittsburgh. He made a name for himself on special teams before he eventually gained an opportunity to play in a starting role. He found his career in the Steel City, whereas before he played on practice squads and was continuously cut and moved around.
Once he started here, he was a fast linebacker that was reliable. With different drafts and other offseason acquisitions, this player would eventually become more expendable. Fort became a free agent and found himself a nice contract on the market. He would sign a lucrative deal to join the Philadelphia Eagles with the hope of him becoming a starter on that defense.
Things did not work out for him there and only lasted one year into his contract before he needed to find a new opportunity. This linebacker would rejoin the AFC North, but this time he would join the Baltimore Ravens and not the Steelers. He joined the team with a chance to become a starter again.
His time with the Ravens was like his with the black and gold. He would be a starter in some instances and would become more expendable over time. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending injury this past year and that put a hamper on his free agency status.
Emanuel Sanders, Wide receiver
Emanuel Sanders is a player that has been gone from the franchise for a long time. He has been outspoken about his time here not being the best. Wanting more targets in an offense with Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown is not easy but this was a nice core of young receivers when the three played together.
This receiver would eventually get his chance to move on when he joined the Denver Broncos organization. He won a Super Bowl during his handful of seasons there before he moved on. Since his time in Denver, his age has pushed him into a journeyman role. He is a reliable veteran that is looking to win the Super Bowl again.
He played for the Saints, 49ers, and Bills over the past three seasons. All three were considered Super Bowl contenders. He even made it back to the big dance with the 49ers just for them to lose against the Chiefs. He is getting older and his time in the NFL is starting to wind down, but he could still find another one-year deal in his future, perhaps with the Bills.
Sanders is a complimentary piece for an offense that has a chance at winning the big game. He had a nice career once he departed Pittsburgh and that is mostly an uncommon trend. It was a mutual parting of ways that seemed to work out for both sides.
Eric Ebron, Tight end
Eric Ebron was a high draft pick by the Detroit Lions and his career there was decent with his production. The biggest issue with this player both now and then was he was just never an all-around player. He was only a big target that can help when your team gets closer to the end zone.
He would move onto the Indianapolis Colts for a few seasons, and he put up some big numbers while he was there. Drops started to become an issue during his time there and that also lingered on to his next club as well. His athleticism and size are what keep franchises interested in bringing this player in.
He joined the Steelers when the Ben Roethlisberger era was starting to wind down. He was a decent signing at the time with him being a big red-zone target. He has no blocking ability besides standing in front of someone.
He had a solid first year in Pittsburgh before he started getting hampered by injuries. Eventually, the addition of Pat Freiermuth really dampened Ebron’s role in this offense. He didn’t get nearly as many targets on the field and his career with Pittsburgh went downhill. He is still a decent target for an offense that needs someone to help in certain situations.
Steven Nelson, Cornerback
Steven Nelson was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs to become one of their starting outside cornerbacks. He developed into a decent starter for them, even though their defense wasn’t one of the best. He was able to get his market up and enter free agency.
The Steelers gave him an offer that he couldn’t refuse, and he signed with Pittsburgh. His game immediately improved and stayed steady during his time with the defense. Perhaps his teammates aided his game and amazing numbers that he was able to put up.
He didn’t have to be the number one guy with Joe Haden on the opposite side. He also played on one of the better secondarys and had T.J. Watt rushing the passer each snap. His time with Pittsburgh was his best football during his career before he moved on.
This past offseason of 2021, the team would release the player from his contract in a move that many questioned at the time. Nelson would sign with the Eagles in a starting role, but he didn’t have his best year. This corner is getting older, but he would be best used on a well-built defense as a second corner opposite of a star cover-man at his new home.
Jesse James, Tight end
Jesse James is most known for making a catch that the NFL ruled not a catch against the New England Patriots many seasons ago. He was a mid-round draft pick that developed into a borderline starting tight end in the league. He created a nice career for himself during his time wearing the black and gold. He represented his hometown team well, despite being better suited as a second-string option for a club.
He would eventually depart the franchise after his rookie deal concluded. He would become a free agent and command a strong enough market that Pittsburgh had no choice but to let him find a new place to call home. He got a huge payday from the Detroit Lions as they saw him as a true number one option for the team.
This tight end would not be a great signing for the Lions as he couldn’t break past 140 receiving yards in either year of him playing there. His big contract would not play out till the end of it as Detroit would release him just two seasons into his tenure. He would join the Chicago Bears in 2021, but he didn’t do too much there either.
The name of the game for this player is blocking. He is still reliable in that department and can provide a bigger target for teams that need one. He will be best used as the second or third option on the depth chart for an NFL team going forward. He will get another shot elsewhere during this free agency period of 2022.
Terrell Edmunds, Safety
Terrell Edmunds has been a starting safety for the Steelers since he was drafted in the first round about four years ago. He was deemed a major reach at the time, but his athleticism at least gave a glimmer of hope for his career. This safety was able to get better each season that he added onto his career and has developed into one of the better players at his position.
Perhaps Minkah Fitzpatrick was able to give his stats a boost, but that isn’t the worst slight that you could accuse this player of. He has been solid for the past two seasons, especially in 2021. He was able to prove himself and the Steelers should be trying to bring this player back on a fair deal.
Many have tried using him as a scapegoat and say that he was over-drafted. He was over-drafted as many projected him to go at some point in the third round of that class. Many would think of this player differently if he was taken later. Perhaps they would even say he was a steal at that point.
It is unknown currently what Pittsburgh has planned to find a potential replacement for Edmunds if they need to find one. He is a solid player that should get a real opportunity to re-sign with the Steel City. His market could dissuade the franchise from bringing him back, but as time lingers on, he could come back for cheaper.
Joe Haden, Cornerback
Joe Haden is the biggest name on this list and Steelers Nation fell in love with him. He is a hard worker that has gone under the radar in the NFL for years. Many never mention him in the conversation as one of the best corners in the league recently, but he was one of the best during most of his stint in Pittsburgh.
This player was drafted early in the first round by the Cleveland Browns. He had a great career with the Browns and was considered one of the best at what he does during his time there. Haden would spend many seasons losing there before he would be cut from the team late in the pre-season process.
His market was popular at the time, but some worried that he was a washed-up player that carried a big name. The Steelers didn’t believe that at all and signed him to a nice contract, which saw him become the best corner this team had seen since Ike Taylor retired. He was a player that the defense was missing as it continued to become a powerhouse.
His time in Pittsburgh was good for the most part until 2021. He played respectfully well, but you could see his speed starting to go away. Slowing down is just a part of aging and father time is undefeated. Haden did so many great things for this franchise, but he wrote a goodbye message to the fans on social media as both the team and player look for greener pastures. This veteran would be a nice second corner option in free agency on a short-term deal.
The Steelers have had a ton of talent come and go over the years and many of them are still in the league. Some of those players are currently free agents searching for new homes still.