The reason the Steelers aren’t addressing needs before draft

With the NFL draft less than two weeks away, many are asking why the Steelers haven’t signed a safety or receiver yet.

Typically, the Steelers try to completely fill out their roster before heading into the draft for obvious reasons. Not having a glaring hole allows the team more freedom to target players they like over players that they need. This has led to a seemingly classic strategy of the team signing a veteran to fill a hole in the short-term and then turning around and drafting that same position highly in order to provide a long-term solution.

As of this writing though, the Steelers have two glaring holes on their roster, as both strong safety and a third receiver don’t have a capable starter right now. While the team could certainly be in talks with signing a free agent at either position before the draft, I wouldn’t be surprised at this point to see the draft play out before the team finalizes a deal with a free agent.

The Steelers draft is full of different routes

The reason for this slower approach to filling holes is simple: the Steelers first round is going to be unique. All of the talk is about a quarterback, and rightfully so given their extreme amount of interest in the position.

That said, there is no guarantee that the team moves up to land a quarterback. Let’s say they sit pat at pick 20 and land a quarterback while also addressing receiver/safety on the second day of the draft. That could completely change what the team needs in terms of a free agent.

There is just as good of a chance that the Steelers move up for a quarterback, which will likely result in one of their day two picks getting moved as well. This would mean a free agent will be needed at one of those two positions a fourth-round pick can’t be counted on to start. That hole can be addressed after the draft.

Also important to monitor is the Kyle Hamilton situation. The Notre Dame safety has received some interest from the Steelers in the form of a Kevin Colbert visit to their pro day as well as Hamilton coming in for a pre-draft visit. If he somehow lands with the team, there will be zero reasons to add a free agent safety to this room.

Steelers have options at both positions

Let’s just say a worst-case scenario occurs and the Steelers miss out on the top receivers and safeties in this class. What happens then? Simply put, the team adds a free agent after the draft. There will still be a slew of options to sign once the draft wraps up, so the team isn’t forced to sign anyone right now.

It isn’t like these names are flying off the shelves either. Jarvis Landry and Tyrann Mathieu are still free agents just like they were a few weeks ago, and odds are they will remain that way until after the draft wraps up. If the team can’t land a starter in the draft, they can get more aggressive with their signings afterward.

Could the Steelers turn around and fill these holes before the draft? Sure, and it wouldn’t be a bad move by any means assuming the deals are for good value. That said, don’t act like the sky is falling if these holes are still there before the draft. They can and will easily be filled after the draft if needed.