How free agent signings and roster moves will affect Steelers draft

The Steelers were quite active during the 2022 free agency period. Here’s how their signings and roster move will impact their decisions in the NFL Draft.

My head was spinning from all the moves that happened during free agency this offseason. Some of them were expected. Some, like the mass exodus from the wide receiver’s room after the Browns signed Deshaun Watson, took most of us by surprise.

The purpose of this article is to try to make sense of what loses have already been addressed and which should be taken care of through the Draft or Free Agency. I thought the Steelers were going to be in for a retooling. With all the moves and the retirement of future Hall of Famer, Ben Roethlisberger, it’s clear they’re in a rebuild mode for the first time in years.

There are a number of unresolved roster situations, so far, in 2022. DE, Stephon Tuitt, had a horrible 2021. His younger brother, to whom Stephon was called a ‘second father’, got killed by a hit-and-run driver. Tuitt also struggled with injury.

He has indicated to Pittsburgh’s management he wants to play in 2022 and has been back to the Steelers’ facility. NT, Tyson Alualu who’s coming off an Achilles tear, has also said he wants to play. If Tuitt does return along with Alualu, a lot of the Steelers’ D-Line concerns go away.

Several Steelers free agents are still out in the wind. There’s tight end, Eric Ebron. Remember him? Me, neither. Ebron went from starter to afterthought with the emergence of rookie, Pat Freiermuth. Right guard, Trai Turner, had the highest Pro Football Focus score of all Steelers 2021 starting O-Linemen with a dismal 69.4.

For reasons I can’t understand the Steelers seem to not like interior offensive lineman, B.J. Finney, even though he consistently gives them good minutes. In 87 snaps he had zero penalties, gave up zero sacks and put a up 71.4 PFF score. Strong Safety, Terrell Edmunds, has been a solid starter for the Steelers. Joe Haden was their best cornerback but he said before the end of the season that he was going to test free agency. It seems, for economic reasons, the Steelers are letting him do that.

Some of the above are obviously being ‘let go’. Haden and Edmunds are the biggest potential loses. Some of the signings may offset the loss of Haden. If Edmunds doesn’t re-sign the Steelers will have to add a free agent or look to the Draft for a potential replacement. I really wish they’d just sign him. It would make life a lot easier.