The Steelers have some alumni currently still sitting in the free agency waters to be signed for the upcoming season.
The Steelers have a vast alumnus that spreads across nearly every franchise in the NFL. They have a rich history with many good players coming and going from the organization. The offseason is over as the early stages of the pre-season have begun to conclude.
Training camp is just around the corner as they begin for all teams in the next couple of weeks. Time is starting to run out for those veteran players that need a new home for the upcoming campaign. They will work with their agents to get that task accomplished with the hope of getting paid as well.
Ruling out the possibility that none of these free agents listed here coming back to the Steelers should not be out of the question either. Injuries happen and that could affect how the club makes decisions with their roster construction down the line. These players need new homes, and some will find them while others might be at the end of their careers.
Antonio Brown wants a new team, but it won’t be with the Steelers
Antonio Brown is someone that many Steelers fans do not want to relate to. He was one of the best receivers to ever play in the NFL, despite some terrible off the field concerns. Those will keep him out of the Hall of Fame and might have shortened his career.
Right now, it seems like this player will not be coming back to the NFL. He is currently a free agent, and a contending team could always give him a call if an injury happens or if they believe he is their missing piece to win a Super Bowl. Many will stay away from Brown, but he is likely to retire a Steeler when it is all said and done.
Eric Ebron will not be returning to the Steelers with other tight ends emerging
Eric Ebron was in Pittsburgh for the last couple of seasons and things went good at first then bad. The relationship between the team and player started off well as the tight end started to play a big role on offense. He was a big target in the red zone and was able to become a safety blanket for Ben Roethlisberger in the passing game.
That 2020 year was something that made this marriage seem profitable for both sides. 2021 seemed like a season where Ebron could take his game to the next level and hopefully create for a nice tandem with newly drafted Pat Freiermuth. A big year would have meant a nice payday when free agency rolled around.
Sadly, for both this team and the player, this hope of a dynamic duo would not happen for the Steelers. Freiermuth would become the main tight end and Zach Gentry emerged as a nice second option on the depth chart. Ebron was left fighting for snaps and struggled to stay healthy and produce on the field.
He is currently still searching for work as he continues to be ready for an opportunity to be thrown his way. He is a big-bodied receiver basically as his blocking skills have never developed at the next level. He is starting to run out of chances in this league, but he should get another here soon.
Emanuel Sanders seems like he will be drifting off into retirement soon
Emanuel Sanders is a player that many might have forgotten about being a Steelers player. It has been a while since he wore the black and gold on game days. He has bounced around the NFL in recent years after having a nice tenure with the Denver Broncos a few seasons ago.
During his time in Pittsburgh, he was expected to become the next reliable receiver in the room. He joined a group that was both young and old which was continuing to add talented players. That group consisted of Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, and Antonio Brown.
They were all young and looking to become the main target for the offense at the time. Ward started to slow down with age and Wallace was the main target as his speed was nearly unstoppable. Brown was still earning his stripes so that gave Sanders a chance at the starting spot.
He would eventually lose more snaps to Brown and want out of the Steelers organization to become the top dog elsewhere. He would get his wish and have a successful career in Denver and then other places that he played for in short stints. He is currently looking for a new opportunity with a contending club. That might not happen and it could mean retirement will be coming soon for him.
Joe Haden is still waiting for the right opportunity before signing with a club
Joe Haden is the most recent impact player for the Steelers to make this list. Some fans still hold onto the slightest hope that he will return to the team one way or another. The reality of that happening is not good now, but that could always change.
He was one of their best free-agent signings during the Kevin Colbert era and was with Pittsburgh for the past five seasons. It will be different to watch the defense take the field and not see him lineup against some of the opponent’s top receivers. He was a leader for this club, and he will be missed if he signs elsewhere.
Father time gets everyone, and each player has a different shelf life. Getting younger at the position was probably the wise move for the Steelers during this past offseason. Bringing Haden back at the current makeup of the roster does not make a ton of sense unless an injury occurs.
This veteran is still looking for work at this point in the offseason/pre-season process. Time is starting to run out for this player that has seemed to lose some speed as he gets older. Speculation seems to have him looking for a spot on a contending team, but many think the Steelers would have him on speed dial if one of their starters went down.
The Steelers have a lot of former players that currently sit in the free agency pool. Each one of them are at different junctures in their respective careers and hopes to find a team for 2022.