As the Steelers season draws to a close, here are six pending free agents that would be great fits for the team to target.
The Steelers 2022 season was a mixed bag. A horrible start ended with an average stretch that saw this team inch closer to a respectable record. That said, this offense is a mess right now and the defense severely underperformed. The team needs to be aggressive this offseason in filling holes, as they have their quarterback on a rookie deal and can afford some bigger moves.
The team also has a healthy amount of cap space as of now, and even more, can be made with a few simple cuts. The era of adding band-aids should be over, as they should be targeting some big names to fill holes. No, every name on this list isn’t an elite player, but they all would serve a clear purpose with the team in 2023. Here are six of the most intriguing free agents for the Steelers in 2023.
Steelers need a veteran receiver
The Steelers receiver room has gone from a relative strength to a shallow group this season. While George Pickens looks like a superstar and Diontae Johnson will be around next year given his contract structure, the team is lacking elsewhere on the depth chart. Most notably, this team doesn’t have a slot receiver right now.
While the team will certainly look to draft a receiver relatively early, I love the idea of adding a veteran slot receiver. Randall Cobb would make a lot of sense, as the veteran has played a lot of football, is a great professional, and can still be a viable target out of the slot.
While Cobb certainly wouldn’t be around long given his age, he can serve as a mentor for the other receivers while also holding down the slot role until a rookie is ready to take over. No, this isn’t a mega-deal, but landing a capable slot receiver who can mentor the youth in the room makes a lot of sense.
Steelers may look elsewhere at slot corner
On the defensive side of the ball, there are also concerns about who will be covering the slot there next season. Cameron Sutton has manned that role with a lot of success this season, but he is a pending free agent after 2022. While the Steelers would be fools not to offer him a deal, he will likely test free agency and see what other teams can offer him.
Assuming he departs, a name that sticks out as a great addition would be Byron Murphy. The Cardinal cornerback has developed into one of the better slot players in the league since being drafted early in the second round. He can’t play along the outside, but he has grown into being an above-average slot player.
He is still extremely young at just 25 years old and the Steelers had a lot of pre-draft interest in him. Connecting those dots, the team may be quick to sign him if they can’t retain Sutton in the offseason. The draft can be focused on finding a better outside option while Murphy holds down the slot job.
Steelers could target a left guard
The Steelers offense line, while a pleasant surprise given their struggles in the preseason are still very much a work in progress. They have two capable starters at center and right guard, but the rest of the roster is expendable. Assuming they keep their right tackle in-house, the left side of the line will need to be revamped.
Ideally, the team targets a left tackle and guard in both free agency and in the draft. Assuming they want to find their left tackle on draft day, Dalton Risner makes a lot of sense for the team. Another pedigree player whom the Steelers showed some interest in, Risner moved to the interior once entering the NFL. He has developed into a good guard but has struggled in the Broncos scheme.
He isn’t a flashy name, nor does he carry the weight of another lineman on this list, but Risner would be a budget-friendly starter who could plug and play at left guard next season. Tackle would then be the focus in the draft as the interior of the line would be set. Risner makes a lot of sense for a Steelers team needing some more talent along the left side of their line.
Steelers may look at another linebacker
The Steelers linebacker position has been in flux since the unfortunate injury to Ryan Shazier. The team has tried a myriad of players to fix the position, both drafted players and free agents, but it has been to little avail. This year’s duo of Myles Jack and Devin Bush have continued the trend of mediocrity at the position, and neither are locks to be around next year.
Assuming the team targets another free agent at the position, David Long from the Titans makes a lot of sense. He is built in the new age style (smaller but faster with coverage skills), and he has seen his role and overall play get better every season. He is an adept coverage defender and fills his gaps well against the run.
Better yet, Long should be a somewhat budget option in 2023. While there will be other names on the market that will see huge contracts, Long should be in that second wave. He is a solid name that can start for the Steelers easily. He needs a running mate but adding Long makes a lot of sense for a team that is still lacking linebacker talent.
Steelers could break the bank for a defensive lineman
The Steelers defensive line has been a mess in recent years. While Cameron Heyward has been his usual self, the rest of the depth chart has gotten worse. This season was a breaking point, as the entire group has struggled, and it has negatively impacted the defense. While a player like DeMarvin Leal could become something, they need some proven talent to complement the rest of the depth chart.
One of the best overall players entering this year’s free agency crop, Daron Payne can do everything along the line. From playing multiple positions to rushing the passer to plugging the run, Payne is an elite defender. For a Steelers line that needs help in both regards, Payne would be a massive addition in the offseason.
He can slot in as a defensive end and be one of the interior players for nickel packages. While this would leave nose tackle as a need still, Payne is an elite talent that would greatly improve this line after a few seasons of mediocrity. He can be a stalwart on this unit and a key contributor long-term for this defense.
Steelers should be swooning over an elite tackle
The Steelers line is very much a work in progress, but it has made some strides as the season has gone on. That said, the team could still use a tackle to help this unit become an even better and more consistent group. The crown jewel of this offseason along the line will be Orlando Brown. The former Chief couldn’t get a long-term deal done and now seems poised to enter free agency.
Brown was a former top prospect who fell to the third round due to a horrible combine. He quickly became a prime right tackle but wanted the chance to play left tackle to earn more money. He has continued his dominance since being traded to the Chiefs. If he hits the open market, the Steelers would be fools not to pursue one of the top young tackles in the game.
Brown is a mauling run blocker who can handle most pass blockers with ease. If the Steelers were to acquire him, it wouldn’t be cheap. He will likely be looking to be one of, if not the top-paid tackles in the league. It would be a mammoth deal, but Pittsburgh would see their line jump drastically if they could land him.
The Steelers season was lackluster, but the team has a chance to rebound in 2023. That starts with landing a good crop of free agents to help this roster get back to a competitive state. These six free agents stick out as the most intriguing fits for the Steelers.