A foolproof plan for Steelers to improve the DL in 2023

How the Steelers should attack free agency

Like the offensive line write-up before, it would be great to get the top player along the line and sign him as a free agent. While I do believe the Steelers will be able to afford that player, I don’t think they will structure a contract with the guarantees that he will want that other teams will provide. Thus, Da’Ron Payne will not be a target.

While the Steelers need a capable nose tackle, I’m not signing one in free agency to a big contract. If they want to throw out some veteran minimum deals, by all means, go for it, but giving a huge deal to a player that is only playing 30-45% of your snaps doesn’t make sense. So sorry Hargrave, I don’t have you coming back in this plan.

I want a capable player that can serve as the other defensive end opposite Heyward. I have two routes outlined here. If the Steelers love a player in the draft, they can target a younger, more average player to start until a rookie is ready. If they have bigger needs in the draft, than a more expensive veteran is in order.

The best of that group, to me, would be Fletcher Cox. While age is slowly catching up to the Eagles superstar, he still knows how to disrupt the pocket and blow up running and passing plays. He would need to take a pay cut, but if he did, he would be a logical veteran to target.

The other, and the more likely option is Matt Ioannidis. While a little undersized, he is still a capable end that would be a valuable addition to this front. His pass rush has never been dynamic, but he has proven to be a capable run defender. I really like the fit as a stopgap until a rookie can take over.

I also want to highlight four other names that would make sense at the end but would definitely be replaced by a rookie sooner rather than later. John Cominsky, Dean Lowry, Taven Bryan, and Jerry Tillery all have the prototypical size the team covets at the end, but none are great starters.

Any of the four above would be brought in with the expectation that a defensive end is added early in the draft. Once the rookie is ready, the veteran would serve in the Wormley role as the primary rotational backup.

With this plan, I’m personally targeting Ioannidis on a two-year deal. He is a solid veteran that would be a huge improvement in the run game. He also gives you some draft flexibility, so the team wouldn’t be cornered into selecting an end early.