3 Black Friday budget free agents Steelers must already have their eyes on

Black Friday seems like one of the more divisive days of the year. Some people are obsessed with the late-night lines and deal hunting. Others despise the day and avoid going out at all costs. No matter how you feel about the day though, everyone loves getting a good deal. The Steelers are no exception to this rule.

Every year the team tries to add some players below market value with the hope that they will provide cheap talent to the roster. Next offseason will be no different, as the Steelers will likely add a big name or two, but they will still look to add some talent on a budget.

In celebration of Black Friday, I’ve already taken an early peak at free agency next year to highlight some names that could be great deals. All of these players will likely be had for a reasonable price, and they can in turn start for the team and aid in their pursuit of wins. Here are three pending free agents that could prove to be deals for the Steelers next year.

Steelers could sign Charles Omenihu

The defensive line has been a bit of an underperforming unit this season. While Cameron Heyward has exceeded all expectations, Keeanu Benton has been quiet considering the hype he had behind him Larry Ogunjobi has been his usual inconsistent self, and he could very easily be a cap casualty a year from now.

A name that makes a lot of sense is Charles Omenihu. A name that the Steelers liked back in the 2019 draft, he has the body type that the team likes at defensive end but was viewed as a developmental prospect. He has found success everywhere he played as a rotational player, and now entering the prime of his career he could be a great addition to a defensive line in need of some talent.

He had a career year with the Chiefs last year and has become a very capable pass rusher. He has spent most of this year injured, so that could allow his value to dip slightly in an inflated defensive line class. He could be a viable replacement for Ogunjobi, provide some more spark as a situational pass rusher, and the team could still target a top defensive lineman early. He makes a lot of sense to revamp this room on a bit of a budget.

Steelers could sign Darius Slayton

There has been a lot of talk about the Steelers needing receiver help this year. Beyond George Pickens, the cupboards looked bare at times. They seemingly targeted every big name that came up before settling for Mike Williams. Next year, they could target a viable second option in free agency.

A name that sticks out is Darius Slayton. The Steelers were reportedly trying to trade for him over Williams, but a deal never materialized. Slayton isn’t an elite player, but he is the model of consistency in a lackluster Giants receiving room. Excluding this season, Slayton has had at least 700 receiving yards in every season outside of an injury-shortened 2021.

He is a great deep threat who is happy being used as a second option in an offense. This will allow him to sign at a slight discount. This is important, as Pickens will be looking for a new deal next season, and paying big money to two receivers isn’t feasible. Slayton locks up the second receiver role and would be a huge addition to an up-and-coming offense.

Steelers could sign Mike Hilton

Bring him home!

Mike Hilton has gone on to become one of the best underdog stories in the NFL. The Steelers brought him in as a complete unknown, and he did so well in his first offseason that he started in the slot outright. He went on to become one of the best slot players in the league and has continued that success with the Bengals.

Set to be a free agent for the second time, Pittsburgh has to consider a reunion. Hilton is past thirty, but given the fact that athleticism isn’t a huge aspect of his game, age isn’t a huge concern. Hilton has continued to be a dynamic run defender while serving as a really good coverage player against slot receivers. He is the complete package and should still have a few good years left in him.

The team has been searching for Hilton’s replacement ever since he left with little success. They have found some success with Beanie Bishop this year, but he isn’t the player that Hilton is. Slot cornerbacks never get paid at the highest level, so he could be a cheap reunion candidate for the defense to target.