Free agency is just around the corner, and everyone loves a good bargain. The Steelers are no exception to this rule. For a long time, all they would try to bring in was cheap and budget-free agents with the hope of them excelling on a new team.
While we get the occasional big signing, this team still values a good deal.
Last year, we saw the team target DeShon Elliot on a cheap contract to start at strong safety. Pittsburgh still loves their veteran benefit deals, as evident with Russell Wilson and Van Jefferson, both starters last year on minimum contracts.
While this free agency class should have a notable name or two given the money the Steelers have to spend, you better believe there will still be value signings.
It seems like defense will be the draft focus for the team, but that won’t stop the team from adding some defensive talent on the cheap. They have a long history of finding quality defenders on the cheap, and 2025 will be no exception. Here are five defenders that the Steelers can add on a budget this offseason.
Pittsburgh Steelers Budget Defensive Targets:
Krys Barnes, LB
Assuming Elandon Roberts is brought back this offseason, there isn’t a huge need for another linebacker to be brought in. That said, this team has enjoyed their depth at the linebacker position recently, and that could continue with Krys Barnes.
Barnes has experience as both a starter, but he has settled into a depth player with special teams ability. He did that towards the end of his time with the Packers and has continued in that role with the Cardinals.
Is he an elite defender? No, but he can play the run well enough and has become a great special teams option. As a fourth linebacker, he can continue to play on special teams, and if an injury were to occur, he can take some of the pressure off the trio that starts.
Cost-wise, Barnes is playing above the minimum right now, and considering the value he adds at multiple levels, he likely will continue to cost more than that. He won’t break the bank though, so getting him on the team makes sense this offseason.
Rock Ya-Sin, CB
Rock Ya-Sin has been on the Steelers radar for the longest time. There was heavy speculation that he was on their draft radar but the team opted to trade up for Devin Bush instead. Since then, he has bounced around as a low-level starter and more recently, a backup.
So why is 2025 the time to strike? The Steelers can still see if he has any value as a starter, and at worst he can fill in as a special teams option. He could take over for James Pierre on a similar contract and provide better defensive depth while still providing good special teams value.
Considering he was mostly just a backup for the 49ers last week, he likely won’t cost more than the minimum. No, he doesn’t upgrade the number two cornerback spot for this defense, but he can fill in as a comfortable fourth option on the cheap that can push the starters.
Eddie Goldman, DL
While it seems like the Steelers will be going after a defensive lineman early in the draft, there is still room for a veteran to be added. If they go that route, a nose tackle would make the most sense. It allows you to plan for Keeanu Benton to shift to an end role before the draft.
Eddie Goldman is a well-traveled option who, at one point in time, was one of the best nose tackles in the NFL. He was almost out of the league entirely, retiring for two years, but he came back and played well for the Falcons last year. He still offers you something as a situational run defender.
Adding him on the cheap is insurance for the draft. If they only take a defensive end type, they still have a nose tackle to fall back on. If they land a rookie nose tackle, then Goldman can serve as depth for the year. He shouldn’t cost much more than the minimum at this point.
Dennis Gardeck, EDGE
While the team is three deep at edge rusher, you can never have too much depth at the position. The team showed this last year when they added Preston Smith as their fourth edge rusher at the trade deadline.
Of the names on this list, Dennis Gardeck will likely cost the most money. I almost left him off the list because he won’t be that cheap, but he would be the picture-perfect fourth-edge rusher for this defense.
He has been a great depth option for the Cardinals for the past few seasons. For starters, he carved his teeth on special teams before seeing time on defense. When given the opportunity, he has been productive as a pass rusher in spot starts.
Gardeck can play on defense and serve as a competent pass rusher in a reserve role. He can also be a core special teams player when not seeing significant snaps on defense. He would be a great addition to this defense that can wear a lot of hats.
Vonn Bell, S
Vonn Bell has been the face of consistency for the longest time. Never a stud safety, he can come in and provide steady play as a strong safety and box safety in any scheme. He won’t wow you with big plays, but he will consistently get the job done.
In a deflated safety market, he has struggled to make much more than the minimum in recent seasons, so his cost should be extremely low this year. For a team that could use some updated depth in the safety room, Bell would be a cheap solution.
He would keep the strong trio of safety play that this team has had the past few seasons. Bell has also seen an uptick on special teams, furthering his value as a player. He would be a great cheap solution for defensive depth this season.