The Pittsburgh Steelers enter the dead part of the offseason with a surprising number of questions. The quarterback room still lacks a clear starter, and there are numerous depth concerns on the roster.
Pittsburgh can easily shore up one of those spots now that the draft has passed.
The offensive line features five known starters and a bunch of question marks after that. In particular, the tackle room looks like a potential weak spot, but that can be addressed by signing former Cleveland Browns tackle Jedrick Wills.
As it stands, you have the penciled-in starters with Broderick Jones on the left side and Troy Fautanu on the right. Behind them are a middling cast of options. Calvin Anderson was unspectacular last year, and Dylan Cook wasn’t on the roster most of the season.
Wills is a bigger name than your typical swing tackle, but the Steelers would be wise to scoop him up and add him to this room before training camp.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need line depth that Jedrick Wills can provide
While we have two starters penciled in, neither should provide us fans with a lot of comfort. Fautanu barely played as a rookie, so we have no insight as to the quality of play he can produce for this offense. Jones has looked like a bust at times and is facing a critical year three for his future.
Wills has, at times, looked like a top tackle in the league. While injuries have hampered him, the fact that a 25-year-old tackle with all of the traits you would want in a franchise option is sitting on the open market right now makes him a gamble worth taking.
He brings his share of warts beyond the injuries. Specifically, there are serious questions about his dedication to his craft. We saw similar rumors and issues with Devin Bush a few years back.
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When backed into a corner, though, and playing for your future, that can spark a fire in anyone. While he has only played left tackle, he can take snaps at both spots in camp as the designated third option. If he really can’t work on the right side, you can always move Jones around in case of an injury.
What Wills provides is legitimate competition, something this room is severely lacking. Assuming he shows just some of the traits he had that made him an early pick, he will force the best out of Jones and Fautanu.
If he really doesn’t care about the spot, that will make itself clear as well. If that’s the case, you cut him with little harm done. The current plan of rolling into camp with the roster as is presents a lot of risk. Wills gives them a viable option.
The best case scenario is all three look good, and you now have an asset in Wills for future comp picks, assuming he signs elsewhere next year. At worst, you have extra insurance in case Fautanu falters or Jones officially washes out.
Unless his asking price is outrageous, Omar Khan and the Steelers have the most obvious free agent just waiting for them to sign.