The Pittsburgh Steelers have several needs to address this offseason. Some could be met through free agency, while others may be resolved in the NFL draft. General manager Omar Khan remains one of the most aggressive in the league, and that won't change with Mike McCarthy taking over as head coach. In fact, it could present more power to Khan's role.
Free agency could be less exciting compared to years past, but that could be an incorrect assumption.
Pittsburgh has 27 free agents to consider re-signing in the coming weeks, but that doesn't mean they won't be active. They are scheduled to have $44.94 million in cap space, but after they re-sign some of their own, that number could shrink. They could open more spending change.
With potential cap casualties and contract restructures as a future possibility, Khan could find significant cap space to work with in free agency. Don't be surprised if the Steelers get aggressive, targeting some top free agents, and one of them could be a receiver hitting the open market. A young playmaker like Alec Pierce could be a perfect solution for the type of free agent the franchise covets.
Pittsburgh Steelers must target free agent WR Alec Pierce in free agency if they want a splash
One of the biggest problems with pursuing Pierce in free agency is his demand.
A young playmaker hitting free agency who has a good track record of production doesn't happen all the time. If former Steelers receiver George Pickens hits the open market, he will be the top receiver on the board, but Pierce shouldn't be far behind. The Colts receiver remains a young player who could prove to be a good free agent addition.
Pierce is a former second-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft. The Steelers expressed significant interest in him during the pre-draft process, which is normally a requirement for future options in free agency. One of the biggest issues will be the type of market Pierce commands. He could have countless teams trying to get him to sign with them. Pittsburgh could be left off his list.
READ MORE: Steelers may watch their secret weapon get snatched by the Vikings
According to Spotrac, his market value suggests he could receive a four-year contract worth $80.99 million on the open market. That is a significant sum, and the Steelers will need to decide whether it is worth paying, especially considering how much they spent on DK Metcalf last offseason. After struggling to find a strong duo at the receiver position, Khan might consider this move.
The receiver position has been in disarray for a while now.
Ever since Diontae Johnson was traded, Pittsburgh has relied on one receiver to carry its offense. That logic has grown stale fast, and it could lead to a massive splash in free agency. Pierce will command a large market as a free agent, but he could be on the Steelers' radar. The question is whether they are willing to invest that much into two players.