3 Steelers impending free agents who need to be brought back
By Tommy Jaggi
2. Markus Golden, EDGE
'If it's not broken, don't fix it'. That's the mentality the Pittsburgh Steelers should have when it comes to their edge defenders. While I have been adamant about wanting to see T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith play fewer snaps, this is a really strong group of four edge defenders that Pittsburgh has on the roster, and a healthy rotation could be good for everyone.
The question becomes: will Markus Golden be part of that rotation in 2024? Golden is a long-time veteran with loads of experience and production, but it remains to be seen whether or not the Steelers will elect to bring him back. Golden turns 33 years old this March, which means he's no spring chicken. However, he proved he has enough bounce in his step to give him another year.
Surprisingly, Golden earned the highest grade of his career as a rotational backup for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023. Though he only played 22 percent of defensive snaps, Golden earned an 83.5 overall PFF grade while chipping in 4.0 sacks, 6 tackles for a loss, and 10 QB hits.
With the Steelers already spending so much money on the position thanks to the lofty contracts of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, Golden is a cheap veteran option with experience who is the perfect pairing with up-and-comer Nick Herbig. The market for Golden shouldn't be competitive, and the Steelers should try to keep him around for the 2024 season.