The Steelers had one of the more eventful offseasons under new GM Omar Khan. By most accounts, he and the team have been widely praised by the media and the fanbase. From a few core free agents to a good-looking draft class, the team seems poised to take some steps forward this season.
For anyone that follows my writing, you know how much I love this draft class. Frankly, I can’t remember a class that I loved as much as this one on paper. From instant-impact players like Keeanu Benton and Joey Porter to the potential of Broderick Jones and Cory Trice to the flat-out fun in Darnell Washington, this class scratched me right where I itch. Even nearly two months out, I still love this class.
The free agent class doesn’t exactly hit the same, unfortunately. Look, there are moves that I liked then and still do, but the more I think about this class and observe who else was available, the less I feel confident in this crew of players.
The Steelers have made 19 total signings, both returning players resigning as well as new faces being welcomed to the team. You can also add the Allen Robinson trade and Mitchell Trubisky extension as well (moves that I liked), and the team was certainly active.
With training camp just around the corner, I wanted to take some time to readdress this group using hindsight. While the draft class has left me satisfied, I have discovered that there are quite a few changes I would want to make to this free agency class. Here are my four Steelers free agency do-overs.
Steelers free agency do-over #1: cheap veterans
There is nothing better than a veteran minimum contract in the NFL. It is the literal cheapest way to add talent to the roster. The Steelers constantly make use of this deal, and this year was no exception, as the team added almost a dozen players to a minimum contract. There is essentially no risk in these deals, so I am all for it.
Upon a quick look through other free-agent deals though, I found a handful of other players that I would have liked to see join the team. They signed for similarly cheap deals with other teams, and for one reason or another, I think they would have been great additions to the team.
Jamison Crowder is a player I have always liked watching. Despite lacking elite athleticism and size, he is a savvy route runner out of the slot with good hands. He would have been a cheap slot solution and also serve as a potential return man.
In a similar way, Isaiah McKenzie would also have been a fine addition. He could work out of the slot and provide the team with a potent returner. Neither receiver got more than the minimum, and either would have been a welcome addition to a relatively shallow room.
On defense, Amani Oruwariye has always been a player I have had an interest in. The former Penn State product had intriguing traits, but he was a raw coverage player, causing him to fall to the fifth round. He shined at times with the Lions, including a six-interception season as a sophomore, but was never a consistent player. He signed with the Giants on a minimum deal this offseason.
Rounding out the group is versatile defensive back, Bobby McCain. The Steelers had a lot of interest in him a few years ago, and he has developed into a hybrid safety/slot cornerback combination. Considering the current state of the slot position for the defense, McCain would have been a smart addition. He also signed with the Giants on a minimum deal.
None of these guys would have moved the proverbial needle much, but they would have been cheap depth that could have filled in at multiple positions. If the Steelers had a do-over, I would want them to add some more veteran minimum deals.
Steelers free agency do-over #2: T.J. Edwards
The Steelers have completely revamped their off-ball linebacker room this offseason, which has seemed to be the trend for this defense as of late. This group has been below average for far too long, and the team made it clear that they wanted to try something new this season.
In total, four new faces that could make the roster and contribute were added to this team. Cole Holcomb highlights the list, while names like Elandon Roberts and Nick Kwiatkoski can step in and play next to him potentially. The only holdover is Mark Robinson, last year’s seventh-round draft pick.
That said, this group is still lackluster, and while Holcomb has flashed good plays at times, he isn’t an elite player by any means. Add in his injury history and there are quite a few question marks surrounding him and this room still.
What is maddening to me is that the linebacker market was deflated this offseason. Outside of Tremaine Edmunds, no one broke the bank. The second-best name on the market, T.J. Edwards, only inked a deal for 500 thousand dollars more a season. He is coming off a pair of great seasons and is a complete three-down linebacker.
It would be one thing if his deal was laced with guaranteed money, but it isn’t. For a player of his caliber, he signed an extremely team-friendly deal. He has become a fine coverage player and is a good run-stopper.
The fact that he barely got more money than Holcomb is astounding to me, and I wish the team would have attacked the linebacker market differently. From going after Edwards or the other names, like David Long, that signed even cheaper deals, the Steelers missed out on truly bettering this room.
Steelers free agency do-over #3: Byron Murphey
Fans have been naturally excited for Patrick Peterson since the deal was announced. A player that has always had some links to Pittsburgh, he finally landed with the team this offseason. While he is a notable name, he is also an aging veteran, and I’m not sure this will ultimately be a fruitful move.
Peterson has been playing in a zone-heavy scheme with the Vikings, and now he is returning to a man-heavy system. While Peterson still has some speed, that asset is waning. Not only will he be featured in a man-heavy scheme, but he also seems like the most likely slot defender heading into this season. While Peterson is a smart and experienced defender, I’m not confident that he will be a great fit for this defense.
What the team could have done instead is target Byron Murphey. Another name the team seemed interested in during his draft process, Murphy has developed into a solid cornerback that excels in the slot. He would have filled the Cam Sutton role far better than I think Peterson will just because he is used to being both an outside and inside coverage player.
I don’t think the Peterson move is a horrible one one paper. The value is fair given the market and he will provide the room with a great mentor to work with. That said, the team has neglected the slot cornerback position and seems poised to try and make Peterson fit in that role. Murphy was a better and younger fit and should have been the target instead.
Steelers free agency do-over #4: the safety room
Another market that has been depressed in recent years, the Steelers had quite the change-up at safety this season. While Minkah Fitzpatrick is the obvious mainstay, the team was set to let Terrell Edmunds test free agency once again this offseason. Instead of returning on a team-friendly deal, he ultimately signed with the Eagles.
There were two notable moves to this room. The first was bringing back Damontae Kazee on a two-year deal, and they later added Keanu Neal to provide the bigger box safety role. I think both can work well together, but there were definitely better values to be had in this market.
Edmunds stands out as one such player that would have made better sense. While fans are quick to dismiss him, he developed into a steady contributor on this defense. No, it wasn’t perfect, but Edmunds knows his way around this defense and would have been a welcome return in my opinion. He is only playing for two million dollars this season.
Two other names stick out as fits for this defense that signed elsewhere on the cheap. Mike Edwards can play either safety spot and is a versatile piece in a secondary. H joined the Chiefs on a one-year deal worth three million dollars
If the team wanted more of the traditional box safety, Taylor Rapp was also available and signed a one-year deal for less than 1.8 million dollars. He is a similar player as Neal (run defender that lacks coverage skills), but he is younger and has less of a track record with injuries.
I don’t hate the Steelers safety room right now, right but there were better values to be had elsewhere. Neal and Kazee should be able to hold their own, but they could have found some better pieces to work into this secondary and at a better price.
The Steelers had a busy offseason, and while the roster has been completely shaken up, there were other moves I would have rather made. If it were up to me, I would have targeted the players above, as they would be my top free agency do-overs for the Steelers this year.