Seeing talented players leave your divisional rival is always a treat as a fan. It is even better when those talented players sign with your team, as your team growing stronger directly results from a competitor growing weaker. While the Steelers will be targeting quite a few players in free agency, they would be wise to look at some options from the AFC North.
Quite a few names should intrigue the Steelers from this group. From rounding out the depth chart to securing starters, there are a wealth of options that Pittsburgh could look to bring in. Here are the five best AFC North free agents that the Steelers should sign.
Steelers could replace Cameron Sutton
One of the biggest offseason questions for the Steelers is what will ultimately happen to Cameron Sutton. He has served as a versatile inside and outside cornerback and has developed into a great starter. As a pending free agent, his price tag could be high, and as a result, he is no lock to return to the team in 2023.
If he does depart, the Steelers could roll the dice on former first-round pick Kyle Fuller. Fuller was once seen as a premiere cornerback in the slot with the ability to play outside. Injuries have limited him in recent years, but when healthy, he is a proven starter that can fill in as the slot cornerback.
He has a knack for interceptions and is a good coverage player who anticipates well. He missed almost all of last season with an ACL tear, but he should be healthy for training camp. He is getting older, but the Steelers could bring him in on the cheap to replace Sutton for the short term.
Steelers need a better backup EDGE rusher
The Steelers have lacked a capable trio at edge rusher since Bud Dupree left. While they have a premiere pair of starters in Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt, they haven’t had a capable rotational edge rusher to supplement them. When one of the starters is injured, it leads to a lack of pressure due to the offense’s ability to focus on the healthy starter.
Chase Winovich could change that for the Steelers. A third-round pick of the Patriots, Winovich burst onto the scene for the team. He tallied 11 total sacks in his first two seasons as a reserve rusher along the edge. He fell out of favor there, was traded to the Browns, and struggled with injuries over the past season.
That said, Winovich can win in a variety of ways and be a capable third edge rusher for this team. Add in the fact that he is a native of Pennsylvania and the Steelers had a lot of pre-draft interest in him and the links make sense. Don’t be surprised to see the team ink him to be their third pass rusher on defense.
Steelers could add to the middle of their defense
Another name that the Steelers had some pre-draft interest in, Germaine Pratt was a productive college player before landing with the Bengals in the third round of the draft. While he became a starter early in his career, he was usually the second fiddle as a linebacker. He was never a liability, but his play rarely flashed.
That was until last season, as Pratt put together his most complete season. He played the most snaps since entering the league, improved his coverage, and nearly halved his missed tackles. This has led him to become one of the more underrated linebacker names on the free agent market. He may not command a mega-deal, but Pratt won’t come cheap.
The Steelers have a clear need at linebacker, and like Winovich, they have some dots that connect each other from the pre-draft process. It would be a more expensive move than any of the aforementioned ones on this list, but Pratt would be a big upgrade at the position. There are some questions with him though, so there is a risk with this signing.
Steelers could land a talented defensive lineman
Taven Bryan was hyped as the next J.J. Watt when he entered the league. His size and athletic traits mimicked what Watt had done at Wisconsin, but Bryan never put it all together as a pro. He isn’t bad by any means, but he hasn’t become the impact pass rusher or run stuffer that many envisioned he could have been.
The Browns signed him to a one-year deal last year, and he became a de facto starter, playing the most snaps in a season he has ever played and having statistically one of his best seasons. While he isn’t an elite name, he has proven to be able to hold his own on defense. The Steelers lack a capable end right now, and Bryan could be a short-term solution.
Beyond just the steady play, Bryan fits the mold of what the Steelers like to have in their base ends. That size is becoming harder to find in the league, so that is another plus for Bryan. He won’t break the bank, but Bryan could hold down a role on this line as the team tries to develop a new player behind him.
Steelers could upgrade Terrell Edmunds
When you think of Bengals safeties, the dominant play of Jessie Bates comes to mind. The Steelers certainly won’t be able to afford him, but they could land his running mate in Vonn Bell. While not the dynamic playmaker that his counterpart is, Bell is a hard-hitting and consistent defender.
Consistency is what you get with Bell. A good, not great, coverage safety, Bell can hold his own in zone or follow tight ends in man coverage. He hits hard and does well playing in the box despite his shorter stature. He did tally four interceptions this season, but turnovers have never been a huge part of his game.
If the Steelers want a more complete and consistent safety, Bell makes a lot of sense. He isn’t flashy, nor does he provide an elite edge to a defense, but he would be a capable running mate to Minkah Fitzpatrick and give the team a tandem of good safeties.
The AFC North has a slew of pending free agents heading to the open market, and the Steelers would be wise to invest in some of them. Not everyone is a fit, but these five pending free agents would make a lot of sense for the team to try and sign.