Plenty has been accomplished by Omar Khan and the new front office during the offseason thus far. There are plenty of interesting options still out there available to sign with any club that wishes to pull the trigger on them. Most teams, including the Steelers, will likely wait until after the draft before they even consider these top options still out there looking for work.
Cap space is not on Pittsburgh's side right now as they currently sit around five and a half million in spending cash. That comes after the shocking trade that saw Allen Robinson get sent to the steel city for little cost. Spending cash could easily be opened up with different contract moves. There are plenty of needs heading into draft weekend that still need to be filled, but they might not be able to fix all their issues during that span of time.
Bryce Callahan would be a dependable option in the slot on defense
One seemingly obvious choice that the black and gold should consider is Bryce Callahan. He is a veteran with seven years of NFL playing experience. Slot corner is a place where the club has not been able to find a stable answer at this juncture of the offseason. Ideally, they will be able to find one in the draft, but that might not be possible.
It seems like the club will target an outside cornerback early in this draft, and that will leave Arthur Maulet as the only significant contributor in the slot on this roster. That is not to say that someone else could emerge as a solid cover slot option on this team, but adding Callahan would calm some concerns. He has a ton of experience there and would be a more reliable option on cover downs than Maulet.
Mason Rudolph could find his way back on the Steelers if the draft fails
What is going on with Mason Rudolph and any form of market that he could have? That question is still out there as no answers have been applied to this question about the experienced NFL backup quarterback. He was the third stringer for the Steelers this past season, and it seems likely that both parties still want to move on from each other.
The organization seems primed to either select a quarterback late in the draft or sign one during the undrafted free agency portion as it will be an attractive landing spot for some young quarterbacks. They can sit behind Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky for a year before they will hopefully take over the reins as the primary backup in 2024.
If neither of those things happen or the quarterback situation is still unstable then it is possible that the black and gold look for a reunion with Rudolph. His market is scarce with him lasting this long into the offseason, but that could change if clubs do not address the signal caller position as they hope through the draft. It makes sense for the Steelers to want a reunion with Rudolph as we sit here today and it might be the best course of action for both sides, especially if the draft does not address this need.
Signing an EDGE rusher could happen if its not addressed in the draft
Even though the Bud Dupree reunion ship has sailed, that does not mean you should count out other free agents out there. It has quickly become slim pickings for the remaining free agents at the outside linebacker position for the Steelers to choose from. Taking one in the draft might be the safest bet, but no one knows how the draft will play out. Certain prospects might not fall to where the black and gold make their selections.
A lot of homework has been done on these edge rushers coming out of the draft, but that might not work out in Pittsburgh's favor. Turning toward free agency might allow for this need to be less stressed when the draft comes around. Or the Steelers can see how the event plays out before considering a free-agent addition that can fill the third outside linebacker spot for this club.
Justin Houston is the obvious name that comes to mind when you look at the current available free agents. He can still play at a high level in the NFL and had a nice stint with the Baltimore Ravens over the past few years. Bringing him onto the club in a limited role would allow for the play behind the starters to get an immediate boost when they need a breather.
If left tackle is a need after the draft, then a known name could join the team
One of the worst kept secrets is the depths of time and attention that the Steelers have shown toward the offensive lineman in the draft. They will likely try to land one of the top four prospects at tackle, but that is always a tough position to gauge on night one of the draft. It is projected that the top three will go in the top 12 picks of the upcoming draft. That will likely leave only Darnell Wright to be the potential selection for Pittsburgh if they fail to trade up.
There are tons of scenarios that you could walk through when you dissect who other clubs might choose. One thing is for sure, offensive tackles usually go early and often in round one as their stocks rise as the event gets closer. If there are no top tackles left, then this need could suffer from quality prospects in the later rounds.
One name to keep an eye on, especially if left tackle is not addressed early in the draft is Taylor Lewan. He is not at the same level of talent that he once was and is seemingly injury prone as his history suggests. He is available and would be a nice addition to upgrade over Dan Moore Jr. on the left side. Even if Wright is the first-round selection, he is more comfortable on the right side. Bringing in Lewan would cement the group in its entirety.
The Steelers could look around the division for a free agent boost at cornerback
One of the bigger names still left on the market is Marcus Peters. He is someone that coach Mike Tomlin and company know well since he played multiple years with the Baltimore Ravens. Patrick Peterson joined the club earlier in free agency, so this addition would come as a surprise. This could be another free agency addition after the draft if the position is not addressed early on.
Joey Porter Jr. is the guy most fans see as the realistic option to be had on night one. That would fill a starting gig on the opposite outside corner spot of Peterson. If the draft does not see this occur, then it is possible for someone like Peters to get a serious look. He is an experienced veteran that does come with some baggage with some of the on the field antics he has displayed in his career.
Either way, he would be a great addition to this team that provides more of a veteran presence that can step in and start. He has graded out respectfully over the past couple of years and could be a Joe Haden like addition during the pre-season process. Cornerback is still a major need both in the slot and on the outside so do not be shocked if the club stays aggressive in the secondary.