Well, the Kansas City Chiefs dynasty is almost complete. They are the modern-day New England Patriots, and everyone should be hating the idea that the Chiefs will be winning countless games as long as Patrick Mahomes is their quarterback. The future Hall of Fame quarterback brought the team to new heights and that got them another championship.
It was a slow Super Bowl at the start, but things began to turn around, especially as it entered the fourth quarter. It had lead changes and plenty of drama. Many people were watching, and you can bet that every team was too. The Steelers have a lot of work ahead of them as the offseason officially begins. Trying to take away some pending free agents from the Chiefs should be on their radar.
Drue Tranquill could add stability at linebacker for the Steelers
The inside linebacker position doesn't seem to be high on the free agency priority signing board, but it should have some interest from Pittsburgh. Cole Holcomb will be back by the beginning of the regular season and Elandon Roberts proved that he can be a reliable starter when injuries started to mount. But those behind them proved little quality when they were called to play significant snaps on defense.
Kwon Alexander is a free agent and is recovering from a season-ending injury himself. That could make him a player on the decline. Maybe looking elsewhere in free agency and signing someone like Drue Tranquill would be a wise decision. He has had his name connected to the black and gold as recently as last year, and he is someone who can start for you and play special teams.
Tranquill might not be the best coverage linebacker in the NFL, but he should be able to slide into that role better than some of the Steeler's current options on the roster. The athletic linebacker shouldn't cost an arm and a leg to sign either. He signed a cheap deal with the Chiefs last offseason, and it paid off in a Super Bowl. That should get him a slight raise, but this signing wouldn't break the bank for the Steelers.
Punters are football players too, and Tommy Townsend would be a huge upgrade
Some might roll their eyes at having a punter on this list of possible free-agent targets for the Steelers. Kansas City was able to play quality special teams for the most part, especially in the punting and kicking department of the Super Bowl. A lot of that success in those quality outings was from Tommy Townsend, the Chiefs punter.
Townsend was able to flip the field a couple of times after starting his punt from a bad area. He was also able to make some quality holds that allowed some record-breaking kicks in the Super Bowl. Townsend has been with Kansas City his entire career. He has been a key reason why they can succeed in the third phase of football.
If you are a fan of the Steelers and are curious why a punter is on the list, then you are a part of the problem. Pressley Harvin III has been the punter for the Steelers since he was drafted back in 2021. Many gave him different reasons as to why he wasn't succeeding as the punter in Pittsburgh, but those excuses are starting to run out.
It is time for the black and gold to solve their issues at punter once and for all. They could add through the draft process again, but that would be another gamble. You might as well sign a free agent who has a proven track record in a cold environment like Townsend has. He has won the Super Bowl plenty of times with the Chiefs and should be on the Steeler's radar in free agency.
L'Jarius Sneed has been a free agent connected to the Steelers recently
One of the most overlooked things about the Chiefs during their Super Bowl run was their quality defense. From the top down, they were able to force other teams into bad situations and give Mahomes and their offense every opportunity to succeed. Their secondary in particular was great and limited big plays for the most part.
One of their top cornerbacks, L'Jarius Sneed is a pending free agent and it will be a tough decision for Kansas City regarding his future with them. When you win championships, every team wants a piece of that success in one way or another. Normally, that leads to plenty of clubs paying big bucks during free agency to sign players like Sneed.
Many websites that cover the Steelers have labeled Sneed as a top target for the black and gold. There are some other top cornerbacks that Pittsburgh has been connected to early on, but Sneed is up there on the list. He is someone who can be a top cornerback on your team if needed or be a great complimentary piece to someone like Joey Porter Jr.
The main issue with this option will be the money that he will command on the open market. Finding quality cornerbacks in the NFL is hard, so Sneed's demands could get high. The Steelers will love his play with the physicality and swagger that he brings with him. If he makes it to free agency, it wouldn't shock anyone if the Steelers at least kicked the tires on him.
Mecole Hardman Jr. made big plays in the Super Bowl to catch some attention
Turning towards the offensive side of the ball, which gets all the attention when you talk about the Chiefs. They have plenty of playmakers on that side of the game, but Mahomes and Travis Kelce always find unique ways of connecting in big moments. That was shown again during the Super Bowl, but it was someone else who caught the game-winning throw.
Mecole Hardman Jr. is someone who was signed by the New York Jets last offseason. Things quickly went south, and he was quickly traded to the Chiefs after a handful of weeks. He was traded back to the Chiefs with an opportunity to improve his stock before free agency rolled around again. Maybe he can only succeed in Kansas City, but it's worth a shot for the Steelers.
Hardman is someone that can play in the slot as a receiver, but also be a return option on special teams. He remains a factor in games as he caught the game-winning pass from Mahomes to win the Super Bowl this past Sunday. He is a reliable veteran option that Pittsburgh would like to add this offseason. A slot receiver remains a significant need heading into next season.
The black and gold need someone like Hardman to join their club and provide different options to the roster. They would get someone with a wealth of experience who has some quality numbers throughout his career. This free-agent option shouldn't cost the Steelers too much money to sign. He is someone who can start in the slot and return punts or kicks when called upon.
The ultimate free agent for the Steelers would be stealing Chris Jones
One of the top pending players that could be available in free agency might be Chris Jones. He has been a keystone piece of the Chief's defense since he was drafted there. Both Jones and the club struggled to come to a long-term contract solution last offseason, and it extended into game time. He was willing to sit out longer, but they found a solution for this year.
Now with that issue back on the table, it seems like Kansas City might have no other choice but to let Jones walk in free agency. He is one of the best defensive tackles in football and he deserves to be one of the highest-paid players at his position. If he makes it to the open market, he will likely become the top-dollar defensive tackle in the NFL.
The Steelers don't seem to need a defensive tackle at first look, but they have an issue with their future in the defensive trenches. Cam Heyward costs a lot of money to keep around for an older player who is coming off an injury-riddled season. Larry Ogunjobi is constantly managing injuries and has been a disappointment since he signed his contract extension last year.
Pittsburgh will want to add to their defensive line in either the draft or free agency. Jones would be a shocker, but it would also mean plenty of cap space would need to be moved out the door to sign him. That likely means Heyward and others will be shown the door. On one hand, you get one of the top defensive linemen in the NFL, but on the other hand, you lose your biggest leader in Heyward in this scenario.