Budget free agents the Pittsburgh Steelers need to target in 2023

With free agency about to open, the Steelers have a slew of needs that they need to address. While the focus is on what big name they can land, they also need to build out their roster with some capable names. Though I’m usually opposed to signing a slew of mediocre players in favor of one true star, this team may have to make that compromise again.

It doesn’t always end poorly when they go about building their roster like this. Mason Cole and Levi Wallace both fell into that category last season and did well enough. The fact is, the Steelers aren’t going to have a premiere player at every starting position, which means a few typical free-agent additions are likely on the horizon.

Cheaper doesn’t mean worse though, as these four low-key free agents would be a massive help for the Steelers in 2023.

Steelers could target a different David Long

I wrote about the team acquiring linebacker David Long from the Titans in my complete offseason mock, as he was a player the team liked and would fit the need of a capable coverage linebacker. There is another David Long entering this free agency period, and he is a slot cornerback from the Rams.

Long hasn’t had a great carrier to date, serving mostly as a rotational player in the slot. That said, with the likelihood that Cameron Sutton tests free agency and leaves growing, adding a budget slot player makes sense. Long would be given the opportunity to lock down that spot while a likely rookie competes with him.

Long has flashed at times, but he has been very inconsistent to this point. That said, his next contract will likely be very cheap, and he has some starts under his belt. If the team loses Sutton, Long could be a cheap solution as the team looks to groom a new slot cornerback.