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.
Steelers could sign a dependable target in Jarvis Landry
One of my big needs for the Steelers this offseason is landing a capable slot receiver. While I do hope Calvin Austin can make an impact there, Kenny Pickett needs another dependable target. One of the better slot receivers in recent history was Jarvis Landry, and while he is coming off a horrible season, he wasn’t given many favors in the Saint’s offense.
Landry is a sharp route runner with good hands and the ability to make guys miss in space. One of the worst athletic testers of all time, a lack of straight-line speed hasn’t stopped Landry from carving out a good career. Even as he gets older, he can still be an effective player given the fact that his game doesn’t rely on elite speed.
Landry can come in and provide a sure thing in the slot. While the Steelers will mix in a few different names there, he can be a gritty threat over the middle of the field and a fine possession receiver. At his age and coming off last season, he won’t cost a lot, but he could go a long way in securing Pickett with another player to target.
Steelers could bring in former draft crush Jabrill Peppers
It really looked like the Steelers were going to pick Jabrill Peppers in the 2017 draft. The team was all over him in the pre-draft process, and they had a need at safety. Peppers ended up going to Cleveland, and Pittsburgh settled for some guy named T.J. Watt. Peppers’s career hasn’t been bad, but it has been a very up-and-down one as of late.
After an injury-riddled 2021 season, Peppers signed with the Patriots and played in more of a reserve role. Bringing him in now is a low-risk move, as his contract likely won’t be high, but you are banking on him getting back to form as a player. Before this stint, he was among one of the better strong safeties in the league.
If he were brought in, he could play at his traditional safety spot. If the team adds other names there, Peppers can serve as the third safety while also taking snaps as a hybrid box defender. He was known for his versatility coming out of school, and the Steelers could try to recapture some of that on a cheap deal this offseason.
Steelers could revamp the linebacker room with Azeez Al-Shaair
A lot of fans have the Steelers targeting a top name at linebacker in free agency to fix the issues at the position. While they may certainly spend up and nab a top player, there are some cheaper names available that could also fix this position. Of those options, Azeez Al-Shaair could be a good redemption story for both him and the Steelers.
Al-Shaair was a relative unknown when he joined the 49ers, but he worked his way into a rotation and became the primary starter at linebacker last season as an injury replacement. He’s struggled with injuries as of late, but when on the field, he has been an effective player in both run defense and coverage.
He won’t break the bank as some other names will, but Al-Shaair would be a viable starter on a budget deal. While I am all for investing in the position to find a capable starter, taking a chance on Al-Shaair makes sense. He is young, has flashed some great play, and would fill a huge need. Al-Shaair could be a viable budget option for this defense.
While I typically like for the Steelers to use their cap space on better names as opposed to spreading it out on middling options, there are some budget names that would make a lot of sense. Keep these four names in mind as free agency opens and the Steelers look past the top names in the class.