Free Agency deals Steelers should regret missing out on

The Steelers missed out on C.J. Gardner-Johnson

One of my dream targets in free agency was C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The former Eagles safety was one of the top players at the position given his versatility. He can play a traditional safety role, play in the box, and cover the slot. He does all of these things well on top of it, making him one of the best defensive backs in the league. The only reason I wasn’t banging the drum for him was due to his expected contract being so high.

He ended up signing a one-year deal with the Lions for 6.5 million dollars. For a player of his caliber, that is a steal. Now, the Steelers would have likely wanted him on a multi-year deal, but even getting him for 8-10 million would have been a good deal. What he would have provided to this defense would have been huge.

Adding a player like Gardner-Johnson would have allowed the Steelers to have a more versatile secondary. He could have helped replace both Cam Sutton and Terrell Edmunds, who has indicated he is leaving as well. Instead, safety and slot cornerback are still two huge questions for this team.