New Year, New Gear: 5 Free Agents the Steelers Should Target to Bolster the Offense

The Steelers could sign Jonah Williams

The Steelers offensive line rebuild kickstarted two seasons ago with a whimper but picked up steam last season. That said, there is still a lot of work to be done. The guards are set as of now, and right tackle Broderick Jones will certainly have a few seasons to see what type of a player he will be. This group is still missing a center and tackle though.

Set to enter free agency is former first-round pick Jonah Williams. The tackle hasn’t had the best start to his career. Question marks about his ability to play tackle appeared early, then injuries derailed his first few seasons. When he finally found his footing at left tackle, the Bengals signed Orlando Brown to a big money deal and pushed him to the right side.

This hasn’t stopped him from finding success. While his initial foray into right tackle work wasn’t great, he has since found his footing and has gotten on track. That said, I think he could still be better at left tackle, and it seems like he would welcome a move back there assuming the team wants to keep Jones on the right side.

I’ll be honest, I hesitate to sign a big-name tackle in free agency. This is a position lacking in talent overall, so even the average names get paid well. While Williams has been fine, there is a real chance he gets overpaid due to his position and the fact that he is slated to be the top tackle in this class. Dan Moore hasn’t been elite, but his play has steadied out and he is still cheap.

If this team wants to land a potential tackle upgrade in free agency though, Williams is the best choice. You may have to overpay, but it gives you a top option to work with and provides you with a quality starter at both left and right tackle moving forward.