The Steelers' offense has been one of the hardest things to watch about this team this past season. Despite promises of change and bully ball, this unit produced little more than a whimper. Even after universal villain Matt Canada was let go, this offense still struggled to be a threat week in and week out, and it ultimately cost the team.
With the new year here, I wanted to take some time to look at some potential firepower to add to this side of the team. While free agency is still a while away, having a game plan now will be critical. Here are the five early free-agent targets the Steelers must have their eyes on.
The Steelers could sign Matt Breida
The running back free agent class is once again set to be deep, as teams are quickly coming to terms that this is a replaceable position. Pittsburgh won’t be in the market for a top name as they have two of their own, but getting a good third compliment could yield some early fruit.
The team seemingly wanted to have a trio of backs this season. Headlined by Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris, Anthony McFarland also was in the picture before injuries derailed his season. That speed he has is something this backfield lacks, so they could look to a more established option to fill that void in Matt Breida.
Breida has always been a good compliment to an offense. He is never expected to be the top guy, but he can rotate in and provide a blazing-fast homerun threat. He will also be cheap, as he will likely be a veteran minimum contract option. He gives this offense another dynamic on the cheap and could be a huge addition to this team in 2024.
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.
The Steelers could sign Tyler Boyd
Sticking with the Bengals now, the team likely won’t be looking to add any huge names during free agency. If anything, the draft is the typical route the Steelers take to add receiver talent. That said, they could still use an upgrade at the slot position, and Tyler Boyd has proven to be one of the best there.
Pittsburgh has used Allen Robinson in that role this season to very poor results. On one hand, the expectation was never for Robinson to turn back the clock and return to his Pro Bowl form from a few years ago. On the other hand, he is a glorified tight end with little value after the catch and has a hefty price tag associated with his name.
Boyd is a mix of everything in the slot. While not the biggest player, he is known to make the physical catch when called upon. While not as spry as his younger self, he can still make a few guys miss and get some additional yards after the catch. Finally, while not his strongest element, Boyd can still be a down-the-field threat for an offense.
With Tee Higgins also a pending free agent and a massive Ja’Mar Chase contract looming, Boyd will likely be allowed to test free agency. Assuming the price is right, he would be a solid veteran addition to this squad and provide the team with a more consistent slot receiver. It would be a prudent move for a passing attack that has been lacking all season.
The Steelers could sign Connor Williams
I mentioned earlier that while the Steelers have made some aggressive moves to get the offensive line rebuilt over the past few seasons, their work isn’t over. While a free-agent tackle will likely come with a huge price tag, the team could land a top center and not have to fork over as much money as a tackle would get.
Connor Williams has developed into just that over the past few seasons. He was drafted out of Texas by the Cowboys a few years back with questions swirling about if he is a guard or a tackle. Turns out it was neither, as Williams converted to center and has become a quality starter. He really took his game to the next level with the Dolphins before being lost for the season.
The Steelers still have Mason Cole under contract, and had this been the Cole of a year ago, I would be less set on bringing in a new option. While not elite, Cole was serviceable for the team at a reasonable price. That is no longer the case though, and he is likely to be cut before his roster bonus kicks in in the offseason.
This will leave the team without a quality center, and while they can risk it to just wait and draft someone, they had a similar strategy with Kendrick Green a few seasons ago. With so many other needs on the roster, locking in a top center in Williams would go a long way in perfecting this line as well as allowing the team to draft elsewhere as needed
The Steelers could sign Kirk Cousins
We come to the final name on this list as well as the most notable one. While adding any of the other free agents would further the talent along the offense, it won’t help this team overcome bad quarterback play. Despite everyone hoping for the best, Kenny Pickett has limited this team and held the offense back.
While it seems more than likely that the Steelers keep him around as the starter for another season, if they did decide to move on from him, a free agent would likely make the most sense. This team won’t be in a position to draft one of the top names in the class, and with an offense that has weapons at the ready, getting an able body now will be key.
Kirk Cousins has consistently played like a top-ten quarterback in the league while with the Vikings. While it never turned itself into a Super Bowl, Minnesota was consistently a competitor with him at the helm. With his contract up and coming off an injury though, both sides may move on.
This would be a major risk for the Steelers. Cousins won’t be cheap, and his age and recent injury are a concern. That said, we saw a similar story unfold when Matthew Stafford went to the Rams, and that worked out pretty well. If Pittsburgh wants to get this team ready to compete for next year, Cousins may be the best option.
The Steelers offense has been anemic for most of this season, and if the team wants to reestablish itself as a competitor, they need to add some help in the new year. These five free agents could all become core players for this offense and push the team over the hump.