As we inch closer to the new league year, free agency is becoming the central focus of this team, and understandably so. There is a lot of work for the Steelers to do this offseason, and with a higher-than-expected salary cap, free agency could yield some talent. This is a roster that could certainly use an influx of talent.
With that being said, I dug into each positional group to find some names that I want the Steelers to sign. Some of them are already being linked to the team, while others are personal favorite players of mine that I think would fit this roster. Here is one free agent by positional group I want Pittsburgh to target this off-season.
Steelers quarterback target: Ryan Tannehill
A lot has been said about what the Steelers should do at quarterback this offseason. Kenny Pickett has been miserable through two seasons as the starter, and he was essentially benched for Mason Rudolph last year. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of great long-term scenarios for this, and rightfully so Pickett figures to be in the starter conversation next year.
If Pittsburgh was in a prime position to land a top quarterback prospect, I would be all for drafting Pickett’s replacement. Instead, I’m willing to roll with him, take the lumps, and set this team up for taking his successor next offseason.
Because of this, I think Ryan Tannehill is a great fit for this offense. You can sign him on the cheap with the expectation that he would be a backup. If/when Pickett continues to struggle, he can also push and/or replace him. No, he doesn’t make the room significantly better, but I want a long-term solution in the room. Tannehill isn’t that, but he can be a cheap addition to push Pickett this year.
Steelers running back target: DeeJay Dallas
I genuinely think the Steelers need to add a third running back to this room. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren will be the core focus of this offense, but if either gets hurt next year, they will need a capable third option. They could look to the draft for a late-round option, but another name that makes some sense is DeeJay Dallas.
Free agency figures to be tough for the running back position. There are a slew of top names slated to hit the market, and with the running-back market this devalued, it will be interesting to see where everyone signs. Dallas isn’t one of those top names, but he has experience with the Seahawks and can handle some work if needed.
2023 saw his worst offensive performance from the former Miami back. It was a crowded room in Seattle and the top names stayed healthy, so he was relegated mostly to special teams work. In the past, he has proven to be a good compliment for an offense as both a runner and a receiver, and that makes him an intriguing third-back option.
That special team's ability is also great since that will be where a lot of his value comes for the team when the starters are healthy. He won’t earn much more than the minimum, can handle some snaps if needed, and is a core special teams player. There isn’t a lot to dislike about potentially adding him this offseason.
Steelers pass-catching target: Cedrick Wilson
I decided to combine the receivers and tight ends for this group. While it isn’t unthinkable for this team to sign a tight end (especially with Jonnu Smith now available and the potential of Connor Heyward shifting to more of a fullback role), mediocre tight ends are still paid a lot of money and I want to allocate my resources elsewhere.
Signing a receiver is much more likely, especially if Allen Robinson is cut outright. I’m not looking for a major name since the Steelers will likely gravitate toward two receiver sets, but being outside and inside capable is ideal. It also won’t inhibit this team from drafting a receiver in April.
I’ve found myself eyeing Cedrick Wilson as a potential target. He has everything this team would want in a potential slot receiver. He has the size and athleticism and can throw a block if needed. He also has NFL bloodlines, as his dad played in the NFL, including a short stint with the Steelers.
He was signed by Miami a few seasons ago with big expectations following his stint with the Cowboys. The fit was never right though, and he now enters free agency with a lot less hype than he previously had. He will likely get more than the minimum, but Wilson could be a cheap addition to this receiver room, play in the slot, and serve as a reserve for either outside receiver.
Steelers offensive line target: Matt Hennessy
When it comes to the offensive line, I’m mostly focused on center help. You could go tackle, but that comes at a cost. Like tight end, mediocre players receive big contracts, and I would rather risk drafting someone knowing that I have Dan Moore as a backup option. Finding some veteran minimum help is fine, but no one has caught my eye.
A potential center option has, and he has links to Arthur Smith. Matt Hennessy looked like a potential starter after two seasons in Atlanta, but a switch over to guard and some injuries later and he is entering free agency with almost no fanfare. He should get invited to a camp to compete, but it will likely be on a cheap deal.
That works well for the Steelers, as they need a better pure center option on the roster. Sure, Nate Herbig can play center, but it isn’t his natural position and he has struggled there in the past. Ideally, a rookie is going to be drafted early to start, but the draft is unpredictable, and you can’t go into April with that as your only option.
The team could sign a bigger name like Lloyd Cushinberry to be the starting center, but I would prefer Hennessy on the cheap. He could recapture some of the play he had earlier in his career, but if he doesn’t, a rookie should be there to take over for him. The fact that he will be cheap makes him my ideal target for the offensive line this offseason.
Steelers defensive line target: Christian Wilkins
If the Steelers decide to go all out and address a positional group in free agency, I hope it is the defensive line. The draft is lacking any great fits for the team, and the room has been lackluster over the past few seasons. There are a few names that make sense in this free agency class, and I want to see the room rebuilt similarly to how the linebacker room was rebuilt a season ago.
My pipe dream target is Christian Wilkins. While he isn’t the perfect size for this team, he has proven to be an effective defender so far in his career. A slow start to his career finally turned a corner in 2021. While he was always a decent run defender, he developed a better pass-rush plan. This led to him having a career year last year.
He can slot in as a defensive end for this team, and in doing so, it means you would be able to cut Larry Ogunjobi. This would result in some minor cap savings which could go to this new deal, as Wilkins will in no way be cheap. Coming off a career year and at a valuable position, expect him to receive a lot of interest in free agency.
While he is the least likely name to join the Steelers on this list, I am all for a defensive line overhaul in free agency. To do that, you need to land an improvement, and I view Wilkins as that over Ogunjobi. Again, it isn’t likely to happen, but he would be my choice for a crown jewel signing this offseason.
Steelers linebacker target: Tyler Matakevich
I’ve combined edge rusher and off-ball linebacker into one spot for this list, as both rooms actually have decent depth so far. While bringing back a veteran like Markus Golden in the edge room makes sense, you also have an ascending player in Nick Herbig on the roster, so it isn’t a position of desperate need.
Off the ball, while having significantly less elite talent, is also a pretty full room. Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts should both be back and primed to start. Depth is needed beyond Mark Robinson, but there isn’t an immediate need for a starter.
Instead of finding some washed-up veteran backup, I would love to reunite with one of the better special teams players in the league. Tyler Matakevich has found sustained success in the NFL despite playing less than 300 total defensive snaps. He has carved out a role as a core special teams player and has thrived there with the Steelers and Bills.
Matakavich offers you next to nothing on defense, but he can be the last linebacker on the roster a play everywhere on special teams. For two positions with relatively set starters and some ok depth behind them, I’m fine signing a special teams-specific player, especially one that played for the Steelers previously.
Steelers cornerback target: Sean Bunting
I am less inclined than a lot of Steelers fans to target a major outside cornerback option this offseason. Instead, I really want to see the slot position get sorted out and have a player who is capable of starting there on all three downs. As I’ve researched though, I think you could get the best of both with Sean Bunting.
While Bunting was used almost exclusively as an outside cornerback last year with the Titans, he has some extensive history working in the slot in Tampa Bay. He isn’t a flashy player, but he can hold his own in both coverage and plays really well against the run. This would make him a valuable depth piece for this team.
If no better option materializes, Bunting can play a similar role to how Cam Sutton did in his last season with the team, playing on the outside in base packages and kicking inside when needed. If someone separates from the pack on the outside, Bunting can play inside full-time and still make an impact for this team.
The cornerback market could get pricy this offseason, but Bunting likely won’t be among the top-paid cornerbacks in free agency. While he won’t be playing on a minimum contract, he also likely won’t break the bank. Add in his flexibility to play inside and he is my top pick for a potential cornerback to target this offseason.
Steelers safety target: Jeremy Chinn
Rounding out my free agent list is a major addition to the safety room. Last year, the Steelers relied on the combination of Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee when both were healthy/not suspended to mediocre results. Frankly, I think this defense would benefit from having a more defined starting safety instead of multiple chess pieces.
In free agency, a player who fits that well is Jeremy Chinn. He flashed some strong tape in his first two seasons as a classic box safety, but injuries and the defense trying to use him in the deeper part of the secondary have limited his effectiveness.
He fits the mold of what this team likes, as he has the build of a linebacker but can serve as a traditional safety. He thrives in the box and can play deeper when needed, but adding him would give the defense a clear center fielder in Minkah Fitzpatrick and a classic box safety in Chinn.
The safety market has been depreciated in recent years as well, so I doubt that Chinn will land a big contract all things considered. He can be a cheap solution to provide this team with a more traditional starting safety for 2024.
While not every name on this list will make it to the Steelers, they are all ones that I personally believe fit what this team needs in 2024. They are on my short list of potential additions I hope this team targets.