The Pittsburgh Steelers are not above pilfering players from their division rivals in free agency. Look no further than linebacker Patrick Queen, who left his very comfortable spot as a member of a very good Baltimore Ravens team to sign a contract with Pittsburgh.
The Steelers have largely put their pencils down in the offseason, as any move that goes down in the next few days will likely be a cheap lottery ticket type of move. One player who could come to Pittsburgh is another ex-AFC North rival in need of a second chance.
SB Nation's Ryland Bickley proposed that Pittsburgh should chase after another ex-division rival in former Ravens pass rusher Tyus Bowser. The former Houston star was a promising situational pass-rusher in Baltimore before injuries helped things go pear-shaped.
The Steelers may have the most ferocious pass rusher in the game in TJ Watt and more than enough depth around him, but you can never have enough speed on the edge in the modern NFL. Bowser needs a spot that will be patient with him, and the Steelers could afford him that luxury.
Tyus Bowser was a great player for the Ravens when healthy
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) March 13, 2024
Developed into a versatile EDGE, with skills both as a pass rusher and in coverage
Tough it didn’t work out, but was really impressed with how he developed his game over the years in Baltimore pic.twitter.com/dniioOLnYC
Tyus Bowser could be cheap reclamation project for Pittsburgh Steelers
Bowser was a freakish athlete coming out of Houston, which led Baltimore to take him in the second round in 2017. After two years on the bench, Bowser started to come into his own by tallying 14 sacks, three forced fumbles, and three interceptions between 2019 and 2021. He was a better run defender than most imagined.
Thinks ultimately took a turn for the worse after injuries prevented him from suiting up last season. With Baltimore extending Odafe Oweh and drafting Adisa Isaac, Bowser didn't have a spot. Could the Steelers stand to benefit from the Ravens' decision?
Tomlin has never been above giving wayward veteran players one last chance to produce in his system, especially on the defensive side of the ball. If Bowser still has his trademark speed after the injuries, rolling the dice on a battle-scarred veteran might be better than trusting an unproven player.
After plucking Queen away from Baltimore (much to the chagrin of their fanbase), adding even more former Ravens to an already strong roster might dial up the intensity even more when these two teams but heads. Bowser may not be done with the NFL just yet, and the Steelers could get a fairly big reward for an economical price by signing him.