The Steelers have wrapped up the majority of the major free agency moves, and with enough time having passed to get details, I wanted to take the time to grade the initial moves this team has made. It has been an eventful period, as the team has made use of its limited resources to add some new faces to this roster.
Every move hasn’t been perfect though, and overall I don’t think this team has handled this free agency period that well. This is the time to add cornerstone players for the betterment of Kenny Pickett’s future. Instead, some of the signings have been slight overpays and adding talent that is far from elite.
While I am doing as complete of a list as possible, I will not be grading any deals near the veteran minimum. Those players take up almost no cap space if they make the roster or not, and adding them does little to push the overall outlook of the team.
Due to there being no inherent risks with these deals, players like Le’Raven Clark, James Pierre, and Zach Gentry all earn fine grades. If, for some reason, they were cut, it has no impact on the cap this team has. They all provide cheap depth and each can step in to start if need be. For the remainder of the major deals though, here are my initial grades for the Steelers free agency class.
Steelers grade for re-signing Damontae Kazee
Contract: 2 years, 6 million dollars, 1.75 million dollar signing bonus
Grade: B-
I for one was thrilled with what the Steelers got out of Damontae Kazee last year. Once he got onto the field, he was a viable starter and versatile player in the defensive backfield. He could fill in the slot and play either safety spot, leading to this team deploying a lot of three-safety sets.
While Kazee would likely be better suited as that third safety, I am confident he can start in a pinch. That may end up being the case, as the team is currently lacking any viable starters at strong safety. If the team needs him to, Kazee can start there for the year.
My issue is the value of the contract. While a potential starter, the safety market is very deflated this offseason. Outside of Jessie Bates, the top starters got anywhere from 6-7 million a season. Even Terrell Edmunds got less than Kazee, and I’m not sure he is a worse starter at this point in their careers. Three million for a starter isn’t a bad deal, but I think the team could have gotten better value elsewhere.
Despite this seeming like an overpay, I can’t be that upset with the deal. It is very team friendly and it seems like Kazee will play a big role for this defense this season. If it doesn’t work out, the Steelers can part ways very easily next season. That said, I feel like the team could have gotten a better value elsewhere.
Steelers grade for signing Elandon Roberts
Contract: 2 years, 7 million dollars, 2.335 million dollar signing bonus
Grade: C-
I really want to like the Steelers signing of Elandon Roberts. On paper, the team is getting a viable two-down starter at a fair price. The Steelers have also gotten pretty poor play from their linebackers in recent years, especially against the run. That is something Roberts does well, as he can play downhill and shoot through gaps.
My issue is that Roberts seems like a redundant fit for this defense. The other linebacker added (more on him soon) is a similar player against the run. Add in Mark Robinson flashing a lot as a rookie, and it seems like Roberts doesn’t have a great fit on this defense. Either he is taking snaps away from Robinson or he is an expensive backup.
If the team wanted that dependable run stuffer, they could have brought back Robert Spillane at the same price. What would have been an even better idea is spending up slightly and spending a bit more for some of the linebackers that hit the market. This deal isn’t a huge deal given the relatively little cap space, but I feel like Pittsburgh could have done better.
Steelers grade for signing Nate Herbig
Contract: 2 years, 8 million dollars, 2.92 million dollar signing bonus
Grade: C
While I do believe this is a slight overpay for the type of player that Nate Herbig is, I was initially fine with the move. While Herbig is far from an elite starter, he can get a push in the run game even if his pass blocking leaves a lot to be desired. As a player that can compete for a starting spot, it seemed like a fine move.
The Steelers have since added to the interior of the line, and that makes this signing less favorable to me. Initially, it looked like the Steelers had Herbig who can serve as the swing interior lineman while also pushing Kevin Dotson. Whoever won the starting position would fill n at guard while the other would be the top backup at either guard spot.
Now, it looks like Herbig was brought in just to be a reserve, so I think this contract is a little rich. I would have rather seen the money spent elsewhere, as Dotson would have been a fine interior swingman if he needed to step in for an injury. I can’t hate the signing, but the value just seems too high for what the Steelers are getting.
Steelers grade for signing Cole Holcomb
Contract: 3 years, 18 million dollars, 4.92 million dollar signing bonus
Grade: C+
Another deal that I am trying to like, Cole Holcomb should be an upgrade to this linebacker room. He can play the run, hold his own in coverage, and can blitz the quarterback. He is a fine athlete and communicator, meaning that he can play every down for this defense. Considering how poor the Steelers linebackers have been, Holcomb should be a welcome addition.
My main issue is the contract. Six million a season isn’t a bad contract for a starter, but the linebacker market was rather cheap this off-season. Some of the top names went for far less than what they were expected to. Add in the fact that Holcomb is coming off a foot injury, and this deal seems like an overpay in this market.
I would have preferred the team to sign T.J. Edwards (who is earning just 500 thousand more a season) or Kyzir White, as both are better players than Holcomb and signed similar deals. The best aspect of this deal is the small signing bonus, as it makes this deal easy to get out of. That said, I think there were better fits at a similar price.
Steelers grade for signing Patrick Peterson
Contract: 2 years, 14 million dollars, 5.85 million dollar signing bonus
Grade: B
I wrote about the Patrick Peterson deal more in-depth when right after the deal was announced, and my thoughts haven’t really changed. On the surface, adding Peterson at that price is a good deal. While older, Peterson showed that he can still hang last year, and I expect him to be a solid starter for at least the first year of his deal.
My issue is the likely long-term impact of this deal. Peterson is still playing well, but he will be 33 years old this season and is certainly close to the end of his career. This type of deal would have made more sense for a contender, as Peterson can be a short-term starter. The Steelers aren’t that though, so the Peterson deal is hard to figure out.
All of that considered, getting a capable starting cornerback for seven million dollars is a fine deal. Peterson fills the need for a top cornerback, even if it is only for a short amount of time. I may find the deal as a whole confusing, but it certainly isn’t a bad deal. Peterson should be a solid addition to this team even if I don’t completely understand the deal for either side.
Steelers grade for signing Isaac Seumalo
Contract: 3 years, 24 million dollars, 6.95 million dollar signing bonus
Grade: A
This is the easiest contract to grade for the Steelers. While I do think the focus has been too heavy on the interior of the line (see the Herbig grade), Isaac Seumalo is a bonafide star. It took him a few seasons to develop, but Seumalo finally put everything together with the Eagles last season.
Though he is a little bit older at 29, interior linemen can play at an older age. Many considered Seumalo the best interior lineman in free agency, yet the Steelers signed him for eight million a season. For someone that can come in and provide the team with another bruising interior lineman.
If you wanted to find a fault with this deal, you could argue that the Steelers should have targeted Nate Davis instead, as he is younger and has a higher ceiling as a player to this point. He only signed for 10 million a season, but his contract is far less team friendly. The fact that is my only complaint is a good thing, as this deal for Seumalo is a good one overall.
Steelers grade for resigning Larry Ogunjobi
Contract: 3 years, 28.75 million dollars, 10.6 million dollar signing bonus
Grade: D
From the Steelers best move of the offseason to their worst, I wasn’t against the team bringing back Larry Ogunjobi. He played well enough last season, but I didn’t think he lived up to his eight-million-dollar deal last season. He got a pay raise though, and I can’t grade that move all that high.
In terms of defensive linemen, Ogunjobi’s deal comes in the second tier of players. He isn’t among the top earners in free agency, but he is still costing a pretty penny. He is also set to enter his age 29 season, meaning that regression is likely coming soon. His deal also doesn’t move the needle that much, as the Steelers could still likely use an early pick on a traditional end.
I do expect Ogunjobi to have a bigger impact this year than last year. He has an entire offseason to get acclimated into this defense and he is another year removed from his injury that cost him the end of his 2021 season. That said, his deal is still an overpay for what he provided last year. I can’t get behind his deal because of this.
It has been a busy offseason for the Steelers, but I’m not overly impressed with what the team has done so far. Considering the players the team has brought in and the general market for these positions, I think the team could have done better. That said, I have been wrong before, and I hope I am wrong again.