Gaining cap space to have any spending change is something the Steelers are currently focused on at this juncture of the offseason. It is still early as free agency is still a couple of weeks away, but this club needs to start making actions happen soon with their current players under contract. No matter if they decide to create cap space with restructures or contract terminations, this team needs to make tough decisions.
Every organization around the NFL has rumors swirling around their building as many different players look for new homes. Those rumors have hit Pittsburgh again, just like they seemingly do around this time every year. Fans are excited to see what the club adds during the offseason, but some of these rumors do not seem like possible scenarios.
Trading for a big-name player does not seem to be in the Steelers cards
Surprisingly there have been some interesting names brought up in connection with the Steelers via trade. These seem unlikely as the group normally looks to upgrade their roster through the draft, which includes an extra second-round selection this year. The black and gold normally do not like to go the trade route, especially when a player would cost an arm and a leg to acquire.
Both Mike Evans and Jalen Ramsey have been connected to Pittsburgh. Evans would not make a lot of sense as he carries a high cap number, is getting older, and plays a position that the club is not in desperate need of. Ramsey makes a little more sense, but if you investigate the kind of compensation to acquire him, many fans would likely scoff at this idea.
Daron Payne will not end up with the Steelers in free agency
Free agency could be a great place for the black and gold to address many of their faults across their roster. One of the biggest concerns for this club right now is the issues in the trenches of the defensive line. Larry Ogunjobi is a pending free agent, and his future with the Steelers is up in the air currently.
One player that could fix the mystery next to Cam Heyward in the trenches would be adding a player like Daron Payne. He has become one of the better defensive linemen in the NFL after being drafted in the first round by Washington a handful of years ago. That would be a great one-two punch up front for this defense and allow for an easier transition whenever Heyward starts to slow down. The structure of what the black and gold look for in free agent additions is there, but the pile of money that will be thrown at him will cause this to fizzle out.
Signing Payne would go against the grain of what the Steelers normally do in free agency. Signing a defensive lineman to a lucrative contract at the start of that process would be something not too many are expecting to transpire. Payne would be a nice addition, but Pittsburgh does not seem like they will be too interested in his projected cap hit.
Tremaine Edmunds would be a fit, but will not join the Steelers
Mike Tomlin loves having football families on the roster. We have seen that plenty of times before and it could happen again if Pittsburgh re-signs Terrell Edmunds. He is one of the biggest free agents for the team currently and bringing him back should be high on the to-do list for Omar Khan and company.
Tremaine Edmunds was the top target for the black and gold when he was coming out of the draft. He was taken before the Steelers had a chance to select him, and he has enjoyed a nice professional career to this point. Edmunds is looking to cash in this summer and could look to a familiar city with his brother, at least that is the logic behind this rumor.
There is a fit between Edmunds and Pittsburgh as he is still very young, and the group desperately needs a legit number-one linebacker in the middle of their defense. He is a dominant presence and has become one of the best in the NFL at his position. Perhaps this might be the most realistic rumor in this article as the fit is there and Tomlin would surely be intrigued by employing both brothers. The amount of money that will likely be thrown his way will likely squash this idea, but it is not impossible.
Taylor Lewan has too many things going against him to join the Steelers
Get ready because the Taylor Lewan to Pittsburgh rumors are going to be in full effect after his official release from the Tennessee Titans. He was just let go from the organization as they try and battle cap issues, which made Lewan expendable. He has not been healthy throughout his career, but he has been an above-average left tackle in the league when he is on the field.
The Steelers need a left tackle to take over for Dan Moore Jr. as he continues to struggle at the position. Lewan is a fit in that essence and he could bring experience to a group that is lacking that for the most part. Even though this veteran has done well when he is healthy, the concern of how many games he could miss is always there.
Another issue is that Lewan has beef with T.J. Watt, and that alone could deter the Steelers from signing him. This tackle is injury prone and over 30 years old. Those two things are giant red flags that are hardly ever ignored by this franchise. The need is there and overall, it could make sense to add Lewan in some instances. It seems less likely as the club could just draft a starter at tackle for a younger and cheaper option.