Nothing should be off the table when it comes to the lengths that the Steelers go to scout and find talent. They need a lot of issues resolved across their roster for the upcoming 2023 campaign, and the normal ways of player addition might not be enough. Luckily for them, there is a new way of getting talent to the NFL, as many other football leagues are starting up.
The USFL will start later this spring, but the XFL starts back up this weekend. This will be their first season after their failed attempt to come back in 2020. Many different players that have varying degrees of NFL experience will try and catch the eye of NFL teams with the hope of securing a contract by the time the XFL season ends.
Steelers could look at different special team contributors in the XFL
Marquette King is a unique personality and used to be one of the better punters in the league. Pressley Harvin III has not been consistent enough right now for the club to feel comfortable going into the pre-season. If King shows that he still has a booming leg, then it would be a wise decision to bring in for competition with Harvin, which will allow for the winner to take the job on the final roster.
Matthew McCrane is another specialist that the Steelers should keep close tabs on during his upcoming XFL season. He has NFL experience, which includes a short stint with the black and gold a couple of years ago. Chris Boswell brought up some concerns with the way he kicked last year, which might just be enough for the coaches to bring in some competition when the pre-season rolls around.
Looking into a potential backup quarterback could be an option
Trying to find a backup quarterback that is reliable in the NFL is a hard task to accomplish. Add that reliability with someone that comes at a low cap hit and it's almost impossible to find. Last season had one of the better quarterback depth charts that this team has seen in a very long time. One or two of those players could be off the roster this offseason.
Mason Rudolph is not coming back after sitting as the third-string signal caller all year. Mitch Trubisky has gotten many different praises from the coaches and the owner as well. He carries a high cap hit and voiced his displeasure with the club, which could see him leaving town before you know it. That leads the organization to look at some potential cheap fallback options participating in the XFL.
Looking at the XFL for a backup quarterback is not the worst idea as there were some interesting options the last time this league was around. A.J. McCarron would make a lot of sense as he should be able to perform well in this league. He was drafted by the Bengals and proved to be a stable quarterback when he got starts in the NFL. There are not too many other options in the XFL this season with more NFL experience on his resume than McCarron has.
Trying to find good depth at the edge position should be sought after
Quincey Roche was just signed to a futures deal over a month ago, so there is going to be competition at outside linebacker. Things did not work out well for him during his first stint with the Steelers, but this club needs to add a lot of hats to the depth of the edge rushing position. Looking to add to those that play behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith seems like a priority for the black and gold this offseason.
They struggled to do much after Watt went out of the lineup with a pec injury. That has become a massive problem for this group, and they need reliable depth to come into this room. Free agency might be the more viable option for Pittsburgh when you want a dependable veteran presence to come in and add valuable snaps on defense.
The XFL has a few different options that could interest the Steelers if they have a solid season. Vic Beasley might be the most notable name after being drafted eighth overall by the Falcons in the 2015 NFL Draft. He was a bust, but he could rejuvenate his career and join the black and gold to fight for a depth role in camp. Beasley might not be an ideal third option on an NFL roster, but he would be solid in the fourth spot if he can beat out Roche and company.
There could be some interest in some offensive line help to boost depth
You are not going to figure out the starting offensive line woes with the players in the XFL right now. Dan Moore Jr. and Kevin Dotson have seemingly become Steelers Nation's most wanted since the offseason began. Both are the weakest points on the offensive line and the club should be looking for upgrades at both spots.
Kenny Pickett is the future of this franchise and protecting him should be a top priority for this cub. Upgrading the starting spots over Moore and Dotson would force them into a depth role, which would be a huge accomplishment. That would then allow the Steelers to look into the bottom of the roster guys that could be brought in to battle for the final spots on the roster in camp.
Enter the XFL into the equation to potentially catch the eyes of the black and gold if an offensive lineman jumps off the screen. Luke Juriga is someone that has gotten a lot of acclaim when compared to his fellow lineman entering the league this season. He went undrafted in 2020 but stuck with the Eagles for two seasons before joining the XFL. Juriga is expected to be one of the best overall offensive linemen as he anchors the center spot for the San Antonio Brahmas.
A familiar face could come back to the AFC North after their stay in XFL
Wide receiver is not an immense need for Pittsburgh this offseason, but they could always add another player. Other than Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, there are not too many proven receivers on this club. Looking at a veteran option at the XFL level could potentially be an interesting option for the Steelers.
Martavis Bryant will be suiting up for the Vegas Vipers after being out of the NFL for nearly five years. He was a great player during his time in the Steel City, but he could not stay out of the suspension bin. He was out of the league quickly after being traded to the Raiders. He has been in different leagues since then and could interest the black and gold if he shows some flashes of what he used to be with the Steelers.
Another former star receiver participating in the XFL is Josh Gordon. He used to be one of the top receivers in the NFL during his prime with the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers could have an interest in the veteran receiver with the younger group that they currently possess. If Gordon can show that he has not lost a step, then it could catch the eyes of most NFL scouts that will likely be in attendance.