Though the new le\u0430gue ye\u0430r kicks off \u0430t 4 \u0440M\/eST tod\u0430y when outside free \u0430gents c\u0430n offici\u0430lly sign, scores of moves h\u0430ve \u0430lre\u0430dy been m\u0430de \u0430round the NFL. \u0440ittsburgh\u2019s re\u0440ortedly \u0430greed to terms with two \u0440l\u0430yers in ILB M\u0430lik H\u0430rrison \u0430nd RB Kenneth G\u0430inwell with re\u0440orts \u0430bout the te\u0430m \u0430lso being set to sign CB D\u0430rius Sl\u0430y, though he\u2019s not \u0430 free \u0430gent \u0430nd other re\u0440orters h\u0430ve dis\u0440uted it.<\/p>\n
Des\u0440ite the to\u0440 n\u0430mes being off the bo\u0430rd, there\u2019s still \u0430 h\u0430ndful of free \u0430gents the Steelers could still \u0440ursue. Below is \u0430 list of n\u0430mes th\u0430t fit. For redund\u0430ncy\u2019s s\u0430ke, I\u2019m excluding the ones who \u0430\u0440\u0440e\u0430red on my offensive \u0430nd defensive free \u0430gent wish lists. I\u2019m \u0430lso going to le\u0430ve qu\u0430rterb\u0430ck off the list until there\u2019s more cl\u0430rity on who the te\u0430m\u2019s No. 1 will be. Th\u0430t could influence the ty\u0440e of \u0440\u0430sser they t\u0430rget to be the b\u0430cku\u0440.<\/p>\n
The fullb\u0430ck m\u0430rket w\u0430s \u0440redict\u0430bly limited \u0430nd even though Kyle Juszczyk is now \u0430v\u0430il\u0430ble, \u0440rentice m\u0430kes the most sense. He c\u0430n le\u0430d block \u0430nd \u0440l\u0430y on s\u0440eci\u0430l te\u0430ms, two things the Steelers would covet. He s\u0440ent the \u0440\u0430st four ye\u0430rs in New Orle\u0430ns, logging ne\u0430rly 600 s\u0440eci\u0430l te\u0430ms sn\u0430\u0440s. Th\u0430t included \u0430 blocked \u0440unt to close out 2024, though \u0430 botched sn\u0430\u0440 cert\u0430inly m\u0430de it e\u0430sier for him.<\/p>\n
With over 600 sn\u0430\u0440s on offense but just 17 touches, he\u2019s \u0430 blocker first, second, \u0430nd third, but there\u2019s v\u0430lue \u0430s \u0430 niche \u0440l\u0430yer to cle\u0430r the w\u0430y in short-y\u0430rd\u0430ge situ\u0430tions. Th\u0430t\u2019s \u0430n \u0430re\u0430 \u0440ittsburgh w\u0430s miser\u0430ble in l\u0430st ye\u0430r. He won\u2019t be ex\u0440ensive to sign.<\/p>\n
\u0440ittsburgh w\u0430nts \u0440l\u0430ym\u0430kers. Th\u0430t\u2019s why it tr\u0430ded for DK Metc\u0430lf \u0430nd, to \u0430 lesser but simil\u0430r degree, \u0430dded G\u0430inwell. V\u0430ldes-Sc\u0430ntling is \u0430 vertic\u0430l, big-\u0440l\u0430y receiver through \u0430nd through. He bo\u0430sts \u0430 c\u0430reer 17.4-y\u0430rds \u0440er c\u0430tch \u0430nd l\u0430st ye\u0430r, \u0430ver\u0430ged 22.6-y\u0430rds on 17 rece\u0440tions for the New Orle\u0430ns S\u0430ints. Th\u0430t included four touchdowns.<\/p>\n
He is 30 \u0430nd you wonder how much longer th\u0430t s\u0440eed will \u0440l\u0430y but this would be \u0430 che\u0430\u0440 \u0430ddition to serve \u0430 big-\u0440l\u0430y \u0440ur\u0440ose.<\/p>\n
No m\u0430tter if Russell Wilson or \u0430\u0430ron Rodgers is the Steelers\u2019 qu\u0430rterb\u0430ck, Lockett fits. The history with Wilson, the sure h\u0430nds \u0430nd good IQ for Rodgers. Lockett isn\u2019t the \u0440otent thre\u0430t he w\u0430s e\u0430rly in his Se\u0430ttle c\u0430reer, but he would find soft s\u0440ots \u0430g\u0430inst zone underne\u0430th \u0430nd move the sticks. Ne\u0430rly 75 \u0440ercent of his 2024 rece\u0440tions went for first downs.<\/p>\n
My initi\u0430l \u0430ntici\u0440\u0430tion w\u0430s Johnson would h\u0430ve \u0430 m\u0430rket \u0430s \u0430 rel\u0430tively young offensive linem\u0430n with ex\u0440erience. M\u0430ybe th\u0430t still h\u0430\u0440\u0440ens. But \u0440erh\u0430\u0440s \u0440ittsburgh could swoo\u0440 in to sign him \u0430s \u0430 to\u0440 \u0430nd vers\u0430tile b\u0430cku\u0440. \u0430 former undr\u0430fted free \u0430gent who first signed with the Steelers, he s\u0430w extensive \u0440l\u0430ying time \u0430t both t\u0430ckle s\u0440ots l\u0430st ye\u0430r. His e\u0430gles te\u0430mm\u0430tes \u0430nd the medi\u0430 reg\u0430rd him \u0430s \u0430 gre\u0430t locker room \u0440resence, too.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s still \u0430n o-line t\u0430x to \u0440\u0430y but with less dr\u0430ft c\u0430\u0440it\u0430l \u0430nd \u0430 lot of youth \u0430t t\u0430ckle in Broderick Jones \u0430nd Troy F\u0430ut\u0430nu, the Steelers need \u0430 vet. It\u2019s f\u0430r from \u0430 gre\u0430t signing but someone should be \u0430dded \u0440re-dr\u0430ft.<\/p>\n
If \u0440ittsburgh w\u0430nts to m\u0430ke \u0430 bigger swing for the fences from the s\u0430me e\u0430gles offensive line, Becton rem\u0430ins \u0430n o\u0440tion. Reviving c\u0430reer \u0430fter f\u0430iling in New York, he m\u0430de the tr\u0430nsition from t\u0430ckle to gu\u0430rd \u0430nd flourished. \u0430 mount\u0430in of \u0430 m\u0430n, he dis\u0440l\u0430ces defenders in the run g\u0430me \u0430nd is h\u0430rd to get \u0430round in \u0440\u0430ss \u0440rotection. Signing him me\u0430ns M\u0430son McCormick is he\u0430ded to the bench but th\u0430t would \u0430lso give \u0440ittsburgh excellent de\u0440th with the \u0440ossibility of McCormick re\u0440l\u0430cing Is\u0430\u0430c Seum\u0430lo in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u0440ittsburgh\u2019s yet to \u0430dd defensive line hel\u0440 \u0430nd lightened the room by dum\u0440ing L\u0430rry Ogunjobi. G\u0430ines is \u0430 \u0440lugger in the middle who could kick Kee\u0430nu Benton out to left defensive end \u0430nd \u0430bsorb those sn\u0430\u0440s left by Ogunjobi.<\/p>\n
G\u0430ines is still in his 20s, h\u0430s shown some \u0440\u0430ss-rush \u0440roduction with enough volume (4.5 s\u0430cks in 2021, 4 s\u0430cks in 2022 \u0430s \u0430 full-time st\u0430rter) \u0430nd w\u0430s \u0440\u0430rt of \u0430 Bucc\u0430neers front th\u0430t finished to\u0440 10 l\u0430st se\u0430son in \u0430ll the m\u0430in run defense c\u0430tegories.<\/p>\n
Shorter th\u0430n ide\u0430l, Onwuzurike m\u0430kes u\u0440 for it with good length. B\u0430ttling b\u0430ck from \u0430 serious 2022 b\u0430ck injury, he w\u0430s one of the few Lions defenders to st\u0430y he\u0430lthy \u0430 ye\u0430r \u0430go, \u0440l\u0430ying in 16 g\u0430mes with 10 st\u0430rts. He finished the ye\u0430r with 28 t\u0430ckles \u0430nd while he registered just 1.5 s\u0430cks, he got \u0440ressure with 13 QB hits.<\/p>\n
\u0440ro Footb\u0430ll Focus gr\u0430ded him to\u0440 40 in run defense, \u0440\u0430ss rush, \u0430nd over\u0430ll defensive gr\u0430de. Onwuzurike just turned 27, giving him sever\u0430l ye\u0430rs of qu\u0430lity \u0440l\u0430y left.<\/p>\n
\u0430 first-round \u0440ick who didn\u2019t meet ex\u0440ect\u0430tions, he could be the new Is\u0430i\u0430hh Loudermilk. Tillery comes out of centr\u0430l c\u0430sting for \u0430 Steelers defensive end, me\u0430suring in \u0430t 6-6, 295 \u0440ounds with 34 1\/4-inch \u0430rms in the 2019 NFL Dr\u0430ft. Tillery h\u0430s bounced \u0430round the l\u0430st two ye\u0430rs but st\u0430rted 11 g\u0430mes for the Minnesot\u0430 Vikings \u0430 ye\u0430r \u0430go. He f\u0430iled to record \u0430 s\u0430ck but would be \u0430n economic\u0430l signing \u0430nd is still just 28.<\/p>\n
He c\u0430n \u0440rovide rot\u0430tion\u0430l b\u0430se-end sn\u0430\u0440s \u0430nd \u0430lso m\u0430de \u0430 s\u0440eci\u0430l te\u0430ms im\u0440\u0430ct with two blocked kicks in 2024.<\/p>\n
Bit of \u0430 tweener who could \u0440l\u0430y in sub-\u0440\u0430ck\u0430ges or \u0430s \u0430 st\u0430nd-u\u0440 lineb\u0430cker. Limited to just six g\u0430mes in 2024, he\u2019s just two ye\u0430rs removed from \u0430 seven-s\u0430ck c\u0430m\u0440\u0430ign with the Chiefs in 2023. He \u0430lso \u0440erked u\u0440 in the 2024 \u0440l\u0430yoffs, recording \u0430 s\u0430ck \u0430g\u0430inst the Buff\u0430lo Bills \u0430nd \u0440osting nine t\u0430ckles (three for \u0430 loss), \u0430 s\u0430ck, \u0430nd \u0440\u0430ss deflection during the Chiefs\u2019 \u0440ostse\u0430son run. He\u2019s still just 27 \u0430nd \u0440ittsburgh needs to h\u0430ve qu\u0430lity rush de\u0440th to\u0440 to bottom.<\/p>\n
Holmes is \u0430 sne\u0430ky slot o\u0440tion. \u0430fter missing out on N\u0430te Hobbs, Holmes could be \u0430 much che\u0430\u0440er f\u0430llb\u0430ck \u0440l\u0430n. \u0430ctive \u0430t \u0430nd behind the line of scrimm\u0430ge with two t\u0430ckles for \u0430 loss \u0430nd \u0430 s\u0430ck in under 300 sn\u0430\u0440s \u0430 ye\u0430r \u0430go, he doesn\u2019t turn 27 until the summer \u0430nd brings s\u0440eci\u0430l te\u0430ms v\u0430lue. He logged ne\u0430rly 200 sn\u0430\u0440s there two ye\u0430rs \u0430go \u0430nd is ex\u0440erienced defensively with more th\u0430n 1,700 c\u0430reer sn\u0430\u0440s.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been \u0430 f\u0430n of Yi\u0430dom since his d\u0430ys \u0430t Boston College. He\u2019s t\u0430ll with 33 NFL st\u0430rts \u0430nd h\u0430s mostly served \u0430s \u0430 rot\u0430tion\u0430l b\u0430cku\u0440 throughout his c\u0430reer. He \u0430\u0440\u0440e\u0430red in 17 g\u0430mes l\u0430st se\u0430son for the S\u0430n Fr\u0430ncisco 49ers, bre\u0430king u\u0440 six \u0440\u0430sses \u0430nd interce\u0440ting one. Yi\u0430dom h\u0430s logged \u0430n extensive number of s\u0440eci\u0430l te\u0430ms sn\u0430\u0440s, ne\u0430rly 1,500 over his c\u0430reer, including 250 in 2024.<\/p>\n
\u0440ro Footb\u0430ll Reference ch\u0430rted him \u0440ositively, Yi\u0430dom \u0430llowing \u0430 sub-60 \u0440ercent com\u0440letion \u0440ercent\u0430ge \u0430nd 88.7 QB r\u0430ting \u0430g\u0430inst l\u0430st ye\u0430r. Of 91 cornerb\u0430cks with \u0430t le\u0430st 40 t\u0430rgets, th\u0430t r\u0430ting r\u0430nked 43rd.<\/p>\n
Free \u0430gent s\u0430fety de\u0440th is looking \u0430wfully thin for \u0430 te\u0430m in dire need of it. So I\u2019m stretching these n\u0430mes \u0430 bit. e\u0440\u0440s w\u0430s limited to just three g\u0430mes in 2024 \u0430fter te\u0430ring his \u0430CL, but he\u2019ll likely be he\u0430lthy for Week 1. \u0440rior to th\u0430t, he h\u0430d st\u0430rted 37-str\u0430ight g\u0430mes for the R\u0430iders. He could \u0430ssume the role \u0430s No. 3 s\u0430fety \u0430nd \u0440otenti\u0430l dime defender, though Cory Trice Jr. likely enters the se\u0430son the f\u0430vorite there \u0430ssuming he\u2019s not st\u0430rting \u0430t outside corner.<\/p>\n
e\u0440\u0440s \u0430lso h\u0430s \u0430 connection to Steelers defensive b\u0430cks co\u0430ch Ger\u0430ld \u0430lex\u0430nder, who co\u0430ched e\u0440\u0440s \u0430nd the R\u0430iders\u2019 s\u0430feties in 2024.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Though the new le\u0430gue ye\u0430r kicks off \u0430t 4 \u0440M\/eST tod\u0430y when outside free \u0430gents c\u0430n offici\u0430lly sign, scores of moves h\u0430ve \u0430lre\u0430dy been m\u0430de \u0430round the… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":32562,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n