According to CBS Sports' Jason LaCanfora, the Steelers will host free agent pass rusher Melvin Ingram this week as they prepare to open training camp on Thursday.
For some, it might seem like a no-brainer signing. After all, the Steelers lost Bud Dupree and Ola Adeniyi, two of their top four outside linebackers, in free agency, leaving T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and some largely unproven commodities at the position still on the roster.
But the first question the Steelers must ask Ingram is what exactly he is looking to do? Does he want to be a starter? Would he be content being a backup to Highsmith, a third-round draft pick from a year ago?
Ingram, after all, sat out of training camp practices with the Chargers last season, unhappy with his $14 million salary last season because it wasn't guaranteed. He then played in just seven games and failed to record a sack while making 10 tackles while dealing with a knee injury that eventually landed him on IR.
Now 32, does Ingram still think of himself as a player who could stick his nose up at a $14-million salary? Or, does he just want a chance to play football in 2021?
The Steelers have roughly $13 million in salary cap space. But they also wouldn't mind getting Watt signed to a long-term extension at some point before this season begins.
They're not going to go overboard to pay Ingram. And maybe they just want to have their doctors check out that knee to see where Ingram is at in his rehab process.
They also aren't likely to offer Ingram, who had seven sacks in 13 games in 2019, a starting spot. They like Highsmith and want to give him an opportunity to take over that starting role opposite Watt.
There's also the fact they might have other holes to fill once training camp begins and injuries start to hit. Ingram would certainly help the team -- at the right price. But if they spend a chunk of their remaining cap space now and are then beset by injuries at another position, will they be capable of stemming the tide.
Because of that, don't necessarily look for Ingram to sign with the team right away. They could just check out him out medically and then revisit the situation in a few weeks when they have a couple of preseason games under their belt.
That would probably be the most prudent move.
After all, he hasn't signed anywhere yet. If another team comes sniffing around, then they could make that move.
YOUR TURN: Should the Steelers sign Ingram now or wait a few more weeks?
