The NFL legal tampering period begins at noon Monday, with full-fledged free agency starting Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Most certainly some news will leak out before Wednesday of handshake deals, but things will be in full swing by later in the week.
With nearly $30 million in available salary cap space, the Steelers find themselves in a spot in which they are unaccustomed to being – relatively flush with cash.
“I never view us as being that aggressive front of the line free agency team, we never have been, and I don’t anticipate that changing,” outgoing general manager Kevin Colbert said recently. “But I can’t say it wouldn’t. I hate to say that because I am saying two different things but traditionally, we haven’t been because we haven’t had that cap room. But we’ll look at … who we like, what they may be valued at and how we can make it work to put the best 90 players eventually down to 53 together.”
That said, the Steelers have some obvious needs. They’d like to add a veteran quarterback to compete with Mason Rudolph. They need to add some veteran leadership and skill on the offensive line. If strong safety Terrell Edmunds, cornerbacks Joe Haden and Ahkello Witherspoon and wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud, among others, leave in free agency, the team will need to find competent replacements.
It should make for an interesting few weeks.
Here are some players the Steelers should target as free agents:
QUARTERBACK
Mitch Trubisky, Bills: Trubisky signed a one-year, $2.5-million deal with the Bills last season after four seasons with the Bears, who took him No. 2 overall in 2017. With a robust market for veteran quarterbacks, he’ll likely get at least three times that much this year, not including incentives. But he’s got a winning record (29-21) as a starter and a 2-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. How high will the Steelers go in a bidding war for his services?
Marcus Mariota, Raiders: I used to be a Mariota truther, but he can’t stay healthy. The Raiders planned on using him in short-yardage situations last year and he was injured on his first rushing attempt. Is he the QB who had 45 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions in his first two seasons, or the one who has 32 touchdowns and 26 interceptions in the five years since?
Jameis Winston, Saints: Winston cleaned up his turnover issues the past two seasons with the Saints. In 11 games, including seven starts, he had 14 touchdown passes and just three interceptions. This after throwing 88 interceptions in 72 games with the Buccaneers. But Winston also is coming off a torn ACL, so it’s unknown what his market will be. I’m told the Steelers don’t love him, but that can change as other avenues dry up.
Teddy Bridgewater, Broncos: Easily my least favorite player of this group, Bridgewater does have his positives. He doesn’t turn the ball over much. But he also doesn’t take many chances. Bridgewater is the epitome of a caretaker at the quarterback position. But you can win with him if everything around him is good to very good because of the way he values the football.
Jacoby Brissett, Dolphins: Brissett has a history with Matt Canada, which doesn’t hurt his cause. He also was signed by Brian Flores and company in Miami last season. He’s got starting experience that, at times, has been good. Like Bridgewater, though, I don’t know that he would be anything more than a placeholder.
OFFENSIVE LINE
James Daniels, G/C, Bears: Still just 24, Daniels has made 48 career starts, including eight at center. His addition would give the Steelers some flexibility in the interior of their line. They’re intent on giving Kendrick Green another shot at showing he can be a viable NFL center. But if it doesn’t work out, Daniels could be a very good fallback option. Or, he could simply be the starter at right guard. Spotrac.com estimates it will take a deal that will average $7 million per season. This makes more sense than signing a 30-plus-year-old player such as Ryan Jenson or Brandon Scherff for twice the money.
Ethan Pocic, G/C, Seahawks: Another interior offensive linemen with both guard and center capabilities, the former LSU star is still just 26 with 40 career starts under his belt. Pocic has gotten better in each of his NFL seasons and at 6-6, 320 pounds, would add more physicality to the interior of the line.
Austin Corbett, G/C, Rams: Most of Corbett’s NFL experience is at guard, but he has some center play in his background, as well. Traded to the Rams after flaming out with the Browns, who used a second-round pick on him, Corbett has excelled in Los Angeles, starting every game the past two seasons. Spotrac.com estimates a deal that averages $8.7 million per year would get him signed. And at 26, he’s still young enough that a long-term deal would make sense.
Matt Pryor, OT, Colts: Pryor has appeared in 32 games, including 15 starts, in the past two seasons with the Eagles and Colts. At 6-6, 332 pounds, he’s a masher at the right tackle position, which very well might be what the Steelers are looking for at the position if they’re unable or unwilling to re-sign Chuks Okorafor. Spotrac.com estimates his cost will be $4.3 million per year.
Trent Brown, OT, Patriots: A big-ticket item at right tackle, Brown might have a pretty good market. Spotrac estimates he’ll get a deal that averages $10.5 million per year. But he’s still 28, so this is one that might be worth it for a powerful run blocker.
Joseph Noteboom, Rams: Noteboom has largely been the Rams’ swing tackle the past three seasons, making 17 starts. He’s got a lot of athletic traits and is still just 26. He won’t break the bank and the former third-round pick could be a true find.
WIDE RECEIVER
Zach Pascal, Colts: A big-bodied receiver at 6-2, 214 pounds, Pascal has been good, not great, for the Colts, catching 150 passes for 1,888 yards and 15 touchdowns over the past four seasons. He’s got some kick return and special teams value, as well. Just a solid, professional No. 3 receiver who won’t break the bank. He signed a one-year, $3.3-million deal with the Colts last year. A similar deal would get him this year.
Zay Jones, Raiders: Jones emerged late last season as a nice target for the Raiders. And he’s got a couple of seasons with 500-plus yards under his belt. But he was on a one-year, $2.5-million deal last year with the Raiders. The nephew of former Bengals quarterback Jeff Blake, Jones is still just 27 and a nice complementary receiver.
Jakeem Grant, Bears: Grant is 29, but he remains one of the most dangerous punt returners in the NFL. He’s had at least one kick or punt return for a touchdown in each of his six NFL seasons. Steelers senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach Brian Flores also is quite familiar with him. Grant is a souped-up version of McCloud. He’s also a capable target as a receiver and on end arounds.
Byron Pringle, Chiefs: Pringle destroyed the Steelers in two games against them last season, catching six passes for 75 yards and two scores in a regular season meeting, then adding five catches for 37 yards and two more touchdowns in the playoffs. A former practice squad player, he’s a little overaged at 28, but Spotrac estimates he’ll only cost $3.2 million per year, which certainly fits under the budget for a No. 3 wideout who also has kick return capabilities and special teams coverage ability.
RUNNING BACK
Marlon Mack, Colts: Mack is a former 1,000-yard runner but fell far behind Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines on the depth chart in Indianapolis. Spotrac estimates Mack will cost two years, $5 million. The Steelers need to upgrade their situation behind Najee Harris, and Mack would do that.
Darrel Williams, Chiefs: Another veteran back who wouldn’t break the bank, Williams is estimated to get a deal that averages $2.2 million per season. He’s cut his teeth in a time share and has always been ready when called upon.
Carlos Hyde, Jaguars: Another player who was released this week, Hyde showed last season he can still get the job done when forced to step in for the Jaguars. He’s also a former 1,000-yard back who can help add some veteran leadership to a young offensive unit relatively cheaply.
INSIDE LINEBACKER
Bobby Wagner, Seahawks: Given the depth of the inside linebacker class in this year’s draft, the only inside linebacker the Steelers should consider adding in free agency – at least pre-draft – would be Wagner. He’s not what he once was, but if you can sign him to a two-year deal, at 31, he should still have enough left in the tank to improve the defense and perhaps help show the younger players at the position the tricks of the trade.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Tavon Young, CB, Ravens: The Ravens released Young earlier this week to create cap space. He had been due to count $9.1 million against their cap in 2022 after they signed him to a three-year, $25.8-million deal in 2019. That shows what they felt about him. He’s battled through some injuries – who with the Ravens hasn’t? But he’s still just 27 and was one of the top nickel corners in football before Baltimore’s pass defense completely fell apart last season. Young wasn’t the issue. He allowed a passer rating of 85.1 last season. And, because he was released, he wouldn’t affect the Steelers’ compensatory pick formula.
Justin Coleman, CB, Dolphins: Another nickel corner, Coleman has an extensive history with Flores. He was with him in New England in 2015 and 2016, then joined Flores in Miami last year in Miami as a free agent. Coleman has six career interceptions, 44 pass breakups and two sacks. And he won’t break the bank. Miami got him last year on a one-year, $1.75-million deal. Not bad for a player who allowed a pass rating of 63.4 in his coverage last season.
Levi Wallace, CB, Bills: Wallace would be a good option if the Steelers are unable to re-sign Witherspoon. He’s had two interceptions in each of the past three seasons and had 10 pass breakups last season. Two of those interceptions have come against the Steelers. The former Alabama star isn’t a burner, but he’s a smart player with good ball skills. Opponents had a passer rating of 72.6 targeting him last season.
Donte Jackson, CB, Panthers: Jackson isn’t the biggest corner at 5-10, 180 pounds, but he’s got outstanding ball skills. In four seasons, he’s picked off 12 passes. A groin injury limited him to 12 games last season, but he’s still just 26 and healthy now. Opponents had a passer rating of 86.5 in his coverage last season, up just slightly from the 79.2 in 2020.
Malik Hooker, S, Cowboys: Hooker would be a nice fallback option if Edmunds leaves. A late signing by the Cowboys last season, he allowed 16 completions on 28 targets in his coverage. He’s had some injury issues in his career, but he’s got ball skills with five interceptions in four seasons.
Ronnie Harrison, S, Browns: Another former Alabama star, Harrison has spent the past two seasons with the Browns. The former second-round draft pick has dealt with some injury issues, but he’s got five career interceptions to go along with five sacks. Last year marked the first time in his four NFL seasons that opponents had better than a 100 passer rating against him, but he’s been good in coverage before that.