The Steelers don't have a lengthy history of signing players in free agency. But like most teams, they've dipped their toes into the free agent pool from time to time.
Sometimes it works out. Others, not so much.
What makes for a successful free agent signing? Obviously, he has to make an impact on good teams. In some cases, they're the players who helped push the Steelers over the top. In others, they solidified a position and made an impact.
I've covered the Steelers since 1993, which just so happens to line up nicely with the start of free agency. Prior to that, the league had what was called Plan B free agency, which started in 1989.
In Plan B free agency, teams were permitted to protect 37 players. The remaining players were free to sign with any team. That's how Mike Mularkey joined the Steelers, for example, in 1989.
But it didn't bring about the movement that outright free agency did in 1993.
Here are a my top and bottom five free agent signings by the Steelers in the unrestricted free agent era as we head into this year's free agent period Wednesday:
THE WORST
5. Jon Bostic, LB (2018): Let's be clear, Bostic made just $2.2 million in 2018, but he was signed to help the Steelers replace Ryan Shazier, who had been lost to a career-ending injury the season before. Bostic did have 73 tackles and 2.5 sacks, but his complete inability to cover anyone was constantly on display. After one season, Bostic was gone despite signing a two-year deal. After trying to fill Shazier’s spot the next season with a myriad of players, including safety Morgan Burnett, the Steelers sent three draft picks to the Broncos to move up and select Devin Bush. That's what gives Bostic the nod here.
4. Ladarius Green, TE (2016): When Green played, he was effective. But he was signed to a 4-year, $20-million deal. For that, the Steelers got 18 receptions for 304 yards and one touchdown in six games, two of them starts, as he struggled with an ankle issue and then concussions that led to his eventual release. Green was signed to replace Heath Miller. That never happened.
3. Donte Moncrief, WR (2019): Signed at the same time as linebacker Mark Barron, Moncrief was supposed to provide some veteran leadership to the offense. He was expected to ease the loss of Antonio Brown, who was traded in the offseason. Instead, he struggled through injuries and drops and was cut after nine games. That was not what the Steelers had in mind when they signed him to a two-year, $9-million deal. He finished with four catches for 18 yards.
2. LeGarrette Blount, RB (2014): Signed to a two-year, $3.85-million deal to be Le'Veon Bell's backup, Blount thought he was much more than that. And all was fine until Bell went off for a 204-yard rushing game in Tennessee in Week 11. To that point, Blount had been the team's closer. But he walked off the field before the game ended and was quickly released, only to be picked up by the Patriots.
1. Kent Graham, QB (2000): Signed in 2000 to compete with Kordell Stewart for the starting job, Graham was inexplicably named the team's starting quarterback despite rarely attempting a pass beyond 10 yards throughout training camp and the preseason. In five starts, he completed 44.7 percent of his passes for 844 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. Graham didn't turn the ball over, but he took no chances, either. I can remember charting throws in training camp that year and being amazed how Graham always -- always -- checked down, even in seven-on-seven drills.
THE BEST
Honorable mention: Ryan Clark, S (2006-2013); Ray Seals, DE (1994-1995); Wil Wolford, G-T (1996-1998); John L. Williams, FB (1994-1995); Brent Alexander, S (2000-2003); Norm Johnson, PK (1995-1998); Courtney Hawkins, WR (1997-2000); DeAngelo Williams (2015-2016)
5. Dewayne Washington, CB, 1998-2003: Many people would have Clark somewhere on this list. And while Clark made an impact, Washington played a much more important position. He also had 19 interceptions in six seasons to 12 for Clark in eight years, scoring a touchdown, as well. Washington came to the Steelers from the Vikings in 1998 and was a starter in all six of his seasons, including helping the team to the AFC Championship game in 2001.
4. Kimo von Oelhoffen, DE/NT, 2000-2005: Von Oelhoffen came to the Steelers after six seasons with the Bengals, where he caught the eye of future Hall of Fame center Dermontti Dawson as someone who was tough to move out of the trenches. Von Oelhoffen started on the nose in 2000, then moved over to end when Casey Hampton was added. He was instrumental in the team’s Super Bowl run in 2005 and finished with 20.5 sacks in six seasons with the Steelers, winning a Super Bowl and playing in three AFC Championships. Of course, he’ll also be remembered as the player who wrecked Carson Palmer’s knee in the AFC playoffs in 2005, starting the Steelers’ Super Bowl run.
3. Jeff Hartings, C, 2001-2006: Hartings had been a guard with the Lions, but general manager Kevin Colbert, who had been with him in Detroit, had the foresight to know he could move over to center. The replacement for Dawson, Hartings appeared in 90 games with the Steelers, starting 89, and helping the team to three AFC Championship games and a Super Bowl win. He also was All-Pro twice and to the Pro Bowl two other times. There was a lot of pressure to be the next center in line for the Steelers following nearly three decades of Mike Webster and then Dawson. But Hartings handled it well.
2. Kevin Greene, OLB, 1993-1995: The Steelers’ first “big-name” free agent, Greene brought a presence to the team’s defense in 1993 after coming over from the Rams. In just three seasons with the Steelers, he helped them to two AFC Championships and one Super Bowl appearance, recording 35.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. Greene led the NFL in sacks in 1994 with 14, the last Steelers player to do so before T.J. Watt did it in back-to-back years in 2020 and 2021. In fact, he and Watt are the only Steelers to lead the league in sacks since they became an official statistic in 1982. Greene and Greg Lloyd were one of the most feared pass rushing duos in the league in their three years together.
1. James Farrior, ILB, 2002-2011: Maybe one of the top free agent signings for any team, Farrior became the heart-and-soul of teams that appeared in three Super Bowls, winning two, and making four AFC Championship appearances. He made 154 starts in 10 seasons, recording 1,085 tackles, 30 sacks and eight interceptions. In 2004, Farrior finished second in NFL Defensive Player of the year voting and was All-Pro twice and made the Pro Bowl twice in an era where Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher and others dominated the All-Pro voting.
