Mike's Beer Bar War Room: Improving the trenches via free agency taken on the South Side (Weekly Features)

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Commanders' defensive tackle Daron Payne.

The 2022 NFL season is now behind us. Congrats to the Kansas City Chiefs, but things move quick in this league, and it is now time to jump into the deep end of the NFL offseason. 

The NFL Combine is right around the corner and free agency will be quick to follow. Guys such as Derek Carr have already been released and there will be many more to come. Teams will start putting the franchise tag on players and we should also expect some trades. 

A couple weeks ago, I highlighted quite a few off the ball linebackers that the Steelers should inquire about. I have also touched on offensive and defensive offseason plans in regards to the Steelers prioritizing their own free agents. But, what about non-linebackers the Steelers should look at outside the organization? That is our project for this week. 

Spotrac.com projects the salaries of these free agents and those projections are listed below. Before we get too ahead of ourselves, former Steeler and current Eagle Javon Hargrave is expected to demand a contract in the neighborhood of three years for $60.5 million, which is likely out of the Steelers price range. 

Here is an alphabetical list:

ANDRE DILLARD, OT, EAGLES
Projected Salary: Not listed on Spotrac. 

Spotrac hasn’t yet projected a contract for Dillard, but he shouldn’t be overly expensive. Dillard is already 27 years old and has very little on his resume since Philadelphia drafted him 22nd overall in the 2019 draft. 

Coming out of college, Dillard had very little experience as a run blocker. He is a good athlete though and when given a chance in the NFL, Dillard hasn’t been a liability in either phase. Dillard also got a little experience this year playing guard, but only played 37 snaps in 2022 and only 714 over his entire career. But, Dillard was also blocked in Philadelphia by the NFL’s best starting offensive line. 

CLELIN FERRELL, EDGE, RAIDERS
Projected Salary: Not listed on Spotrac.

Like Dillard, Spotrac hasn’t yet projected Ferrell’s contract. And much like Dillard, Ferrell shouldn’t be expensive as he too was a failed and over-drafted first-round pick. Under Jon Gruden, the Raiders shocked the draft community by taking Ferrell with the fourth overall pick in 2019. 

Ferrell is considered a very high character player, a strong run defender, and certainly has some untapped ability. He became a full-time player against the Steelers in Week 16 for the remainder of the 2022 season and those were three of Ferrell’s best games of the year. He’s only 25 years old and would be a fine third edge defender behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith

AKIEM HICKS, DT, BUCCANEERS
Projected Salary: 2 years, $11 million

Hicks is 33 years old, but his game ages very well. He is built like a grizzly bear and has a similar mauling playing style in the middle of a defensive line. Hicks would not be asked to play a high number of snaps for the Steelers. He is a big upgrade over Tyson Alualu and would push Montravius Adams to more of a backup/spot-duty role. Hicks can still push the pocket, but makes his living eating up blocks and crushing the interior run game. 

It has been a few years since Hicks was voted the 39th best player in the league by his peers in 2019, but he has still had an outstanding career. He still has some of the traits from back then, and can be a man amongst boys at times still in 2023. 

DRE’MONT JONES, DT, BRONCOS
Projected Salary: 3 years, $22 million

This projected salary seems like a bargain for Jones, who is only 26 years old and has really come into his own, particularly as an interior pass-rusher. So, the Steelers might have to pay him more than $7 million, or maybe even $8 million per season. 

Jones is 6’ 3” which is a little on the short side for a Steelers defensive lineman. He also was only 281 pounds at his Combine and while he might be a little heavier now, Jones isn’t quite the Steelers prototype. But, he can rush the passer and if he were asked to play about 40 to 50 snaps a game, he could really help the Steelers four-man front alongside Cam Heyward, Watt and Highsmith. He is fluid and explosive, a rare mix for an interior defensive lineman. ESPN’s Pass Rush Win rate had Jones as the sixth-best interior pass rusher in the NFL last year.

OGBONNIA OKORONKWO, EDGE, TEXANS
Projected Salary: 2 years, $11 million

It isn’t easy to get recognition with the Texans the past few seasons, which is why Okoronkwo’s name could be foreign to many of you. But, during the second half of this past season, Okoronkwo was a house of fire rushing the passer off the edge. He never played more than 45 snaps in a game in 2022 and is used to being a backup/rotational player, although his performance deserves a bigger role going forward.

Before this year, he hadn’t played more than 255 snaps in a season. Okoronkwo is peaking at the right time though, and there is reason to believe that more is in store for him. He is over-aged for someone with four years of experience and will be 28 years old when training camp opens, which could help keep his price down. The Steelers could use some interesting packages with Watt, Highsmith and Okoronkwo all on the field together. 

DARON PAYNE, DT, COMMANDERS
Projected Salary: 5 years, $97.5 million

Payne is a big-ticket item. But, this 25-year-old should be worth it. Because the Commanders defensive line is littered with first-round picks, Payne doesn’t always get the acclaim he deserves. He has certainly lived up to being the 13th overall pick in 2018, and is now set to get paid very well. 

Payne fits every system as an interior force. Payne is a power player that beats up on his opponent, but also is an excellent athlete that is good against the run, but even better rushing the passer -- an area Payne continues to improve upon every season. He handles double teams well and makes those around him better. Heyward and Payne would be a nightmare for opposing guards and centers. 

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Here is a long reel of Payne’s highlights from this past season. It doesn’t take long to see the impact he could have on the Steelers defense…or any other defense in the league for that matter. Payne deserves a big pay day. 

STERLING SHEPARD, WR, GIANTS
Projected Salary: Not listed on Spotrac.

This guy can’t stay healthy. But, that could work to the Steelers advantage. Pittsburgh doesn’t need another wide receiver, but they could get Shepard very much on the cheap probably on a one-year "prove it" deal. But, Shepard is still a good player, and he has proven that he can consistently win from the slot or out wide. 

What if Diontae Johnson or George Pickens goes down with an injury? One more wide receiver wouldn’t be a bad idea, although Calvin Austin III and Anthony Miller coming back from injury will be very welcome. 

At 30 years old with Shepard’s massive injury history, the Steelers could get him on a very team-friendly contract. Over Shepard’s seven-year career, Shepard has averaged 7.3 targets and just under five catches per game. Shepard’s latest injury, a torn ACL in Week 3, will need examined by team doctors, of course. 

IRV SMITH, JR., TE, VIKINGS
Projected Salary: 2 years, $20.5 million

Smith came into the league very young and is still only 24 years old. Smith also has had his share of ups and downs since the Vikings drafted him in the second round in 2019. But, history shows that tight ends take a long time to mature in the NFL, and many don’t reach their peak until they are about 27 years of age. 

Smith was injured before the 2021 season and didn’t play a snap for the Vikings that year and played just eight games in 2022. But, there is ability here. He has 91 catches in 37 career games. Smith isn’t a bad blocker, although he is a bit undersized. He can be used all over the formation and runs quite well. The Steelers might prefer a big-bodied blocking type in the Zach Gentry role, but a talent like Smith brings so much more to the table in the passing game as a complement to Pat Freiermuth

DALVIN TOMLINSON, DT, VIKINGS
Projected Salary: 3 years, $25.5 million

Tomlinson would be a nose tackle in the Steelers system, but doesn’t automatically have to come off the field on passing downs. He played a lot of 3-Technique aligned on the outside shoulder of a guard and asked to penetrate this past year for the Vikings. He is a real load in the middle, but does offer some pass rush as well. 

2022 was Tomlinson's best season at creating pressure. He is soon to be 29 years old, so a three-year deal would be the max and a two-year contract would make even more sense, if possible. 

ISAIAH WYNN, OT, PATRIOTS
Projected Salary: 5 years, $77 million

This one might be a little out of reach, as Wynn wouldn’t be a guaranteed upgrade over any one single member of the Steelers' offensive line. It would probably be wiser to draft a tackle as well as a center instead of paying big bucks on the open market. 

But, what is interesting about Wynn is that he can play either tackle spot or guard, so he would be valuable depth at four spots on the Steelers' line. Or he could supplant Dan Moore in training camp for the starting left tackle spot, making Moore the valuable third offensive tackle or even a move to guard. 

Wynn doesn’t have prototypical size or length for offensive tackle, which has made his transition to the NFL a bit rocky at times. But, at just 26 years old, Wynn’s best football could still be ahead of him, and a change of scenery could do him a world of good. Maybe the Steelers could get Wynn on a more friendly two-year deal like they did with James Daniels last year instead of committing to such a long-term contract. 

The former first-round pick isn’t coming off a great year, playing only 423 snaps, most of those at right tackle with some left tackle and left guard sprinkled in. But in 2021, Wynn was far better, playing every snap at left tackle. The Patriots' offense was basically broken last year. 

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