PITTSBURGH STEELERS

5 POSSIBLE FREE AGENT TARGETS FOR THE OFFSEASON

The Pittsburgh Steelers season came to abrupt end after the Ravens beat the Browns on Sunday. Their next step is preparing to fill holes in the offseason and get ready for 2019.

The Pittsburgh Steelers always build their team mainly through free agency in the offseason. They do not normally make huge splash signings but they get quality veterans in the second wave to help fill their needs.

The front office does a great job at finding the bargains and usually ends up getting quality play out of them. They have had a few misses recently but what team hits on every single signing?

With that said, Pittsburgh may be in a position to have to look for a splash signing given the dire need for play makers. They need

There are many players scheduled to hit free agency, but there is no guarantee they will make it there. While many are in their last year, a good chunk could re-sign with their current teams.

The Steelers have needs at inside linebacker and corner first. They could also use a third running back as Stevan Ridley is unlikely to be brought back again.

The Steelers could also use upgrades to their offensive line depth. With Marcus Gilbert‘s injuries the last few seasons and the age of Ramon Foster, they may want to look at ways to improve their depth should those two end up needing replaced.

1. BRADLEY ROBY, CB – CURRENTLY WITH DENVER

Roby is a fifth year corner looking to make big money in the offseason. Denver may end up locking him up before he hits the market but, if not, the Steelers should show interest.

The Steelers defensive backfield performs worse than their pass defense ranking would lead you to believe. Artie Burns has quickly dropped from starter to bench riding dumpster fire.

The secondary luckily has Joe Haden and Mike Hilton to hold it down somewhat opposite Coty Sensabaugh, who was thrust into starting when Burns was demoted.

Cameron Sutton has shown flashes of being a capable starter. He has also shown why they cannot put full trust into him developing into an every down outside corner.

Roby is a 5’11” 195-pound corner who has notched at least one interception every year of his five-year career. He also has had at least 10 passes defended every season except his 2016 season.

Roby can cover and tackle and he can force turnovers. He would be a great addition to a Steelers secondary who can’t seem to find that duo of outside corners that will stick.

2. RONALD DARBY, CB – CURRENTLY WITH PHILADELPHIA

Darby is a similar player to Roby. They are roughly the same size and play much more alike than they are different.

Darby is a good cover corner that knows how to knock passes down. He had 21 passes defended in his rookie year and paired that with two interceptions.

Darby has had a bit of bad luck the last two seasons. He dislocated his ankle in week one of 2017 and missed two months.

Although he missed the first two months of the season, he came back strong. He tallied 33 total tackles, three interceptions and nine passes defensed in just eight games upon his return.

He was active for the playoff run and played a part in getting the Eagles the Lombardi. Darby tore his ACL late this season against Dallas and faces a long rehab before camps next season.

Darby’s injuries the last two years will lower his value below Roby, but it is hard to tell by how much. Either guy could help add some solidarity to a secondary in major need of a number two corner.

3. K.J. WRIGHT, LB – CURRENTLY WITH SEATTLE

There was no denying this season that the Steelers failed to address inside linebacker. They tried to do so by signing Jonathan Bostic but that didn’t pan out as well as they hoped.

Bostic did have a good season but only when defending the run. He was always more of a run-stuffer than anything else but his pass coverage was good when asked to do so.

The problem this season was I believe the linebackers as a group were asked to cover more than they should have. They just don’t have the ability to cover consistently.

That is where K.J. Wright could come in. Although he played in just five games this regular season, he did tally 23 tackles and three passes defensed.

His injury troubles this season could lower his contractual value in free agency, which would bode well for Pittsburgh. He is the kind of rangy and athletic guy they could put over the middle to fill the void still left by Ryan Shazier‘s absence.

Wright averaged 119.5 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 QB hits, 1.75 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 4.5 passes defensed per year from 2014 to 2017. This is the kind of play-making ability the Steelers miss over the middle.

4. SHAQUIL BARRETT, EDGE – CURRENTLY WITH DENVER

The Steelers got after the quarterback tied with Kansas City for the best clip at 52 sacks on the year. That marks the second year in a row they have been, or tied to be, first in the league in sacks after a 56 sack year last season.

While they have had success sacking the quarterback, not many of those sacks are due to their edge rushers. T.J. Watt was the bright spot leading the team with 13 sacks off the edge.

Bud Dupree showed a big flash forward in 2018 but still has not become the player most thought he would. Shaquil Barrett wants to be a starter and he could get that opportunity here beating out Dupree.

Barrett has tallied 14 sacks in limited play time in Denver. He wants the ability to be an impact starter and Denver has a couple of guys you may have heard of in Von Miller and Bradley Chubb.

Barrett could thrive in Pittsburgh opposite Watt and form a very dangerous pass rush duo off the edge. Couple that with a possible new defensive coordinator or even just new position coaches and the sacks for Pittsburgh could once again total out to number one in the league in 2019.

5. KEY IN-HOUSE FREE AGENTS IN PITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh has a select few in-house names that should be taken care of come the new league year. The list is large but there are only a few guys who I think are must-haves to come back in 2019.

Ramon Foster, Jesse James, Eli Rogers and L.J. Fort all need to be brought back for certain. These four are all unrestricted free agents and will need to agree to new deals here to stay here.

All four of the names above proved productive in one way or another over 2018 and would be key to a 2019 roster built to contend. Eli Rogers is especially intriguing given the Antonio Brown saga unfolding before our very eyes.

Ben Roethlisberger has made it clear he loves his line and the fact that it has been the same core guys for so long. Bringing Ramon Foster back is a key to keep that line intact and ready for protecting Ben again in 2019.

Jesse James got cast aside twice by Ladarius Green and then Vance McDonald. He hasn’t wavered and produced better than he is credited for.

The Steelers need a number two tight end and Xavier Grimble is not it. They are better off signing James than trying to make Grimble a number two.

Mike Hilton and Matt Feiler are the two most important restricted free agent players on the Steelers list. Both will be brought back on tenders but I believe Hilton at the very least should receive an extension offer.

Feiler was great all season and filled the void of Marcus Gilbert’s injured self. After Chris Hubbard did it last season, I think it is best to move on from Gilbert and give Feiler a year on the tender to prove he can handle the full 16-game schedule once again and then retain him as the right tackle.

Pittsburgh is going to have a very busy offseason. Free agent moves and a possible Antonio Brown trade are all on the menu for the Steelers as they look to right the ship and get back to contending in the playoffs for another Lombardi trophy.