Now that the Super Bowl has been played and free agency is approaching in a month, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be looking at the top three needs for each team. Today, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the focus. The Steelers have the 25th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and have some decisions to make as far as some potential in house free agents like Ramon Foster, William Gay, and Steve McClendon. In recent news the Steelers learned that James Harrison intends to come back for one more year, should his body feel well enough before training camp. Also, 11 year starter and staple in the Steelers offense Heath Miller had recently announced his retirement.
Pittsburgh Steelers 2016 Offseason: Top 3 Needs
Safety
Beside Mike Mitchell the only safety currently signed on the team is Shamarko Thomas, who has made two career starts in three seasons. They will more than likely resign Robert Golden, and he fits the mold of what they need, but he has only three starts in four years for the Steelers. Golden will be retained because he is the special teams captain, and Thomas is another guy used mostly for special teams. For each of them to have experience is good for depth, but neither is a long term starter. Rumors were discussed that 2015 fourth round pick Doran Grant might get his best chance to start as a center field type safety next to the in the box Mitchell, but at this point that is just speculation.
That said they will need to find not just a replacement, but a potential long term replacement. Picking at 25 there is a good chance that one of the best safeties will still be on the board, and it could be the move they make in the first round. Eric Weddle’s name has been tossed around, but he is unlikely unless he plans to come on the cheap. Other names like Reggie Nelson, Tashaun Gipson, Husain Abdullah and Andrew Sendejo might be on the Steelers radar for a quick fix in free agency.
Outside Linebacker
Steelers fans are going to riot if they draft another outside linebacker, but it isn’t out of the realm of possibilities. To start, James Harrison was their most disruptive pass rusher in 2015. This is the same Harrison who won the defensive player of the year award way back in his prime in 2008. This is the now 37 year old Harrison going on 38. The Steelers expect him back for one more year, but Harrison hasn’t fully committed saying he needs to give his body six more weeks to decide. Bringing him back is key, mainly for the development of 2015 first round pick Bud Dupree. Dupree took steps and eventually earned a starting spot while compiling four sacks in his rookie year. The hope is that he can sure up the right side with an increase in playing time in year two, and to develop beside a veteran like Harrison should really help his progression. Aside from Dupree, the Steelers have journeyman Arthur Moats, who is in the last year of his deal, and is a rotational player at best. They also have another former first round pick in Jarvis Jones, but Jones in three years has five career sacks,and is looking like his upside is to be a player closer to Moates than Harrison. Jones also only has one year on his deal, and if Harrison retires, the Steelers could be bare at the position at this time next year.
This would make it wise to draft an outside linebacker, at least in the first three rounds. This is supposedly a deeper draft for that position, and they won’t feel the need to force him into playing time, but they can have him learn from Harrison, and will ease him in with the expectation of taking the reigns in 2017.
Tight End
The retiring of Heath Miller makes this one easy. It also makes it easier to sign guys like Gay, Foster and McClendon, making those position needs less of a priority. The Steelers drafted Jesse James in the fifth round of 2015, and he came around late with a touchdown on eight catches. Still, he would need to develop to be a more relied on blocker, and with veteran Matt Spaeth still on the roster, Spaeth may see more playing time as the better blocker. The Steelers still want to get receiving production out of the tight end, as quick curls to Heath Miller opened up the play makers on the outside for years in Pittsburgh, and Spaeth brings little to nothing in the passing game.
The Steelers could go for a quick fix in free agency here, and hope that at one day James will be starter capable, or the Steelers may want to go back to the draft and find a guy with higher prospect status than the fifth rounder. Hunter Henry, if available in the second round would be an interesting decision for the Steelers. In free agency, Ladarius Green, Dwayne Allen and Andrew Quarless are guys the Steelers may have interest in if the price is right.
