The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team trending upwards. Kenny Pickett is the team’s clear starting quarterback moving forward. Najee Harris is arguably a top-ten back in the league. T.J. Watt is a certified game-wrecking talent. With some of the major needs elsewhere on the roster, who should the Steelers be targeting when free agency opens on March 15?
Note: The Steelers have less than $1 million in cap space, but can cut two to three players and have right around $30 million, so that is the number used for these targets. All projected contracts are courtesy of Spotrac.
Pittsburgh Steelers Targets in 2023 Free Agency
Big-Splash Free Agent Targets
Defensive Tackle Javon Hargrave
Who doesn’t love a reunion? Javon Hargrave was originally selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. The Steelers had to make the decision to let him walk due to cap space and pedestrian numbers. His time with the Philadelphia Eagles let him become a top-tier defensive lineman, and was a major part of their Super Bowl run. At 30 years old, he still has two to three years left of productive play. In 2022, Hargrave posted a career-high 11.0 sacks and 10 tackles for a loss over 17 starts.
Projected Contract: Three years for $60 million
Defensive Tackle Daron Payne
If Hargrave is too old, too expensive, or fans don’t have a soft spot for reunions anymore, Daron Payne is another option. At only 25 years old, Payne is already a top-tier defensive lineman in the NFL. The Washington Commanders would be foolish to let him hit the open market. At 6’3″ and 320 pounds, Payne is somehow also nimble enough to shed blockers and rush the pass from the interior. He finished 2022 with 11.5 sacks from a position where sacks are not a normal occurrence. Pro Bowl players that are under 30 don’t come around very often in free agency. Because of this, Payne is the kind of player that can be a key cog in this defense for the next five years.
Projected Contract: Five years for $97 million
Defenisve Back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
The Eagles can’t pay everyone, and teams will be chomping at the bit to get the players they let walk. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson has positional versatility at positions of need for the Steelers, and led all defenders in interceptions in five fewer games. If Terrell Edmunds walks in free agency, Gardner-Johnson is an upgrade. If he returns, Gardner-Johnson will make an impact at slot corner and can fix match-up discrepancies in the defense.
Projected Contract: Five years for $66 million
Medium Money, Big-Impact Targets
Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin
Rock Ya-Sin has had an up-and-down career in the NFL to date. His passer rating allowed has improved year after year but has never reached an elite status, which could be due to playing for a lackluster Las Vegas Raiders defensive front. At the same time, Ya-Sin will only be 27 years old in 2023. Every team needs cornerbacks, and the Steelers are no different with Cameron Sutton likely to leave in free agency.
Projected Contract: Four years, for $43 million
Linebacker Kyzir White
A Pennsylvania native, West Virginia alumni, and plays a position of need – is there more to say? Kyzir White is a high school corner, converted to college safety, converted to NFL linebacker. His coverage skills are better than any other linebacker on the current roster, and his work ethic is infectious to an organization. Yes, this is another Eagles free agent. But it is deeper than that. White led the Los Angeles Chargers in tackles in 2021 and his missed tackle percentage is well ahead of the league average (4.3 percent versus 10 percent average).
Projected Contract: Two years for $17 million
Kyzir White lined up against CeeDee Lamb in the slot#FlyEaglesFly | @KyzirWhite8 pic.twitter.com/DIf60HZbMY
— Matt Lucci (@mattlucci12) October 17, 2022
Reasonably Cheap Veteran Depth Targets
Left Tackle Kelvin Beachum
Beachum is not fooling anyone into thinking he is a starting-caliber player. But, he is experienced, a former Steeler, and reportedly misses playing in Pittsburgh. Hopefully, the Steelers find their tackle of the future in the draft, and Beachum can be a mentor to the young man. Worst case, Beachum is a player who can fill in for injury and retire where his career started.
Projected Contract: Two years for $7 million
Main Photo: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
