As NFL free agency nears the end of its second week, it’s a good time to analyze what the Pittsburgh Steelers did — and, more importantly, didn’t do — to improve the roster. That correlates with the draft, which is a month away, and where the organization might allocate its draft picks.
Left unresolved is the quarterback position, which remains incomplete as the Steelers await word from Aaron Rodgers on whether he will accept their contract offer. Mason Rudolph is waiting in the wings as he embarks on his second tour with the Steelers. And the Steelers, no matter whether they sign Rodgers, could use a second-day or third-day pick on a quarterback. Candidates include Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Ohio State’s Will Howard and Louisville’s Tyler Shough.
For this discussion, let’s focus attention on other positions that need to be addressed by the Steelers in the draft. It’s based on what was and wasn’t accomplished so far in free agency:
1. Defensive line
By choosing to allocate their free agency dollars to quarterback, the Steelers watched some of the best defensive linemen sign with other teams. That the Steelers went bargain hunting and added three depth pieces all but assures they will use their first-round pick to address the position.
Three players keep frequently being mentioned as first-round possibilities: Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, Oregon’s Derrick Harmon and Mississippi’s Walter Nolen. They are among the second wave of linemen behind Michigan’s Mason Graham, a likely top-10 pick.
Nolen is the lightest among the trio at 296 pounds. He’s followed by Harmon at 313 and Grant at 331. Team president Art Rooney II has acknowledged that stopping the run is a priority after he watched Baltimore rush for 299 yards against the Steelers in the wild-card round. The Steelers could double dip on defensive linemen in the draft. A second-day possibility is Nolen’s Ole Miss teammate J.J. Pegues, who can double as a 309-pound fullback and conducted a top-30 visit with the Steelers earlier this month.
2. Running back
Najee Harris’ escape to Los Angeles moved Jaylen Warren up to the lead back role, and Kenneth Gainwell was signed in free agency as a third-down back. There remains room for an addition from this draft class, which is loaded at the position.
Ashton Jeanty is the only consensus first-round pick. North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, a 6-foot, 221-pound bruiser, would be a nice fit, but it’s unlikely the Steelers will use a first-round pick on a running back after doing so with Harris in 2021.
Still, don’t discount Rooney II’s belief in the team having a strong running game. And plenty have draft grades that make them second-day prospects. The Steelers already have brought in Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson for a top-30 visit, and he could be a third-round possibility.
3. Wide receiver
The Steelers beefed up, literally, the most glaring spot on offense when they traded for DK Metcalf. It remains to be seen whether he will be paired with George Pickens, or if the Steelers will deal Pickens to get back the second-round pick they lost in the Metcalf deal.
The possibilities for the Steelers seem endless in the draft depending on what they do with Pickens. Prospects that could be available at No. 21 include Texas’ Matthew Golden, Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka and Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins. The Steelers hosted Higgins for a top-30 visit as well as TCU’s Savion Williams, a second-day possibility.
4. Cornerback
Another year, another veteran being tasked with filling an outside cornerback spot. The Steelers are counting on Darius Slay, at 34, having one more good year left in him. They swapped Donte Jackson for Slay, and he will start opposite Joey Porter Jr. The Steelers added Brandin Echols as a depth piece in free agency, then re-signed James Pierre, who contributes more on special teams than he does the secondary.
The Steelers haven’t taken a cornerback in the first round since 2016 (Artie Burns). If they break that streak, a player to watch is Texas’ Jahdae Barron, who is 5-11, 194 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds. He also had five interceptions in his final season with the Longhorns.
5. Offensive line
After taking tackles in the first round of the past two drafts, it’s safe to say the Steelers will look elsewhere with the No. 21 pick. That doesn’t mean they won’t look to fortify the exterior or interior of the line this year on the second or third day.
The Steelers lost starters Dan Moore Jr. and James Daniels in free agency, but they haven’t added a veteran so far in free agency. Broderick Jones will move to left tackle, and Mason McCormick is in line to start at right guard.
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Expect the Steelers to use one of their picks on an offensive lineman. It could lead them to West Virginia for the second year in a row. After taking center Zach Frazier in the second round, they could be enticed to take former teammate Wyatt Milum, a 6-7, 313-pound guard. He already has visited with the Steelers at the South Side complex.