It won’t occur anytime quickly, however don’t be shocked if the Steelers add some extra firepower earlier than the offseason is over.
In a current episode of Sportsline with WMBS’ George Von Benko, Pittsburgh Submit-Gazette Steelers reporter Ray Fittipaldo highlighted just a few positions the Steelers might look to improve earlier than the beginning of the season.
“I believe primary is free security,” Fittipaldo mentioned. “You commerce your starter [in] Minkah Fitzpatrick, and sure, you will have somebody like Juan Thornhill behind him who has a number of beginning expertise, however Juan Thornhill isn’t coming off his greatest season.”
Free security seems to be the Steelers’ greatest concern presently. As Fittipaldo defined, after buying and selling Fitzpatrick, the crew doesn’t have many choices. Proper now, Thornhill is penciled in as a starter, and that’s lower than superb. He’s coming off probably his worst NFL season with the Cleveland Browns, trying like extra of a fringe third security than a starter. Nonetheless, it’s a must to consider that the Steelers have gotten a superb have a look at Thornhill from being in the identical division, so perhaps there’s some meat on the bone there.
If the crew does resolve so as to add to the room, there are some compelling choices in free company. Justin Simmons is essentially the most notable identify of the bunch. At 31 years previous, there’s some tread on the tires, however he nonetheless offered strong play as a starter in Atlanta final season and would pair give the Steelers a ball-hawking free security. My most popular alternative could be Justin Blackmon. Youthful, sooner, and higher, Blackmon can play each security spots, opening up some flexibility for the crew. Furthermore, he’s a sneaky bodily participant and would pair properly with DeShon Elliott.
Fittipaldo did record one other place the Steelers might look to improve.
“Quantity two is receiver,” he mentioned. “I believe proper now they might most likely get by with DK Metcalf, Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, and Calvin Austin [III] as your high 4 targets in that offense. But when a kind of different receivers will get damage, it’s fairly skinny behind your high 4 receiving targets.”
Fittipaldo famous that he “wouldn’t be shocked” if the Steelers focused a WR2 kind with a “little extra juice” than what they presently have. In the event that they have been to make that kind of acquisition, it might virtually undoubtedly have to be in a commerce. The free company marketplace for receivers has dried up, which suggests the Steelers have to play matchmaker with one other crew. Might that be Jauan Jennings, who’s sad about his contract state of affairs? Or perhaps somebody like Romeo Doubs, who has been caught in an overcrowded Packers receivers room? Regardless of the reply, the Steelers’ extensive receiver room continues to seem like it might use a lift.
