Steelers' Team Needs to Fill in 2024 NFL Free Agency
The Pittsburgh Steelers have already gone to work trying to better their 2024 cap situation. They have already parted with offensive lineman Chukwuma Okorafor, quarterback Mitch Trubisky, punter Pressley Harvin III and center Mason Cole.
The NFL recently announced that the salary cap will be a record $255.4 million, which now leaves Pittsburgh with $12.4 million in projected cap space. That isn't a ton, and general manager Omar Khan will inevitably look to fill several needs in April's draft.
However, Pittsburgh won't be frozen out of free agency entirely—and it can't afford to be. While the Steelers were a playoff team in 2023, they experienced yet another early playoff exit. Pittsburgh's last postseason win came during the 2016 season.
The Steelers may not be major free-agency players, but they have to address a few needs ahead of the draft. Below, we'll dive into three positions for which Pittsburgh should target veteran talent.
Cornerback
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The Steelers' biggest needs are along the offensive line. The unit was inconsistent in 2023, Okorafor and Cole are out, and Pittsburgh needs an upgrade over Dan Moore Jr. at left tackle.
Moore was responsible for three penalties and eight sacks allowed last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
However, the free-agent class isn't particularly deep along the offensive line. This will likely prompt the Steelers to target a line prospect like Alabama's JC Latham or Washington's Troy Fautanu on the opening night of the draft. If so, Pittsburgh could struggle to land a starting-caliber corner over draft weekend.
The Steelers do need cornerback help. Patrick Peterson will turn 34 in July, and nickelback Chandon Sullivan is set to be a free agent next month. Fortunately, the free-agent class is deep at corner.
L'Jarius Sneed, Jaylon Johnson, Kenny Moore II and Chidobe Awuzie are just a few of the notable names scheduled to be available.
The Steelers might luck out and uncover a gem on Day 2 of the draft, but it would behoove them to add veteran insurance ahead of it. While Pittsburgh wasn't exactly bad against the pass last season (17th in yards allowed), it wasn't great either.
Linebacker
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While the Steelers pass defense was average and inconsistent in 2023, their run defense was downright bad. Pittsburgh finished the year ranked 21st in yards per carry allowed, and it struggled mightily against the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round.
The Steelers could have used help at the second level last season, and they could potentially lose Kwon Alexander, Mykal Walker and Blake Martinez in free agency. Linebacker is another spot that Pittsburgh could target early in the draft, perhaps with a prospect like Texas A&M's Edgerrin Cooper or Michigan's Junior Colson.
As is the case at cornerback, though, linebacker should be a deep position in free agency. The Steelers could potentially land an immediate starter by targeting a veteran like Patrick Queen, Bobby Wagner, Lavonte David or Devin White.
Even if the Steelers simply want to bolster their depth, targeting a linebacker like Denzel Perryman, Anthony Walker Jr. or Oren Burks would be advisable.
Pittsburgh simply must be better against the run to be a legitimate contender in the AFC. The path to the Super Bowl is much easier for division winners than for wild-card teams, and the AFC North is likely to feature multiple strong rushing attacks in 2024.
Quarterback
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The Steelers cannot afford to go into training camp with quarterback Kenny Pickett as the unquestioned starter. The 2022 first-round pick hasn't shown enough growth over the past two seasons, and Pittsburgh's offense was more formidable with Mason Rudolph under center late in the season.
According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, several Steelers players would prefer to see Rudolph as the starter moving forward. Of course, Rudolph is set to be a free agent.
Presumably, the Steelers will make a play to retain Rudolph, but they would be wise to consider other options too. A journeyman like Jacoby Brissett or Tyrod Taylor could help elevate the QB competition, while making a play for Baker Mayfield or Justin Fields (via trade) could help replace Pickett outright.
The Steelers could try to land a new quarterback of the future in April's draft, but that's a dicey proposition. Pittsburgh currently owns the 20th overall pick, and according to
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, as many as five teams could be looking to trade up for a quarterback in the first round.
Pittsburgh must have an alternative quarterback plan in place long before the draft's opening night.
*Cap information via Spotrac.
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