Weighing the Pros and Cons of Pittsburgh Steelers' Top Free-Agent Targets

NFL's free-agency period begins next week. Though the Pittsburgh Steelers aren't typically an active team when it comes to adding veterans to the roster, there still should be a few new faces on the roster given the team's myriad positional needs.

Every veteran signing's reward must be weighed against its risk—after all, these players command more money than rookies, so they must be trusted to be able to step on the field and contribute. With that in mind, here are the pros and cons of the Steelers' biggest free-agency targets for this year.

CB Davon House

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The Steelers are thin at cornerback, and general manager Kevin Colbert said to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that it's a position the team could address via free agency by adding "experienced, young depth."

One cornerback who fits that bill is 25-year-old Davon House, most recently of the Green Bay Packers. House has spent the last four years in Green Bay, primarily contributing on special teams and starting just 14 games. However, he believes he's ready to start, and given his size—6'0", 195 pounds—and his speed, he'd be a good fit in Pittsburgh.

House totaled 28 tackles, a forced fumble, 10 passes defensed and an interception in 2014 and has 99 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and 25 passes defensed on his career. He also has suffered a pair of shoulder injuries.

Pros: Has the youth-depth combination Colbert prefers, low wear and tear, part of defensive system similar to Pittsburgh's, hungry, with a chip on his shoulder that could translate to the football field, affordable, special teams skills, size-weight-speed is a plus.

Cons: Few starts in four years, unproven as a full-time starter, history of shoulder injuries.

Final Verdict: House appears to be a useful addition to at least provide the Steelers with depth at cornerback, though it's mostly unknown if he'd be able to start, even though he thinks he can. Still, House shouldn't have a huge price tag and fits the profile Colbert looks for in a free agent, making him a worthwhile signing.

RB Roy Helu

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The Steelers became painfully aware of their lack of depth, particularly veteran depth, at running back when starter Le'Veon Bell suffered a Week 17 knee injury that kept him out of the playoffs. Hopefully, they learned their lesson with that loss to the Baltimore Ravens and will make a move for a veteran running back in free agency.

A perfect pairing would be Bell and Roy Helu, who has spent the last four years with Washington. In four seasons, Helu has rushed 225 times, for 1,132 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. His most productive season as a rusher came in 2011, when he had 151 carries for 640 yards and two scores. He had 40 carries for 216 yards and a score in 2014.

But it's not just what Helu offers as a runner that makes him an attractive free-agent signing for the Steelers—it's that he can catch passes out of the backfield, much like Bell. In his career, he's caught 129 passes for 1,152 yards and three scores. He actually caught more passes than he had carries in 2014, with 42 receptions for 477 yards and two touchdowns last year.

Typically, a team would like to add a complementary style of running back to spell the starter. But in Pittsburgh, it may be wiser to pair Bell up with a veteran with a similar skill set to allow for a seamless transition between the two.

Pros: Fits the Steelers' approach to the running back position, experienced veteran, can run, catch and block, low wear and tear despite four years' experience, cost just over $1.5 million in 2014.

Cons: May be too valuable to Washington to let go, unknown ability to produce if given a high volume of touches.

Final Verdict: There are a number of talented running backs in this free-agency class, to say nothing of the depth available at the position in the draft. However, the Steelers would be wise to bring on a player like Helu, who has veteran experience as well as a skill set similar to Bell's.

Should Bell fall injured—or just need a few plays off—it would be smart to add someone like Helu, who can operate with the same blocking and offensive philosophy, rather than asking the entire offense to shift to a back with a different profile. If Helu does reach the free-agency market, the Steelers should be one of his suitors.

LB LaMarr Woodley

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One thing the Steelers do not shy away from is bringing back former players after a stint (or two) with another team. That's why it's possible they will have some interest in linebacker LaMarr Woodley, who spent seven seasons with the Steelers before being released as a cap casualty in 2014 and subsequently picked up by the Oakland Raiders.

Though the Raiders signed him to a two-year, $12 million contract, the latest news is that the Raiders will be releasing him prior to March 14, when a $1 million roster bonus kicks in. This comes after Woodley missed the final 10 games of the season with a torn biceps and six disappointing games in which he totaled five tackles and no sacks.

The 30-year-old Woodley has been plagued with injuries over the course of his career, and his production no longer matched his payday. But with this release likely knocking his asking price down even more significantly and with the Steelers woefully thin at outside linebacker, it could be time for Woodley to return to Pittsburgh.

Except, what does he have left in the tank? The piling up of injuries combined with declining production—he had just nine sacks over his final two seasons with the Steelers—could mean that Woodley simply has nothing to offer his former team.

Pros: Scheme and coaching familiarity, once highly productive, fills at least a depth need at outside linebacker along with some locker-room leadership, far less expensive than even a year ago.

Cons: Highly concerning injury history, questionable motivation—says Steelers believed he was "out of shape, fat," his best football seems very much behind him.

Final Verdict: The Steelers need to avoid the temptation of bringing back another familiar quantity at a lower price, as is their predilection. Woodley is just too risky from an injury and motivation standpoint to be worth any money they would be willing to pay him.

Yes, the Steelers need depth and even experience at outside linebacker, but that doesn't mean Woodley is their best or only option. The chances he'd be able to see the field in any productive way in 2015 are highly suspect.

TE Matt Spaeth

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A blocking tight end might not be the most exciting free-agent signing, but it's a position of need for the Steelers. Instead of adding in an unfamiliar face, it would probably be a smarter decision to re-sign Matt Spaeth, a seven-year veteran who spent five of those years in Pittsburgh in two separate stints.

Spaeth has just 53 receptions for 410 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career, but his biggest strength is in run blocking. He played 361 snaps in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus, with 210 of those blocking in the run game. 

Though Spaeth will be 32 years old in November, he is still playing at a high level, especially considering that he's filling a specific role. It seems like a no-brainer to bring back Spaeth, who is an unsung hero of the Steelers' much-improved run game.

Pros: Affordable, fits the offense perfectly, highly capable blocker, doesn't show his age.

Cons: Is an older player, fits a role other tight ends could fill.

Final Verdict: If it's not broke, don't fix it—the Steelers get a high level of play out of Spaeth, particularly when it comes to his blocking. His age is of little concern, and it will be hard to find an adequate replacement, especially with a thin draft class. It seems inevitable Spaeth will continue his career in Pittsburgh.

LB Jason Worilds

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The Steelers opted not to use the franchise or transition tag on outside linebacker Jason Worilds, which means he will be testing the free-agency market and could easily play elsewhere in 2015. Though they are likely preparing for that reality, it's also possible that they re-sign him depending on how friendly Worilds finds his market.

Currently, Spotrac has the Steelers at just over $7 million in salary-cap space, accounting also for the 2015 rookie class. That's just about what the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Mark Kaboly expects Worilds to earn yearly from a new deal. At that price tag, with their current cap situation, it seems impossible for Worilds to return.

However, a contract extension for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger could free up enough cap space for the Steelers to make a fair offer to Worilds as well as pay their 2015 rookies and perhaps another free agent or two. It's also possible that Worilds does not get as high an offer as he expects, potentially driving his price tag down by $1-2 million per year.

He totaled 59 tackles and 7.5 sacks in 2014, starting all 16 games. That's not the most impressive production. However, the Steelers are extraordinarily thin at outside linebacker and would relish having Worilds—who knows the system and the coaches and did earn his starting job last year—back in the fold.

Pros: Familiar with system and coaches, addresses a position of glaring need, talented, though not an otherworldly talent.

Cons: Could simply prove too expensive and talent doesn't match his expected payday.