Ranking Pittsburgh Steelers' Best Remaining Free-Agency Options

The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't typically very active in free agency. In fact, their four major moves—the re-signings of linebacker Arthur Moats and tight end Matt Spaeth, the addition of running back DeAngelo Williams and extension of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's contract—may be all they do until after April's draft.

Still, the Steelers have roster vacancies that could still be filled by the free agents who remain after the frenzy of free agency's first week has died down. Here are five players who represent the Steelers' best free-agent options still available to them.

5. DT Alex Carrington

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With the release of defensive end Brett Keisel the day before the start of free agency, the Steelers need veteran depth to bolster their young defensive line and potentially find a worthy replacement for the disappointing Cam Thomas.

An option could be defensive lineman Alex Carrington, who spent four seasons with the Buffalo Bills before joining the St. Louis Rams for the 2014 season. In his career, he's played 52 games with nine starts and has totaled 34 tackles, four sacks, six passes defensed and one forced fumble.

While Carrington has had little starting experience, he is still a versatile player, splitting his snaps equally between run defense and pass rush in 2014 according to Pro Football Focus. At age 27, he could still contribute for the Steelers for at least four more years and could be useful as part of a defensive line rotation. The key for 2015 is to keep Thomas off the field as much as possible, and Carrington would help that effort along.

4. OLB Kroy Biermann

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With the abrupt retirement of outside linebacker Jason Worilds, the Steelers are down one potential free-agent pass-rushing target. Add into that the uncertain future of James Harrison and the fact that the Steelers have just two edge-rushers on the current roster—Jarvis Jones and Moats—and it's possible they will take a look at the talent at outside linebacker still available in free agency.

There aren't many under the age of 30. However, there is a 29-year old who could attract the Steelers' attention: Kroy Biermann, who hit free agency this year after seven years with the Atlanta Falcons.

In his career, Biermann has appeared in 98 games with 37 starts, including a career-high 15 starts in 2014. He's totaled 153 tackles, 21 sacks, two interceptions returned for touchdowns, two forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered. He had 43 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2014.

The Falcons chose not to move forward with Biermann as part of their defensive overhaul under new head coach Dan Quinn. However, Biermann has good pass-rushing years ahead of him. His fit in Pittsburgh would depend on his asking price and, of course, how comfortable the fairly private organization is with Biermann's wife a star on Bravo's The Real Housewives of Atlanta. 

3. WR Reggie Wayne

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The Steelers are not lacking for talent at wide receiver. However, they would benefit from the addition of a veteran in the locker room to help out the team's younger players—both receivers and other offensive players alike. And a great person to do just that—while still contributing on the field—is Reggie Wayne.

Wayne was released by the Indianapolis Colts after 14 seasons. He totaled 1,070 receptions for over 14,000 yards and 82 touchdowns. His 2014 season wasn't his best, with just 64 catches for 779 yards and two touchdowns. But Wayne still averaged 12.2 yards per reception—an indication that he can still be an on-field threat, albeit in a reduced role given that he's 36 years old.

Wayne isn't sure he'll play in 2015 and is coming off of triceps surgery. But Wayne fits a niche role on the Steelers' roster. Pittsburgh does not need him to carry its passing game but to simply add another dimension to it and to bring additional veteran leadership to the locker room.

2. CB Brandon Harris

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Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert spoke about free agency with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Mark Kaboly at the end of February and said that young cornerback depth is something that interests the team in free agency this year. If that's still a priority—and it should be—then Brandon Harris could be in their sights.

The 25-year old Harris was a 2011 second-round draft pick of the Houston Texans but spent only three seasons with the team. He was with the Tennessee Titans in 2014. Harris has appeared in 42 total games but has zero starts and has totaled 11 passes defensed and 38 tackles in four seasons.

Harris is the epitome of the young depth at cornerback that Colbert covets. He is a clear talent who never had a chance to shine as a starter. If he'd land in Pittsburgh, he'd likely be in the mix to start as the Steelers' slot corner in 2015.

1. OLB James Harrison

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Though a younger veteran pass-rusher like Biermann could potentially contribute longer than the 36-year old James Harrison, there is no experienced outside linebacker who knows the Steelers' defense better. And given Harrison's productive 2014, in which he totaled 29 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 11 games played with four starts, it's clear he still has something left in the tank.

Harrison would provide insurance for Jarvis Jones, whose two years with the Steelers have started slowly. He also could assist rotationally with Moats as well as with any rookie pass-rushers the Steelers may draft in April.

Harrison does seem set on playing somewhere in 2015, though it may take some time before any team signs him. He and the Tennessee Titans—where former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is currently assistant head coach—appear to have mutual interest. But if the Steelers came calling, it's likely he'd return there before taking his talents to the AFC South.