Grading the Pittsburgh Steelers Free-Agency Moves so Far
NFL free agency is a week old, and as expected, the Pittsburgh Steelers haven't made many moves. That isn't to say they have done nothing—they've made a pair of key re-signings, extended the contract of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, tendered offers to three restricted free agents and brought on veteran running back DeAngelo Williams.
So, let's take a look at these signings and give them a preliminary grade. Though the true value of these players won't be known until midseason at the earliest, we can evaluate the signings for fit and logic.
Steelers Sign RB DeAngelo Williams
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The biggest signing of the Steelers' free-agency period so far is running back DeAngelo Williams, who spent the last nine years with the Carolina Panthers. His deal is worth $4 million over two years.
Williams, the Panthers' all-time rushing leader, totaled 1,432 carries with his previous team for 6,846 yards and 46 touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He has also caught 178 passes on 247 targets for 1,621 yards and seven additional scores.
The signing of Williams fills a major need the Steelers had this offseason—the lack of a true veteran running back to pair with Le'Veon Bell. Williams can help mentor Bell while also providing a complementary, downhill style of running to Bell's one-cut shiftiness and excellent hands. Expect him to take on a role similar to LeGarrette Blount's last year before he walked out on the team.
Grade: A
Steelers Re-Sign LB Arthur Moats
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With James Harrison a free agent and Jason Worilds retiring, the Steelers needed badly to address their lack of depth at outside linebacker. And who better to do so with than Arthur Moats, whom the Steelers added in 2014's free agency and who became an integral part of the team's pass-rushing efforts last season? Recognizing Moats' value, the Steelers brought him back this year on a three-year deal.
Moats was more than a situational player in 2014, appearing in all 16 games and starting 10. He totaled 23 tackles, four tackles for a loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. This year, it's possible that he's a three-down, 16-game linebacker for the Steelers, alongside Jarvis Jones, depending on what the team chooses to do in free agency and the draft.
Outside linebacker is a crucial position to the Steelers' defense, but it's currently their thinnest. The Steelers were smart to lock down Moats for 2015 and beyond, given the state of the position in free agency and how coveted the draft's top edge-rushers will be.
Grade: A
Steelers Re-Sign TE Matt Spaeth
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The Steelers re-signed another one of their in-house free agents, bringing back tight end Matt Spaeth on a two-year, $2.2 million deal.
Spaeth is primarily a blocking tight end, a fact made even more evident by his three catches for 46 yards and a touchdown last season and his career total of 53 catches for 410 yards and 10 scores over the course of his eight NFL seasons (six with the Steelers).
Spaeth's role should not be minimized by his stat line. He's crucial in both pass protection and run-blocking, and with the Steelers passing and running offenses both in solid shape, it's clear that Spaeth deserves his due credit.
Grade: A
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Steelers Extend Contract of QB Ben Roethlisberger
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It was only a matter of time until the Steelers locked quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into a lucrative contract extension, and they did so on Friday, giving him a four-year deal on top of the one year left on his current contract.
It has a total value of $87.4 million, including a $31 million fully-guaranteed signing bonus and an average value of $21.85 million per year, making him (on average) the second-highest paid quarterback presently in the NFL.
The extension comes after the best season of Roethlisberger's 11-year career, in which he completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 4,952 yards, 32 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
And, given the state of the talent around him—wide receivers Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant, tight end Heath Miller and running back Le'Veon Bell, as well as a stable and healthy offensive line—it's not likely he'll slow down in the seasons to come.
Roethlisberger has long been a value for the Steelers, but that value meant Roethlisberger—who has led the Steelers to three Super Bowls with two wins and seven playoff seasons—was sorely underpaid for his contributions. Now, he's being fairly compensated in the prime of his career. The contract terms are right in line with what had been expected.
Grade: A+
Steelers Tender Offers to 3 RFAs
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The Steelers gave tender offers to three of their own restricted free agents last week—cornerback Antwon Blake, safety and special teamer Robert Golden and fullback Will Johnson. All three are original-round tenders, worth $1.542 million each.
Blake served as the Steelers' nickel cornerback for much of the 2014 season, recording 42 tackles, one interception, six passes defended, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He also caught a 25-yard pass thrown to him by Golden.
Golden was the Steelers' special teams captain in 2014, and notched 10 tackles along with the pass to Blake. He also serves as a reserve safety and may see playing time at that position this year, given that Will Allen remains an unrestricted free agent and Troy Polamalu's playing status for 2015 is still unknown.
Johnson is a blocking fullback who gets few touches—just two carries for a net of zero yards last season, along with 10 passing targets and six receptions for 41 yards. However, he was Pro Football Focus' 11th-ranked fullback, and allowed only one pressure—a quarterback hit—on the season.
All three have a role to play for the Steelers. It was smart for the Steelers to give them restricted free agent tenders while they debate whether or not to give them contract extensions this offseason.
Grade: A
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