Best and Worst Moves the Pittsburgh Steelers Have Made in Free Agency
The Pittsburgh Steelers were typically quiet in free agency, but the moves they did—and didn't—make already speaks volumes about what their 2015 roster is going to look like. Some decisions, at least at this early hour, seem smarter than others, though we'll have to wait until the season is well underway to know which were truly good or bad.
However, we can take a look back now and see which Steelers' moves were the best and the worst for the team, with the knowledge that this is March and the season is still far in the future. With that in mind, here are the Steelers' three best and three worst free-agency moves they've made thus far.
Best: Signing RB DeAngelo Williams
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A major free-agency priority for the Steelers this year was to bring on a veteran running back to pair with Le'Veon Bell, and they did just that by signing DeAngelo Williams.
Williams, who spent the last nine seasons with the Carolina Panthers, has a career 4.8 yards-per-carry average. He's amassed 46 rushing touchdowns, as well as 178 receptions yielding 1,621 yards and seven scores. He has a downhill style that will complement Bell's one-cut running style, adding a contrasting component that rounds out Pittsburgh's offense.
Even though Bell is one of the NFL's top running backs, he cannot do the job alone. And he cannot do the job as well if he were paired up with an inexperienced rookie. Williams' presence keeps defenses honest when he's swapped out in place of Bell and also provides Bell with an experienced veteran who can help him take his skill set even further.
Worst: Giving RFA Tender to Antwon Blake While Not Re-Signing Brice McCain
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The Steelers knew that they'd be thin at cornerback this year, especially with Ike Taylor being a free agent whom the team will not re-sign. They addressed this by giving Antwon Blake an RFA tender worth $1.554 million. However, they did not aggressively pursue another of their useful cornerbacks, Brice McCain, who ultimately signed with the Miami Dolphins.
Keeping both McCain and Blake around would have given the Steelers options at the position in 2015. Tendering Blake does make sense—he ended the 2014 season as the team's starting nickel cornerback and could easily reprise that role this year.
But McCain also proved crucial to the Steelers as the 2014 season wore on. With Cortez Allen demoted and then benched, McCain stepped up to start the final four games (including playoffs) at left cornerback. McCain also tied with William Gay for the Steelers' most interceptions on the season, with three.
It might have proved difficult, but the Steelers should have worked harder to free up extra cash in time to give McCain a contract offer while also giving the RFA tender to Blake. If they had acted with a greater sense of urgency, it's possible the Steelers could have retained both players.
Best: Re-Signing OLB Arthur Moats
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Without question, the Steelers' biggest positional crisis heading into free agency was outside linebacker. With Arthur Moats, James Harrison and Jason Worilds all unrestricted free agents (and Worilds ultimately choosing retirement) the Steelers were left with just Jarvis Jones under contract at the position upon free agency's start.
The Steelers acted quickly, however, bringing Arthur Moats back on a three-year, $7.5 million contract after he spent a lone season in Pittsburgh in which he totaled 23 combined tackles and four sacks on 350 snaps played.
Moats, a sixth-round 2010 draft pick of the Buffalo Bills, seems to have found a home in Pittsburgh. He was an effective pass-rusher, notching 10 starts mainly in relief of Jones, who missed most of the year with a broken wrist. Initially signed for depth last year, Moats has now shown he can be a three-down starter—which is good news for the Steelers who, despite their proactive moves in free agency, still remain thin at edge-rusher.
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Worst: Steelers Did Not Seek out Veteran Replacement for DE Cam Thomas
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Though the Steelers did not necessarily have to find a veteran defensive end to replace the disappointing Cam Thomas in free agency this year, the fact that they didn't is a disappointment.
That's not to say that the Steelers won't be able to find someone to edge him off the field, whether that be a free-agent signing in the future or a prospect in the draft, but it is interesting to see the lack of urgency they have in getting their worst defensive player on the bench where he belongs.
Thomas totaled 18 combined tackles, two tackles for a loss and a half-sack in 2014. However, he was Pro Football Focus' last-ranked 3-4 defensive end, owing in part to his bad pass-rushing score but most importantly his struggles stopping the run. He totaled only eight stops—tackles for a loss or at the line of scrimmage—in his 201 run-defense snaps last season.
There are still competent 3-4 defensive ends on the free-agency market, most notably Alex Carrington, who visited with the Steelers last year (when they ultimately opted for Thomas). They could still sign Carrington and then part ways with Thomas. For now, however, they have not taken advantage of this opportunity, making this one of the team's poor free-agency decisions.
Best: Re-Signing OLB James Harrison
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The Steelers did not stop with Arthur Moats when it came to shoring up the outside linebacker position. They also re-signed James Harrison, who chose to return to Pittsburgh rather than follow his former defensive coordinator, Dick LeBeau, to the Tennessee Titans.
Much like last year, Harrison has been brought back to help mentor and develop the younger linebacking talent on the roster, including Jarvis Jones, as well as to provide rotational and even starter-caliber play when called for. Harrison had a good season in 2014, totaling 45 combined tackles, three tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks.
Harrison can push Jones and Moats for playing time. And if Jones' development continues to be progressing at a snail's pace, Harrison can start. Yes, he's turning 37 years old in May, but no free agent had better knowledge of the Steelers defense than Harrison, and he's proved to have more than enough left in the tank.
Most importantly, the Steelers now have three outside linebackers on the roster when they could have had only one. Addressing this position, even with the older Harrison, was necessary.
Worst: The Troy Polamalu Situation
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The Steelers and longtime safety Troy Polamalu appear to be at a stalemate. Polamalu's agent, Marvin Demoff, said earlier this month that the team is giving him "the time and space he needs to make a decision." Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert released a statement at the start of free agency that the team had nothing to say about Polamalu's status at that time. Team president Art Rooney II added last week that there was no news to report.
Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin reiterated Colbert's message at the league-wide meetings on Monday, saying, via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "I'm not getting into Troy. I think that's been documented. Art's [Rooney] made comments. I don't need to add on to that. It doesn't serve any purpose."
Though the Steelers' respect for Polamalu during this time is to be commended, the longer this drags out, the uglier it seems and the more difficult position the Steelers are in. It's likely that if Polamalu doesn't announce his retirement, the Steelers will release him, potentially with a post-June 1 designation that would save them $6 million. If he does retire, however, the question is when he will announce that.
The Steelers know they need to move on from Polamalu. They likely already have a number of contingency plans in place. And it is certainly a delicate balance between pestering Polamalu for his decision and giving him a respectful distance.
But the whole situation is a tough one for the Steelers. Though it's not entirely their fault that they are in it right now, it's still one of the worst developments to befall the team during free agency.
Advanced stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
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