Pittsburgh Steelers: 4 Recently Released Players They Should Consider Signing

The Pittsburgh Steelers, like most other teams, are going to be scanning the cuts by other teams in coming days to determine if they can improve at a position by exchanging someone else on their roster for someone who was recently sent packing.

There aren't a ton of attractive names in this group of cuts, but there are some players who could potentially help the Steelers at some key positions.

Here's a look at four players that the team could consider bringing in.

Rhett Bomar, QB

Background

Bomar is a strong-armed quarterback who's had trouble sticking with a team because his accuracy isn't there yet. He was a decent quarterback in college and was once a touted college prospect, so there's obviously something lurking in there. If he ends up with a nurturing team in a low pressure spot, he could grow into a fine backup.

Needs

The Steelers lost strong-armed Byron Leftwich for the year to a broken upper arm. That leaves no clear answer between longtime backup Charlie Batch and quixotic, young Dennis Dixon. I get the feeling the team was shopping Dixon before the injury hit Leftwich. He doesn't fit their offense and he's already stated he wants to go somewhere with the potential to start.

If the team signed Bomar, they'd have a player who has similar physical attributes to the guy they lost and could work on grooming him this season with Batch and Ben Roethlisberger carrying the load.

Nathan Jones, DB

Background

Jones was the nickelback in Denver last year, but he's lost out to Perrish Cox this year. The Broncos decided to look elsewhere and cut Jones and his three-year contract (he signed a four-year deal before last year) loose.

Needs

Sign Jones, cut William Gay. It's really that simple. No one can be any worse than Gay at this point. If you haven't seen the game against Atlanta from Saturday yet, Matt Ryan was targeting Gay obviously during the first half and was having success almost every time.

The Steelers have a ton of youth and inexperience at corner behind their starters. Jones would be a nice veteran presence that would still provide an upgrade over what they currently have. Even if he slides to the fourth corner spot behind Keenan Lewis, who could play nickel, he'd be a valuable contributor.

Zach Hurd, OL

Background

Hurd was a rookie cut by Seattle, so he has no NFL resume yet. He showed some good talent and potential at Connecticut, however, so he may have a future as at least a valuable NFL backup at one of the tackle positions.

Needs

Jonathan Scott is injury prone and generally underwhelming. Marcus Gilbert may end up starting, but that just means that there's not much depth. A guy like Hurd won't start, at least not this year or soon, but he could provide some emergency depth at tackle, where the team is trying anything to get an answer.

My biggest worry is that they'll sabotage their depth on the interior by trying guys like Trai Essex and Ramon Foster at tackle instead of guard, where they play best. Getting a young guy like Hurd involved could take some of the pressure away.

Ashton Youboty, DB

Background

Youboty signed a two-year deal but hasn't been impressive at all. Tampa Bay has a lot of young talent and doesn't need a guy like Youboty, who is probably best suited to a part-time role anyway. The former Ohio State product has talent, he just hasn't been consistent.

Needs

I worry that he could be another incarnation of William Gay, but Youboty has better playmaking skill and better talent, so maybe he could be an upgrade. He might be less expensive than a guy like Jones or Sanders, so he could be a better sign for a team that doesn't have a lot of spare cash.

Youboty could probably serve as a fourth corner or as a piece in the dime and nickel packages. He won't be too impactful there if he fails and he could be someone who succeeds in a different system. The Steelers have turned other players into gold before. Who knows when it could happen again.