The Pittsburgh Steelers have been very active in free agency this off-season. With the available money not tied up at the quarterback position the team has been able to re-tool some positions and add depth at other spots. Last month the team went out and signed big name defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi who is continuing to rehab after suffering a serious injury during the Cincinnati Bengals playoff run to the Super Bowl.
Larry Ogunjobi tackles Najee Harris for a loss during the 2021 season (Photo: Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer, USA TODAY Sports)
Last week the team added another veteran defensive lineman with Doug Costin who last played in the USFL. That signing came on the heels of reserve lineman Daniel Archibong deciding to retire from the NFL. Costin will likely have a hard time making his way onto the Steelers 53-man roster that already boasts several good young linemen. He will have an opportunity to fit onto the practice squad in a spot that Archibong filled last season, though.
One of the biggest question marks heading into the 2022 season is the Steelers cornerback position. They decided against bringing back veteran Joe Haden, and instead signed Buffalo Bills free agent Levi Wallace. Wallace comes to the Steelers as an under the radar solid signing according to many. He's spent the last three seasons opposite of All-Pro Tre'Darius White. While White has commanded most teams number one target, Wallace has excelled blanketing the rest of the field helping the Bills make two straight deep playoff runs.
Besides Wallace, Pittsburgh brought back veteran Ahkello Witherspoon who was acquired days before the 2021 season kicked off in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks. Witherspoon spent most of the first half of the season learning the Steelers defense before becoming a staple later on. In limited time Witherspoon had three interceptions which led the team.
Beyond those two is veteran starter Cam Sutton who is returning on the last year of a two year extension he signed last off-season. While some fans have argued that Sutton is going to be bumped back to the slot there has been zero talk about that amongst the coaching staff. We should get a clear answer on that next week when the Steelers begin training camp.
With training camp beginning across the league, the last little wave of free agency will begin. Lots of big name veterans remain out there, and as time is starting to tick down before week 1 a lot of those guys are going to take less money on one year deals to get onto a team before it's too late. A guy like Odell Beckham Jr expects to be signed in the coming weeks.
Another name to watch is cornerback Chris Harris Jr. Harris can bump around the entire secondary playing all positions including the slot. He would be an instant upgrade from Arthur Maulet who replaced Mike Hilton at the slot corner position last year. Harris recently told XM Radio that hes weighing his options.
“Man, we’re definitely heating up,” Harris said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I’m just taking my time and waiting to see what’s going to be the best fit for me. I’ve still got a little time, and I’m just waiting to make sure I pick the right team. Definitely looking for a contender.”
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Harris indicated that '5 teams' are interested in the corner. Steeler Nation reached out to a source familiar with Harris' situation to find out if the Steelers were one of the teams interested in Harris. The source wouldn't confirm nor deny if the Steelers were involved.
Last season Harris played for the Los Angeles Chargers making 11 starts and recording 1 interception and 6 pass break ups. Coach Mike Tomlin loves guys that can fill multiple roles if need be. And while some might say they should just sign Haden instead the difference between the two is the position flexibility that Haden can't offer.
“I’m one of those guys that I’m just a DB. I can play all over the field,” Harris said. “Pretty much whatever a team needs. I’m just making sure I’m always ready and stay ready. Whatever role, I feel like I can go in there and compete and have a chance to definitely make some plays for a team.”
Pittsburgh still has around 14 million dollars in available cap room according to OverTheCap, so signing Harris could be an option for them. Their available cap room leaves them with the 10th most available space in the NFL.
