Concerning Reality Arises As Steelers Gear Up To Have Aggressive Free Agency

The Pittsburgh Steelers can't let another offseason come and go without significantly upgrading the offensive side of the ball. Having one of the the highest-paid defenses in the NFL for several years in a row has returned nothing except Wild Card losses. To keep up with some of the powerhouses in the AFC, General Manager Omar Khan is going to need to get aggressive to bring in play-makers that can make a difference. Currently, George Pickens is the only skill player on the depth chart that is highly-regarded around the league. That needs to change come the new league year.

The Steelers have plenty of cap room that will allow the front office to make a splash or two. The concern, however, is that the defensive line and cornerback positions also need to be significantly upgraded. It's entirely possible that two more massive contracts are given out on that side of the ball to shore up the unit that Head Coach Mike Tomlin tends to favor consistently.

As all teams throughout the league get ready to enter the legal tampering period on Monday, 93.7 The Fan personality Adam Crowley brought an interesting question to the social media landscape on Friday morning.

This is a legitimate question and one that should have Steelers fans thinking about the last time a skillful offensive free agent came to the Steel City from an external team. There were an overwhelming amount of answers favoring one individual.

With all due respect to DeAngelo Williams, he was signed by Pittsburgh back in 2015. Yes, it's easy to argue that the most significant offensive skill player addition made via free agency by the Steelers in the last 10 years was a player who was coming in to be a backup running back to Le'Veon Bell. It ended up working in Pittsburgh's favor because Bell badly tore his MCL less than two months into the 2015 season.

Other names like Eric Ebron may come to mind, but the fact that it's difficult to think of a significant play-maker being added via free agency on the offensive side of the ball is concerning. There have been some additions to the line, but not much to note when it comes to the skill positions, which makes Crowley's question extremely valid.

This approach can't be the case during the 2025 offseason, especially as free agency ramps up. Pittsburgh has always relied on solid drafting and the ability to develop players, but if the organization is truly in win-now mode, cash needs to be spent on the offensive side of the ball. The Steelers' near-$65 million in cap space is way too  big of a number to strictly focus on the defensive side of the ball.

With the recent trend, however, no one should be surprised if the three high-ticket positions targeted are the defensive line, cornerback and the interior of the offensive line. Fans may be okay with this reality if Khan lands a legitimate pass-catcher via the trade market. Overall, though, it's time that the fan base has the ability to answer Crowley's question a little more confidently and proudly.

Steelers Have The Money To Spend In All Areas Of Need

Pittsburgh doesn't just have the cash to spend in the 2025 offseason, but the long-term capability to sign several guys to deals that are longer than one season. Without a clear answer at the quarterback position for the foreseeable future, Pickens and TJ Watt are the only true candidates to get a big extension done before the 2025 season kicks off, and Pickens is unlikely to land one. The money is there, and now it's time for Khan to be aggressive, specifically in the offensive skill player market.

Who do you think the Steelers' last truly dynamic external offensive skill player signing was? Let us know in the comments below!

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