With less than three weeks until the Pittsburgh Steelers report to training camp, they find themselves in an unfamiliar situation. After the release of All-Pro offensive lineman, David DeCastro, the Steelers have between $13-$15 million dollars in cap space according to Spotrac and Overthecap.com. With multiple holes still on the roster, below are a few moves I think they should make before they start their training camp in 2021.
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1. Sign a veteran lineman or two
Before the signing of five-time Pro Bowl guard, Trai Turner, the Steelers were looking at one of the youngest offensive lines in football. Their offensive line may be young, but they have the chance to be very serviceable. However, veteran presence never hurts a young position group. After losing DeCastro, the Steelers very much need a leader of their offensive line room. Turner may be able to provide that leadership, but the addition of a certified veteran like Russell Okung or Mitchell Schwartz could be just what the doctor ordered for the Steelers.
2. Attempt to bring Steven Nelson back
The Steelers would have to forfeit a lot of their current cap to make this happen, but it would be worth it. Nelson has played as a top corner in the NFL since he signed with the Steelers in 2019 and the Steelers did not draft a replacement for him in this year's NFL Draft. Nelson has also been very reliable during his career and is very familiar and fits well in the Steelers defense. This move is unlikely, but it would likely sure up a questionable position for the Steelers in 2021.
3. Add middle linebacker depth
The Steelers already brought back Vince Williams and re-signed Robert Spillane, but with Devin Bush coming back from a torn ACL in 2020, the Steelers should look to solidify a very important position on their team. A cheap option would be Avery Williamson, who the Steelers acquired halfway through the 2020 season and has familiarity with the team. However, a more expensive and splashier move would to bring in KJ Wright, a long-time linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks. Wright would fit well next to Bush and could provide some real stability up the middle for the Steelers.
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Obviously all these moves couldn't be made based on the Steelers cap situation, but each should be seriously considered by General Manager, Kevin Colbert, and Head Coach, Mike Tomlin. Nelson would be my top choice, but his contract demands make the Steelers an unlikely fit. Colbert typically likes to go into the season with at least $5 million in cap space to account for free agent signings in case of injury, so best case scenario, the Steelers could spend $8-$10 million before the start of training camp later this month.
What would your favorite move be for the Steelers? What holes still need to be filled before the season starts? Sound off in the comment section below!
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