Pittsburgh is not known for being overly active in free agency, but within the last week they have added 8-year safety Morgan Burnett and linebacker Jon Bostic to potentially bolster the defense. It's clear that Pittsburgh's offense is elite, so the moves that they are making on the defensive side of the ball are quite necessary due to last years' woes.
Throughout the duration of Burnett's career he has shown versatility and great playmaking ability. The video below displays his ability to not only pursue and stop the run, but matchup against larger players and make plays on the ball. His presence will undoubtedly provide exactly what Pittsburgh needs in the secondary, and his experience can help develop his fellow teammates. The deal is worth 14.5 million over 3 years and gives the Steelers a lot to look forward to going into next season.
There’s not a defensive free agents out there that does all the things that @MoBetta_42 does on the Field @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/BWHstb1DuR
— James Jones (@89JonesNTAF) March 13, 2018
As far as linebacker Jon Bostic goes, it's not a well-protected secret: the man hits like a truck. While it is clear, Ryan Shazier's talent and ability will never be duplicated and nobody can possibly fill the void he left behind, but Bostic can definitely help provide some versatility. The two-year signing is very low-risk, but could be very beneficial. In addition, Pittsburgh could still look to use their first-round pick on an inside linebacker to assess the biggest need on the squad.
No. 57 for the Colts Jon Bostic reads the end around to Bryant all the way. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/riHw6mrBLC
— Blitzburgh (@Steel_Curtain4) November 15, 2017
Nice run fit by Jon Bostic. Slides as the TE pulls across, doesn't over commit so he can play cutback, reads and fills the gap with violence. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/h3lE2p43Lv
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) March 18, 2018
Both signings address the need to improve the defense, although Pittsburgh's defense showed signs of improvement last season, it is clear it still needs work. The struggles in giving up big plays to opposing offenses is something that has haunted the Steelers for years, and hopefully with these signings things will progress.
