The Steelers Are An Extremely Attractive Option For Taylor Lewan Thanks To This 1 Factor

The Pittsburgh Steelers need to add to their offensive line. So recently Steelers mega-fan "Jersey Jerry" tweeted out a mocked-up photo of Tennesse Titans left tackle, Taylor Lewan in a Steelers jersey. The tweet went viral and fans on social media have been talking about the possibility non-stop. Since then, Jerry has done several other Photoshop photos and Lewan seems to be enjoying playing along and responding to many of them:

Lewan appeared on Kevin Adams and Jersey Jerry's podcast, Steel Here, and discussed how he feels about all of the attention he is getting from Steeler Nation. He also answers the real question, would he ever consider playing in Pittsburgh, and why:

Do The Steelers Appeal To Lewan?

Lewan was asked if he will be returning for a 10th season. He currently has one year remaining on the five-year, $80 million contract he signed with the Titans. He told Jerry and Kevin that he recognizes that nothing is guaranteed and that while he still feels a fire in him to play, he knows that his injuries worry his team. Lewan has missed 19 games in the past three seasons. The Titans are also likely worried about the cap hit if they retain Lewan. They save almost $13 million if they part ways. For his part, Lewan said:

"All options are open right now. It's been a phenomenal career. There's still a fire that burns in me to play football. I'd be lying, I wouldn't be taping this conversation with you if I wasn't somewhat interested in playing the game of football another year. Plus, from an ego standpoint, 10 looks much better than 9. The question is do I snap one more off with the boys or go somewhere else?"

He said he is highly impulsive, so no one should be trying to read too much into anything he says or does, at some point, likely a few months down the road, he will make a decision. 

Jerry asked Lewan if there was any coach in the NFL that he hasn't played for, but wished he could, clearly trying to lead him in the direction of the Steelers. Lewan didn't shy away from throwing a lot of love and respect toward Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin:

"Mike Tomlin was the head coach of the Pro Bowl in 2017 and he is a fantastic individual. I think he's so cool, so calm. I hear the guys talk about him, how great he is in the locker room and how he handles the locker room. Being a leader is a very difficult thing to do and when I was around him for that short week, in a calm and relaxing setting, I thought to myself, 'This is a cool coach to play for.'"

Lewan added that during that time the Steelers were almost always in contention for the postseason and that year they had three players in the Pro Bowl:

"So you see them, you see the continuity and all the things they do. That would be a very cool locker room to be in. If I was to make a list of head coaches that I'd like to play for, Mike would definitely be in the top part of the list."

A player of Lewan's caliber presents an interesting dilemma. The Steelers offensive line made marked improvements during the 2022 season under the direction of coach Pat Meyer, but there is still work to be done. This is specifically true at the tackle position. Current LT Dan Moore Jr. has been inconsistent. Pittsburgh will need to address these "in the trenches" positions in both free agency and the NFL Draft. If a player like Lewan is available for the right price, would he provide an effective short-term solution to a bigger issue? 

While this is all still speculation and it is very early in the off-season, the needs will have to be addressed at some point. Does a banged-up, long-in-the-tooth tackle like Lewan make more sense than a young guy that has been showing improvement? Is either of them better than some other option that might exist? We will have to wait and see how the team prioritizes needs. 

What do you think about the Steelers signing Lewan? Do you think there is another potential trade or free agent out there that makes more sense? Or do you think Moore did enough that he should stay in his position? Click to comment below.

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