CBS Insider Insists Steelers' Omar Khan Should Spend Big On Top 10 Free Agent Daron Payne

The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line was vastly improved this season with the additions of Larry Ogunjobi and rookie, DeMarvin Leal. Cam Heyward continued to perform at a high level for the Steelers, but Tyson Alualu took a step backward. Except for Leal, most of the defensive line is ancient in football years and unless Pittsburgh is planning to perfect time travel, they have to start addressing the defensive line in 2023.

Heyward is still the best interior defensive lineman in the AFC and the return of TJ Watt corresponded to a rise in productivity from the former first-round pick. The Steelers still need his production, but despite what will be his strenuous objections, a productive rotation player that can spell him is an absolute necessity. The right rotation could provide the veteran an opportunity to extend his career another two to three seasons at a Pro Bowl level.

CBS Sports writer, Jordan Dajani recently wrote an article about which one free agent each team should sign. Dajani felt the Steelers would be well served by addressing the defensive line in free agency:

“Daron Payne is coming off of a career year in which he recorded 64 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 20 QB hits, and five passes defended,” Dajani observed. “It’s difficult to stand out on a defensive line that features Jonathan Allen, Montez Sweat, and Chase Young, but Payne absolutely did, and made his first Pro Bowl.”

The Steelers, assuming they can re-sign Ogunjobi, already have three effective rotation players at the 3-4 end position. They need one more and there are solutions in the draft to be had: Calijah Kancey from the Pitt Panthers and Siaki Ika from the Baylor Bears will likely be available in the second round and could be difference-makers for the black and gold. They will also be far less expensive.

The Pittsburgh defense is not as complicated as it once was, but rookies on the defensive line have rarely broken through to be significant contributors in recent history. Heyward himself took three seasons to become a starter and the Steelers just don’t have that kind of time to wait again. They aren’t picking high enough to get one of the defensive linemen who won’t need that kind of time to develop.

The proposed solution by Dajani on the surface is not far-fetched. The Washington Commanders free agent fits the Steelers’ target profile perfectly. Daron Payne was the 13th pick overall in the 2018 NFL Draft and he is available. Payne will be 26 years old by opening day in 2023 and he has been playing defensive tackle for the Commanders for five seasons.

Payne is 6'3", 320 pounds, and his first two seasons were spent at nose tackle in Washington. He has played defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense for the last three seasons and is coming off the best season of his career. 

Payne has the skill set to provide the Steelers with a true nose tackle on early downs and has proven that he can be very effective against guards, which he will almost certainly face exclusively with Watt and Alex Highsmith on the outside. He could easily provide rest in sub packages for Heyward and provide pressure up the middle.

If Payne can duplicate his 2022 season by flushing the opposing quarterbacks in the division to scramble into the waiting arms of Highsmith and Watt, the Steelers’ ferocious outside pass rush could become that much more effective. Even if all he provides is just a true nose tackle for the Steelers 3-4, Payne could be worth paying for and could allow the Steelers to target their primary needs with their three top 50 draft picks.

Payne won’t be cheap coming off of a double-digit sack performance last season and being ranked in the top 10 available free agents according to Pro Football Focus. The Steelers will need to be wary not to pay top-of-the-market money that he is likely to command and there is a serious question if Pittsburgh can afford his expected price tag.

Pittsburgh is already paying Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick huge contracts and Highsmith is going to force the Steelers to a decision soon. Bringing in a player like Payne would be an excellent upgrade for the Pittsburgh defense, but they can’t keep Ogunjobi or Cam Sutton if they pay him the $80 million, four-year contract he is projected to command by PFF. Losing Sutton would put pressure on a rookie cornerback to be in the lineup on opening day and the Steelers have had trouble finding cornerbacks in the draft this century.

Steelers General Manager Omar Khan Has No Time To Settle In As His Critical 1st Off-Season At The Helm Approaches

The Steelers have never been big players in the free agency market, but they have never gone this long in the Super Bowl era without a playoff victory either. Omar Khan’s first foray into free agency will reveal if the Steelers will continue to build through the draft and reward the players they find in that process, or if they will break with tradition and aggressively pursue and set the top of the market.

Payne would look good in black and gold, but he plays an expensive position. Mike McGlinchey and Jawaan Taylor, who are young offensive tackles that have proven to be solid, if not spectacular NFL players, would fill a more pressing need and not break the proverbial bank. 

It will be interesting to see what direction Khan takes with the projected $20 million dollars in salary cap money the Steelers are projected to have after releasing William Jackson III and attempting to restructure some key contracts.

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Will Khan break tradition and make a splash in free agency? Please comment below, or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.