Steelers Should Jump On Opportunity To Sign 3 Tennessee Titans Outcasts

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going through their first full offseason with their new front office, which now has Omar Khan at the helm. Many people in Steeler Nation referred to the 2022 offseason as potentially the most important in the last two decades, but one could also argue this one is just as important. Last year, the Steelers drafted their hopeful next franchise quarterback in Kenny Pickett, but this year, it will be just as critical to make sure they surround him with the correct players and coaches to give him the best chance for long term success. 

So far, it has been a relatively quiet offseason for the Steelers. There have been a couple coaching changes, such as Brian Flores leaving the team after just one season to join the Minnesota Vikings as their new defensive coordinator. But outside of re-signing long snapper, Christian Kuntz, radio silence. 

While the Steelers may have been silent thus far, other teams around the league have already started making moves, which include either extended/re-signing some of their impending free agents, or releasing players in order to clear additional cap space ahead of free agency. 

These teams include the Tennessee Titans, who made the decision to move on from four veterans on February 22nd. These players include LT Taylor Lewan, WR Robert Woods, LB Zach Cunningham, and K Randy Bullock. Moving on from these four players saved the team nearly $30 million in terms of cap space, so it ended up being a necessary move since the team was well over the 2023 cap number prior to these moves. 

While the Titans are busy cleaning house to save some money, the Steelers should look at going on a shopping spree. A discount shopping spree that is. 

Three of the four players that the Titans ended up releasing should get a long hard look from Khan, Mike Tomlin, and company as they can provide instant support both on the field and in the locker room. 

Taylor Lewan

It is no secret that the Steelers could benefit from an upgrade on the left side of the offensive line, and Lewan himself said that the Steelers were a team that he would be interested in joining under the right set of circumstances. Getting an upgrade to protect Pickett's blindside would definitely come welcome, but at what cost? I would suspect that Lewan isn't going to get a long-term deal due to his age (32) and coming off of two ACL surgeries in the last three years. Based on that, I would think Lewan ends up signing either a one or two-year deal for approximately $8-$10 million a year.

Robert Woods

Although a well known name around the league, Woods has never really garnered the same sort of respect as others. Woods is a 10-year veteran who has done his best work while operating out of the slot alignment on offense. Last season, the Steelers lacked a slot wide receiver, as the players they used to attempt and fill that void didn't pan out the way they hoped. Calvin Austin III unfortunately was injured for the entirety of the season, Chase Claypool was traded to the Chicago Bears, and while Steven Sims did provide the occasional splash play, he was used as much on the ground as he was in the passing game. 

Adding a proven veteran to a group of young wide receivers should be a priority for the Steelers this offseason, and Woods makes a lot of sense for them. Coming off of a down year in Tennessee, a year following him tearing his ACL as a member of the Los Angeles Rams, it is tough to gauge the market for acquiring Woods' talent. I would assume based on his age, recent-ish injury, and down production in 2022, he will have to settle to a deal similar to that of JuJu Smith-Schuster's deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. That deal was "only" a one-year deal worth $3.76 million, but had a lot of realistic incentives built in, which allowed Smith-Schuster to earn over $8 million in 2022. 

Zach Cunningham

Everyone in Steeler Nation will tell you that they are tired of seeing subpar middle linebacker play, and that has been the case since Ryan Shazier's career ending injury. Whether it be Sean Spence, Mark Barron, Devin Bush, and even now Myles Jack, the Steelers have yet to truly find 'THE' guy in the middle of their defense. I am not saying Cunningham will be that guy, but he does have a wealth of starting experience and is a very sound tackler. 

Cunningham spent 4.5 years as a member of the Houston Texans before getting traded to the Titans, and while he was there, he became the leader of their defense while leading them in tackles over that stint. He signed a big contract extension with the Texans, and shortly after was traded to the Titans. Cunningham is a stout run defender who can do very well on early downs, but struggles in coverage. While he may not be the savior we all want, getting some consistency in any sense in the middle of the defense would help mightily. There isn't a huge market for two-down run stuffers anymore, so I wouldn't expect Cunningham to cost more than $2-$4 million a year regardless of the length of contract. 

Steelers Can Jumpstart Their Offseason If They Act Fast

It is clear the Steelers have some holes to fill this offseason, and they will need to use both free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft effectively to do so. It wouldn't hurt for them to get a jumpstart on their free agency while other teams may be still closing the books on 2022. 

Do you think the Steelers should go after any of the names listed above? Who do you think they should target this year in free agency? Let us know in the comments below!

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