The Pittsburgh Steelers are attacking the 2023 offseason much like they did in 2022, by being aggressive and not wasting any time filling the glaring holes on both sides of the ball. It's hard to imagine, but the NFL's highest-paid defense still has holes to fill in both the front seven and the secondary. With the recent departure of veteran safety Terrell Edmunds, the Steelers still have a lot of work to do before they take the field in training camp.
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Terrell Edmunds #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
First and foremost, they need to start getting back to traditional Steelers football and winning in the trenches. After J.K. Dobbins of the Baltimore Ravens and Breece Hall of the New York Jets seemingly ran it down the Steelers' throats in the closing stages of both respective games, it is clear that the defensive line still needs some tending to and should be a main focus over the next few weeks in free agency.
It is quite possible that the Steelers look to the draft to help bolster their defensive line, particularly the nose tackle position. Names like Bryan Bresee out of Clemson University and Siaki Ika from Baylor are both possible targets the Steelers may try to pick up in the early rounds of the draft. However, regardless of that, they're still in need of some depth pieces at that position.
What Remaining Nose Tackle Free Agents Are Still Available For The Steelers To Target?
A'Shawn Robinson
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One of Aaron Donald's counterparts on the Los Angeles Rams has yet to still find a home for the 2023 season. A'Shawn Robinson is still on the market and with the Steelers looking for help in the run defense department, he could very well be the answer the Steelers are looking for in the short term. Robinson had a rough 2022 season in Los Angeles where he had a medical condition that sidelined him for a significant amount of the season, followed by a torn meniscus.
Over the last two seasons with the Rams, Robinson started 24 games and posted two forced fumbles and two sacks. With only being 28 years old, there is plenty of tread still on the tires with Robinson and he would be a significant addition to a position the Steelers are in dire need of help at.
Ndamukong Suh
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When you hear the name Ndamukong Suh, you likely think of one of the most feared interior defensive linemen in all of the NFL. Last season after signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, Suh was not as productive as he was in previous years, which is inevitable with him now 36 years old. But Suh is an intriguing option though in my opinion for the Steelers, especially due to the fact the Steelers aren't looking for a long-term answer at the nose tackle position via free agency. He very well could likely give the Steelers the highest production when it comes to free agents left on the market and with his age, he could likely come at a very low price.
Al Woods
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Al Woods, the 12-year veteran defensive lineman, was cut by the Seattle Seahawks earlier this week. With the Steelers in dire need of a nose tackle such as Woods, you can't help but think the Steelers would be interested in a reunion in 2023. Woods served on the Steelers' defensive line during the 2012 and 2013 seasons and appeared in 28 games in Pittsburgh over the span of those two years. From the sounds of it, Woods was simply cut due to a lack of cap space on the Seahawks' end and not due to a lack of talent.
In 2022, Woods started 14 games where he recorded 39 tackles and two sacks. The production is still there and he is one option the Steeles need to take a very close look at over the next couple of weeks.
What do you think? Is there someone else you'd rather have on this list? If you were in the Steelers' front office, who would you target? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below!
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