The Pittsburgh Steelers front office team of Omar Khan and Andy Weidl proved they were very good at drafting talent. The first three picks of the 2023 NFL Draft added what eventually proved to be a starting tackle in Broderick Jones, a shutdown cornerback in Joey Porter Jr., and an outstanding interior defensive lineman in Keeanu Benton. All three took some time to find their way onto the field, but Khan and Weidl found three impact players in as many picks. The Steelers added Darnell Washington and Nick Herbig, who flashed as quality depth and key roster pieces.
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Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. is one piece of a very impressive 2023 draft class by Omar Khan, Andy Weidl and Mike Tomlin.
The dynamic duo could have been more successful with evaluating free agents. Patrick Peterson was a reach at his age in retrospect, and the Steelers paid dearly for a steep decline in performance. Peterson was a solid mentor for Porter however, and did his best to fill in at safety late in the season, but his best days on the field are clearly behind him. Isaac Seumalo was a solid addition to the offensive line, and Cole Holcomb looked like an excellent signing until he was lost for the season due to injury.
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The roster was riddled with holes, and Khan had to take some chances in free agency to fill them. Kevin Colbert destroyed the Steelers roster by averaging just one retained player per class for over half a decade. The Steelers still have holes and will pick in the bottom half of the NFL Draft again in 2024. Khan demonstrated in 2023 that he is not limiting himself to the traditional Steelers approach to free agency of targeting players who are entering second contracts, but were not retained by the team that drafted them.
Pittsburgh can free up as much as $40 million and possibly more by restructuring contracts and cutting away the dead weight from 2023, like Chukwuma Okorafor, Mason Cole, and Mitch Trubisky. Here are five solid targets that fit the Steelers' budget and, more importantly, roster needs heading into 2024.
1. L'Jarius Sneed
The Kansas City Chiefs, at some point, cannot sign everybody. L'Jarius Sneed is 27 years old, and according to the Pro Football Focus Free Agency Tracker, he is the number 10 overall available player in free agency. He is expected to command an average salary of $17 million annually. Sneed has started 48 games for the last three seasons and is a key piece of the Chiefs' defense. It would eat up nearly half of the organization's projected available free agent budget to sign him.
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Steelers' possible free agent target, L'Jarius Sneed.
Some Steelers fans have expressed their desire to target Jaylon Johnson from the Chicago Bears, but Sneed does not have his injury history and is a proven winner in the NFL. He is aggressive and thrives in man-to-man coverage, but occasionally is a little too physical and draws the attention of the officials. Sneed would be the perfect compliment to Porter and would allow the Steelers the freedom to be more aggressive with blitz schemes that depend on man coverage.
2. Chidobe Awuzie
It should always be considered when you can weaken a division rival by signing one of their best defensive players. The Dallas Cowboys drafted Chidobe Awuzie with the 60th pick overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, the same class as TJ Watt. He is 28 years old, and after starting 14 games for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021, he suffered a torn ACL halfway through the 2022 season.
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The Steelers could weaken the Cincinnati Bengals by signing Chidobe Awuzie away as a free agent in 2024.
Awuzie was the Bengals top cornerback before being injured in 2022. The Bengals have spent multiple draft picks over the last two seasons trying to replace him, but he returned to the field in 2023 and started 10 games for them. Awuzie is a much less expensive option than Sneed and is expected to sign a contract in the $10 million per year range. Pittsburgh had tremendous success when they signed Joe Haden away from the Cleveland Browns in his late 20s and might catch lightning in the bottle again if they target Awuzie.
3. Andre James
Pittsburgh desperately needs to find a new center. The NFL Draft has some intriguing options that should be available in the second and third rounds when the Steelers are on the clock. Pittsburgh could elect to go with a proven commodity like Andre James, who the Las Vegas Raiders allowed to slip into free agency. It was a very curious move, considering they traded Rodney Hudson to the Arizona Cardinals in 2021 because they firmly believed he was the future at the position.
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Steelers' potential free agent target is Las Vegas Raiders center Andre James.
James has not morphed into a perennial Pro Bowl player, but he is still very solid. He is an exceptional pass protector and has started 48 games over the last three seasons. James is a young veteran who could give whoever is going to play quarterback for Pittsburgh in 2024 some much-needed stability. James would be more expensive than a rookie draft pick, but Pittsburgh might value the security of a quality veteran after three years of subpar play by Cole and Kendrick Green.
4. Azeez Al-Shaair
The former undrafted free agent linebacker fought his way onto a talented San Francisco 49ers defense in 2019. Azeez Al-Shaair made the roster and became the primary backup for Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw for the 49ers. He started 31 games for San Francisco, but moved on to the Tennessee Titans in 2023 on a one-year deal for an opportunity to become a starter.
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Tennessee Titans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (2) gestures to the crowd during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Nashville, TN.
Al-Shaair started 17 games for the Titans as an inside linebacker and did not disappoint. The 26-year-old linebacker led the team in tackles with 163 and would be an ideal addition in the middle of the Steelers' defense. He is durable and capable, two traits Pittsburgh desperately needs after the position was decimated by injuries in 2023. Al-Shaair also plays with a nasty streak that Mike Tomlin should fall in love with. He is an affordable option with a high upside.
5. Curtis Samuel
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a budding superstar at wide receiver with George Pickens. Diontae Johnson is under contract for another season and is due over $18 million. Khan traded for Allen Robinson in 2023 to plug in a veteran in a young, immature receiving room. Unfortunately, Robinson's former Pro Bowl production eluded him in Pittsburgh, and a combination of eroding skills and a putrid offensive scheme did not allow him to shine.
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Steelers could look to Curtis Samuel for a veteran presence in 2024.
Curtis Samuel is used to performing in a crowded receiver room where he is not the primary option in the offense. The seven-year veteran is only 27 years old and has proven to be a solid second and third option for the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders. Samuel is a true professional and still has substantial skills on the field. The Steelers need a solid number three wide receiver. Pickens and Johnson could benefit from his presence on and off the field.
Many in Steeler Nation might be surprised not to see a quarterback on this list. Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins are aging options that resemble the final years of Ben Roethlisberger's career a little too closely. The next best option is Justin Fields, who will only be available via trade if the Steelers want to pursue him. Mason Rudolph could be a target, but the Steelers' new offensive coordinator will probably have a substantial say about who will compete with Kenny Pickett to play quarterback in 2024.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Do you have a favorite target who must be added to the list? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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