Schultz: Steelers' New Free Agency Rule Is "A Huge Advantage" For Mike Tomlin

The Pittsburgh Steelers secured themselves a victory during the spring meetings by getting a rule change approved by the NFL. With this new rule getting passed, teams will be able to speak directly to players during the legal tampering period, as opposed to waiting for the new league year to officially begin. While many teams were likely doing this prior to the amendment being passed, it can still be good to get it in writing, as opposed to breaking a rule that the league supposedly does not care about anymore. 

Jordan Schultz, a well-respected NFL insider, had a conversation with a former NFL general manager that he would not name. According to him, there are a few select teams that would benefit from this rule being passed, including Pittsburgh.

"At least one former GM believes the new allowance will greatly benefit certain teams: 'That's a huge advantage for guys like Andy Reid, Sean McVay, or Mike Tomlin,'" quoted Schultz. "'Those guys aren't just great coaches — they're great recruiters. This rule will benefit them and anyone who can emulate their approach when it comes to landing top free agents.'"

Head Coach Mike Tomlin is known for how well he speaks and how he can motivate his players. That was on full display during Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North. The football world was captivated by how he spoke and the message he was conveying to his players. The more freedom he has to talk, the easier it is for him to sell his philosophy.

Tomlin could have been a reason why DK Metcalf was willing to sign a contract extension with the Steelers, which resulted in the trade going through. He was confirmed to be a big reason why Darius Slay signed in Pittsburgh, and he is the primary factor in Aaron Rodgers potentially wearing black and gold in 2025. 

However, none of those three players were free agents due to their contract expiring, meaning they could have conversations with them before the new league year anyways. With the Steelers' proposal being approved, Tomlin will be able to use his smooth-talking abilities during the legal tampering period now.

Steelers Struggle To Secure Top-Tier Free Agents

When the Steelers signed Patrick Queen in the 2024 offseason, he officially became the highest-paid free agent that Pittsburgh has ever signed. He received a $41 million deal that spans over three years. With the amount of money being thrown around in the offseason, that is very low. 

Prior to Queen, the largest contract handed out to incoming free agents was to Steven Nelson, who received a contract worth $25.5 million over three years. While high-dollar free agents don't always pan out, it is still unusual to see such a respected coach not get the top players on his wish list once the new league year begins.

Of course, the Steelers do pay their homegrown players well, and they did give Metcalf a nice contract once they traded for him. Key players like TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Chris Boswell were once the highest-paid players at their position, which helped to reset the market for other teams trying to pay players at those positions.

There is always the question of if it is better to build a Super Bowl contender from the draft or from free agency. In reality, the answer is likely both. It's key for teams to hit on their early draft picks, but if a high-end player is available and fits the scheme, they should try to bring them in by any means necessary.

Tomlin will now get the ability to talk to those free agents earlier. However, everyone else will as well. The 19-year head coach is not the only one that can smooth-talk someone into joining his team. The rule may benefit him, but it doesn't automatically mean everyone will be flocking to Pittsburgh. He still has work to do.

What do you think about the new legal tampering rule benefitting Tomlin and the Steelers? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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