Tim Benz: Steelers haven’t changed free agency approach to the degree we pretend
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A lot has been made about how active the Pittsburgh Steelers have been in free agency this offseason.
In my opinion, too much.
Let’s be real. The Steelers have basically replicated their approach from a season ago. Not only in terms of how many players the club has signed but also regarding the amount of money spent and the positions that they addressed.
Think about it. A year ago, the Steelers signed Mitch Trubisky, Myles Jack, Levi Wallace, Gunner Olszewski, Mason Cole and James Daniels away from other franchises.
That’s a quarterback, an inside linebacker, a cornerback, a depth receiver, and a pair of interior offensive linemen. Oh, and later on in the offseason, Larry Ogunjobi and Damontae Kazee.
This year, the Steelers signed Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts, Patrick Peterson, Nate Herbig and Isaac Seumalo.
That’s two inside linebackers, a cornerback and a pair of interior offensive linemen. Oh, and Larry Ogunjobi and Damontae Kazee. Again.
So aside from signing Trubisky at quarterback last year to initially replace Ben Roethlisberger (and depth tackle Le’Raven Clark this year), this season is more or less mirroring 2022 in terms of what holes the Steelers tried to fill in free agency.
The money spent hasn’t been all that much more either. In his final offseason as general manager, Kevin Colbert handed out $31.66 million in free agent guarantees to those players listed above from 2022 via OverTheCap.com
So what’s the difference either in terms of dollars spent or positions addressed? Any answer besides “almost none” is strictly an attempt to create a false narrative — some phony hyperbole about embracing offseason spending.
The notion that there has been an obviously identifiable paradigm shift between Colbert’s administration and that of Khan and assistant GM Andy Weidl is completely bogus. Yet that storyline has been willingly invented by fans, media members and bloggers.
Omar Khan cooking in free agency #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/4pXTEGzAMe
— Tim S ???????? (@TatorTim412) March 19, 2023
How I slept last night knowing that Omar Khan is the Steelers GM. pic.twitter.com/X41u61pP4s
— Billy Hartford (@BudDupreeFan) March 20, 2023
Omar Khan is doing gods work in this free agency #HereWeGo #Steelers
— Anthony (@B3LL97) March 19, 2023
The Steelers Free Agency moves have them poised to return to the top of the AFC North with a great draft. Omar Khan and Andy Weidl are a lethal combination https://t.co/1alyWxkqEf
— Bob Quinn (@thebubbasq) March 19, 2023
The Steelers have been more active in Free Agency this year than any other. Are they getting all the BIG names NO, but they have picked up key pieces to help in 2023/2024 season. Draft coming, LFG 11-6 or better this year
— Randy (@SteelerFan_inCO) March 20, 2023
Omar khan in free agency pic.twitter.com/W0cGnrVuZX
— jig djarin (@Jiggie_Joe) March 19, 2023
Even former players are advancing the hype.
Omar Khan pulling up to the draft after an amzing FA. ???? pic.twitter.com/9SHs9ize1U
— Vince Williams (@VinnyVidiVici98) March 20, 2023
Presented without the context of comps to last March when the Steelers salary cap finally wasn’t restricted by Roethlisberger’s mega contract, this epiphany may have been true.
However, the Steelers did start spending that way a year ago. The results were marginal, as the team went 9-8. Furthermore, the Steelers continue to sign a lot of second- and third-tier free agents, not the frontline, big-ticket players available.
That has been consistent for decades.
Just look at the inside linebacker depth chart. Obviously, the Steelers wanted to improve that spot. Yet they still passed on big names at that position (Tremaine Edmunds, Eric Kendricks, T.J. Edwards, Lavonte David, Bobby Wagner) and waited for the bargains (Holcomb, Roberts) to emerge. That’s despite the fact that (aside from Edmunds’ massive $72 million contract with the Chicago Bears), inside linebacker salaries didn’t go for as much as expected heading into the free agency period.
The intellectual dishonesty employed by creating a fictional sea change in the Steelers’ front office mentality isn’t even necessary. Anyone who wants to gin up enthusiasm on behalf of the club should be able to cite more concrete examples.
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Maybe the offense will expand under Kenny Pickett during his second season, as will the refinement of his game.
It’s possible other young offensive skill contributors such as George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth will have room for growth. Perhaps Najee Harris and T.J. Watt will stay healthier this year, or the Steelers could hit a few home runs in the draft with three picks in the top 50 selections.
Those are all reasons to believe that the Steelers are going to be better in 2023. They are all more legitimate than creating a cockeyed talking point about the franchise reinventing itself in free agency just because Khan and Weidl are now in charge.
And just because that makes for a kitschy tweet or two.