PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Free agency day or now the two days leading up to free agency are normally painful for Steelers fans. Every year, the Steelers will lose players.
This should not be a shock. It's not how this organization builds teams. Rightly or wrongly, they build their core from the draft and accent that group with lessor thought of free agents and a few trades here and there.
It's certainly not exciting when turning on the NFL Network and seeing the Steelers mentioned mainly as the before team.
The most important negotiation right now is with a couple of players who are not yet free agents. Outside linebacker TJ Watt and then safety Mincah Fitzpatrick. Keeping those two from reaching free agency by signing long-term contracts will set the parameters for the post-Ben Roethlisberger days. Then it's about repeating those decisions with other young stars.
If you make the right decisions with prospects, you shouldn't have to spend huge money in free agency. You'll have the occasional big trade, like for Fitzpatrick. The big find on waivers, Joe Haden. It's about your scouting.
Steelers must again find good value in the draft as it appeared they did in 2020 with second round receiver Chase Claypool, third round outside linebacker Alex Highsmith and fourth round guard Kevin Dotson. There is need for more offensive line help, a running back, a tight end, plus linebacker and secondary additions in 2021.
That is where the Steelers need to be held more accountable.
Look at the players that were lost this week—an undrafted safety who ended up with 7 interceptions and 5 fumble recoveries in 4 seasons. A 6th round pick middle linebacker who started 69 games with 479 tackles. An undrafted offensive lineman, who left for 3 years, 21 million. A reclamation project defensive lineman. It's about finding those replacements.
They are inexpensive. If they become expensive, it means you've done a good job.
With the exception of New England, who burned it down and they quickly retooled with free agent signings. Look at the teams with the most salary cap room in 2021-Jacksonville, Cincinnati, the Jets, Washington, Miami. Are they the organizations you want the Steelers to model their decisions after?
This will not stop, it will happen every year. It's the dark side of the salary cap. For as much as you may hate the cap right now, imagine the spending without it. The Steelers wouldn't have much of a chance without the cap.
There is actually a much more direct reality. It's one that the Patriots are facing despite spending hundreds of millions. If the Steelers don't find the right replacement at quarterback, most of this is moot.
