Are the Steelers going to get older on defense?

[WindyCitySteel]

All speculation at this point, but I’m seeing several veteran free agents linked to the Steelers on SteelersDepot because they either used to play in Pittsburgh or for one of their coaches (Austin, Slay).

Mike Hilton - 31 next season
Darius Slay - 34 next season
Javon Hargrave - 32 next season, coming off torn triceps injury

There are younger players available, perhaps better players, at each position, but these would all be more affordable and would sufficiently paper over holes until 2026.

On the other side of the ball there is interest in Chubb and Kupp, two formerly great players but well past their primes.

I truly hope this is all agent/media driven, even if you don’t want to tear down and rebuild, filling out your roster with a bunch of comfortable has-beens to break .500 is not the way to go.

Sign one or two young free agents at CB and WR who will hopefully be with the team for 4+ years, then trade back in the draft and fill as many holes as possible.

They’re not winning a Super Bowl in 2025, so start building the next team that might have a shot.

[Northern_Blitz]

I think this is another unfortunate byproduct of being bad at drafting.

Very good players rarely make it to UFA while they are still very good.

Instead, they go to the open market when the teams that know them best think that they aren't worth the cap and cash they are going to be able to command based on their reputation at the back end of their career.

FWIW, I think this is a big reason why teams that are well known for consistently spending spending on outside UFAs tend to not do very well in the medium to long term.

["BuzzNuter"]

Hargrave is the only possible run stopper on that list and he's old. We should regroup take our hits and draft people. Look to 3 years down the road.

We need to spend money so I would consider Slay for 3 years. Reup TJ, he's old but if we h ave to spend money he deserves it. I like Chubb so I would get him on the cheap. He's better then Najee as a 3yards and a cloud of dust guy.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I like Chubb so I would get him on the cheap. He's better then Najee as a 3yards and a cloud of dust guy.

Nick Chubb was easily a top 5 back in the league prior to his injury. Last season he was still missed half the season and ran for 3.3 YPC when he returned, behind a better line than Najee ran behind. I would love to have 2022 Chubb on this team. I'd rather have Najee today.

[Northern_Blitz]

Nick Chubb was easily a top 5 back in the league prior to his injury. Last season he was still missed half the season and ran for 3.3 YPC when he returned, behind a better line than Najee ran behind. I would love to have 2022 Chubb on this team. I'd rather have Najee today.

Since we aren't really in danger of competing for more than a WC win this year, I'd rather use the money on guys who play positions with longer shelf-lives. And get a competent RB for cheap.

The exception would be if we could get either of these guys at or near the vet min. I think there's no way that happens with Najee. Probably not with Chubb because people will still be buying on the name I think. But if we could get him for cheap like that (I highly doubt that happens, but RBs are weird), I'd be in.