ESPN: Steelers will 'explore' signing veteran safety Eric Weddle

[SteelCrazy]

Upgrading their secondary is the Steelers' top priority this offseason, and that will include looking into signing free agent safety Eric Weddle.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers will explore signing Weddle, a free agent that will likely not return to the Chargers, his team for the first nine years of his career.

Weddle, 31, is a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro. Similar to Troy Polamalu, Weddle, who has 19 career interceptions and 74 career passes defensed, is for known for his impeccable instincts, his athleticism, and his ability to thrive both in pass protection and in run support.

But for the first time since 2009, Weddle failed to play in all 16 games, as injuries sidelined him for three games in 2015. He also failed to record an interception for the first time since his rookie season last fall, while recording just 53 tackles, also his lowest total since his rookie season.

Despite his decline in production last season, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is a big fan of Weddle, and praised the veteran safety prior to Pittsburgh's matchup in San Diego last season.

“I love Eric Weddle, always have,” Tomlin said. “He’s so versatile. He’s a sub-package linebacker. He plays strong safety. He plays free safety. He plays half-field, middle of the field. They blitz him. He’s a do-everything type of a player, and a good one.”

As always, money is a significant factor in free agency, and that might be the biggest determining factor when it comes to whether or not Weddle will become a member of the Steelers. But if negotiations get serious between the two sides, Pittsburgh might be willing to spend more than normal to acquire a player that should immediately upgrade the Steelers' secondary.

While Weddle didn't have a great 2015 season, DeAngelo Williams also didn't have a very good final season with the Panthers before the Steelers made him the best free agent signing of the 2015 offseason. Williams, who battled injuries during his final season in Carolina, was reborn in Pittsburgh, enjoying his best year in seven seasons while helping the Steelers win its first playoff game since the 2010 season.

Weddle could have a similar story in Pittsburgh, while possibly being one of the final pieces of the Steelers' Super Bowl puzzle.

[url]http://pit.247sports.com/Bolt/ESPN-Steelers-will-explore-signing-veteran-safety-Eric-Weddle-43620658[/url]

[Flasteel]

I would be very pleased by this signing.

[papillon]

As long as the numbers are reasonable, after all he is on the wrong side of 30.

Pappy

[SteelerOfDeVille]

As long as the numbers are reasonable, after all he is on the wrong side of 30.

Pappy

right on, pap

[Oviedo]

Would be a great off season move

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

...
Weddle could have a similar story in Pittsburgh as DW, while possibly being one of the final pieces of the Steelers' Super Bowl puzzle.

We can't go after someone who had a good year? Sure he "could have" a similar season as DW, but that says little about whether he's *likely* to.

It would be such a bummer if we hired a recently-injured old guy who had a rotten season to find what-we-saw-is-what-we-got.

There's really no chance of getting someone in their prime we can plan on being productive for a while?

[BradshawsHairdresser]

We can't go after someone who had a good year? Sure he "could have" a similar season as DW, but that says little about whether he's *likely* to.

It would be such a bummer if we hired a recently-injured old guy who had a rotten season to find what-we-saw-is-what-we-got.

There's really no chance of getting someone in their prime we can plan on being productive for a while?

I think that's a valid concern. I would hope they really do their homework before deciding to sign someone like Weddle. He's been very good in past years, but he's also at the age when he could be into his decline. It would be really nice if they could get someone very good at that position (or a stud CB) who is about six years younger. I understand, though, that such a player would probably demand a lot more money, which the Steelers cannot/will not pay.

[papillon]

Isn't this about the age when it was becoming noticeable that Troy was not the same Troy Polamalu of previous years. I believe Troy is 34 right now, so 31-32 was about the time I think.

Pappy

[RuthlessBurgher]

There's really no chance of getting someone in their prime we can plan on being productive for a while?

That would be nose tackle Damon Harrison of the New York Jets...final piece of our DL puzzle (although we'd still need to draft 3-4 DE depth, but if we were able to sign NT Harrison as our one big FA acquisition, then we could focus on DL depth in round 4 or 7 instead of looking for a DL starter in round 1 or 2.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

That would be nose tackle Damon Harrison of the New York Jets...final piece of our DL puzzle (although we'd still need to draft 3-4 DE depth, but if we were able to sign NT Harrison as our one big FA acquisition, then we could focus on DL depth in round 4 or 7 instead of looking for a DL starter in round 1 or 2.

I'd have no problem with a signing like that.Upgrading your pass rush makes all four of your DBs better. QB has less time to throw, less likely to feel comfortable, less accurate. Also less need for DBs to be involved in the pass rush and allows LBs to drop back into coverage more if the front can get to the QB with a 4 man rush.

[Slapstick]

If the Steelers sign Weddle, there will be much hand-wringing because he's too old...

If he signs with the Patriots, there will be much hand-wringing because the Steelers missed out on him...

[Steelhere10]

The Steelers don't make these type of signings at the wrong age of their career, never have never will. They sign players around the age of 26 with potential to be better.

[papillon]

If the Steelers sign Weddle, there will be much hand-wringing because he's too old...

If he signs with the Patriots, there will be much hand-wringing because the Steelers missed out on him...

I will only care about his age if they pay him as if he's 25 years old coming off a pro-bowl season and not like he's 31 coming off a sub-par season.

Pappy

[RuthlessBurgher]

Signing a rock solid NT would also free up Shazier to be the dominant force he is capable of being. Besides, it seems appropriate to sign a NT nicknamed "Snacks" to take the NT mantle passed down by "Big Snack" Hampton.

However, it also should be noted that the DT crop in the draft is particularly strong, while the safety crop is particularly weak. I could easily see 8 DT's coming off the board before the first safety gets drafted (assuming that teams view presumptive top 10 DB Jalen Ramsey as a CB rather than a FS at the next level, of course).

The fact that Harrison is entering his prime (and therefore will be looking for his first big money contract coming off his 3 year UDFA rookie deal and 1 year RFA tender) while Weddle is exiting his prime (and therefore may be willing to take less money than he had been making) means that finances may ultimately determine which guy we go after in free agency (considering that we also need to extend long term big money deals to guys like David DeCastro, Le'Veon Bell, and Antonio Brown in the near future).

[Northern_Blitz]

I will only care about his age if they pay him as if he's 25 years old coming off a pro-bowl season and not like he's 31 coming off a sub-par season.

Pappy

The thing about players at this stage of their careers is that there is always at least one team that is willing to do this. It's stupid of the player not to sign with that team. Pittsburgh is not a team that does this, so we make good deals on similar players without the "name recognition" sometime after the first few days of FA.

The big FAs we sign are our own. I hope that doesn't change because I think that's a good model for long term success.