Large amount of cap space in 2017

[Oviedo]

Potentially $32M in cap space. Enough to extend Antonio, potentially Bell and maybe others. Possibly get a pass rusher to fix our woeful situation at OLB.

http://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2016/10/28/steelers-set-to-have-historic-amounts-of-salary-cap-space-in-2017/

[RuthlessBurgher]

Brown. Bell. Tuitt. Shazier. All need to be addressed within the next couple of years. Use your money to keep the quality players you got, not chase players other teams aren't motivated to re-sign.

[Oviedo]

Brown. Bell. Tuitt. Shazier. All need to be addressed within the next couple of years. Use your money to keep the quality players you got, not chase players other teams aren't motivated to re-sign.

Thoughts on signing a "big" free agent CB? Can we count on Gay forever?

What about a pass rusher since we have none at OLB?

[phillyesq]

Brown. Bell. Tuitt. Shazier. All need to be addressed within the next couple of years. Use your money to keep the quality players you got, not chase players other teams aren't motivated to re-sign.

I'd focus on those guys, but if there was an addition out there to help the defense, I think you'd have to consider it. I doubt that any good pass rushers or concerns hit the market, but if somebody was out there (say, Chandler Jones), you'd have to consider it if the signing wouldn't destroy the cap. And while finding an outside corner would probably be tough, you might be able to find a slot guy (for example, Captain Munnerlyn).

I'd also consider a more versatile ILB to rotate with Shazier and Williams. Timmons is becoming more of a liability against the pass, and if the Steelers are going to keep using the nickel alignment that we've been seeing, I think you need somebody who offers more in coverage.

Below is a list of potential FAs.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/

[D Rock]

Does anyone think it might be worth trading for Joe Haden and taking on his 11million cap hit the next couple of years?

It's a huge cap number, but he did make a couple pro bowls early on and then seemed to fall into the old Cleveland trap.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Thoughts on signing a "big" free agent CB? Can we count on Gay forever?

What about a pass rusher since we have none at OLB?

You pay out the nose to bring in outside pass rushers and corners. Is the Giants defense really all that much better that they gave huge free agent dollars to the likes of Olivier Vernon and Janoris Jenkins, for instance?

We have some young talent in the secondary now that should improve throughout the remainder of this year as well as in the offseason program (Burns, Davis, Cockrell, Gilbert, Golson).

I'm not worried about not having a pass rushing OLB like Lloyd, Porter, or Harrison anymore. We are in nickel and dime more than we are in base 3-4 anymore, and certainly in nickel and dime much more in pass rushing situations. Next year, Hargrave will have a year of NFL experience under his belt and Dupree should be fully healthy and ready to go, especially when he can put his hand on the ground and just pin his ears back as a nickel/dime pass rusher. Although I would certainly attempt to add some pass rush depth in the next draft, I wouldn't be overly concerned with a front four of Dupree, Tuitt, Hargrave, and Heyward attacking the QB next year. Just because the primary pass rush came from OLB's in the past doesn't mean it necessarily has to continue that way in the future.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

You pay out the nose to bring in outside pass rushers and corners. Is the Giants defense really all that much better that they gave huge free agent dollars to the likes of Olivier Vernon and Janoris Jenkins, for instance?

We have some young talent in the secondary now that should improve throughout the remainder of this year as well as in the offseason program (Burns, Davis, Cockrell, Gilbert, Golson).

I'm not worried about not having a pass rushing OLB like Lloyd, Porter, or Harrison anymore. We are in nickel and dime more than we are in base 3-4 anymore, and certainly in nickel and dime much more in pass rushing situations. Next year, Hargrave will have a year of NFL experience under his belt and Dupree should be fully healthy and ready to go, especially when he can put his hand on the ground and just pin his ears back as a nickel/dime pass rusher. Although I would certainly attempt to add some pass rush depth in the next draft, I wouldn't be overly concerned with a front four of Dupree, Tuitt, Hargrave, and Heyward attacking the QB next year. Just because the primary pass rush came from OLB's in the past doesn't mean it necessarily has to continue that way in the future.

I agree on the CB's, but, we need a pass rusher. Badly, IMO.

[NJ-STEELER]

You pay out the nose to bring in outside pass rushers and corners. Is the Giants defense really all that much better that they gave huge free agent dollars to the likes of Olivier Vernon and Janoris Jenkins, for instance?

We have some young talent in the secondary now that should improve throughout the remainder of this year as well as in the offseason program (Burns, Davis, Cockrell, Gilbert, Golson).

I'm not worried about not having a pass rushing OLB like Lloyd, Porter, or Harrison anymore. We are in nickel and dime more than we are in base 3-4 anymore, and certainly in nickel and dime much more in pass rushing situations. Next year, Hargrave will have a year of NFL experience under his belt and Dupree should be fully healthy and ready to go, especially when he can put his hand on the ground and just pin his ears back as a nickel/dime pass rusher. Although I would certainly attempt to add some pass rush depth in the next draft, I wouldn't be overly concerned with a front four of Dupree, Tuitt, Hargrave, and Heyward attacking the QB next year. Just because the primary pass rush came from OLB's in the past doesn't mean it necessarily has to continue that way in the future.

ues. Their defense is much better.


Dont see why why they couldn't bring in a pass rusher. Is there a
dofference Signing your own good player and signing a good
player in FA

[RuthlessBurgher]

Pass rushers available on the market tend to be old, injury prone, or simply looking to cash in to the highest bidder. If a team has a young, healthy pass rusher on their roster, they aren't going to just let him walk in free agency unless he has completely unreasonable contract expectations (and that isn't the kind of guy we'd target anyway). If we are able to somehow find someone on the street, then great, but I won't be holding my breath waiting for that to happen. If you want to obtain quality pass rushers and corners, the optimal route is to develop them yourself.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Pass rushers available on the market tend to be old, injury prone, or simply looking to cash in to the highest bidder. If a team has a young, healthy pass rusher on their roster, they aren't going to just let him walk in free agency unless he has completely unreasonable contract expectations (and that isn't the kind of guy we'd target anyway). If we are able to somehow find someone on the street, then great, but I won't be holding my breath waiting for that to happen. If you want to obtain quality pass rushers and corners, the optimal route is to develop them yourself.

i think it depends... you find someone with upside as a pass rusher, who has just been with the wrong team in the wrong scheme.

Having said that, i think the upcoming draft is a solid one for pass-rush tweeners. i woudln't wast my money in FA on a pass rusher.

I posted this same topic a week or so ago in a thread (it came through yahoo) - IMO, I could see Timmons-Woodley round 2 in this upcoming draft - only this time to REPLACE Timmons and Harrison.

Featuring Vince Williams as Larry Foote - the veteran who will be disgruntled with the more talented rookie starts to steal his minutes.
Also starring James Harrison as Joey Porter - the beloved veteran on the way out that you've gotta love up to

[NJ-STEELER]

Pass rushers available on the market tend to be old, injury prone, or simply looking to cash in to the highest bidder. If a team has a young, healthy pass rusher on their roster, they aren't going to just let him walk in free agency unless he has completely unreasonable contract expectations (and that isn't the kind of guy we'd target anyway). If we are able to somehow find someone on the street, then great, but I won't be holding my breath waiting for that to happen. If you want to obtain quality pass rushers and corners, the optimal route is to develop them yourself.

World's (average)
Jones (average)
Dupree. Jury is still out


They haven't been developing much lately

[NorthCoast]

World's (average)
Jones (average)
Dupree. Jury is still out


They haven't been developing much lately

and the reason is pretty clear. The Steelers, for good or bad, have moved away from drafting DEs to groom as OLBs and have gone after pure OLBs. Something Ovi has been harping about for years and so far has amounted to zilch at the position.

[Shoe]

You pay out the nose to bring in outside pass rushers and corners. Is the Giants defense really all that much better that they gave huge free agent dollars to the likes of Olivier Vernon and Janoris Jenkins, for instance?

We have some young talent in the secondary now that should improve throughout the remainder of this year as well as in the offseason program (Burns, Davis, Cockrell, Gilbert, Golson).

I'm not worried about not having a pass rushing OLB like Lloyd, Porter, or Harrison anymore. We are in nickel and dime more than we are in base 3-4 anymore, and certainly in nickel and dime much more in pass rushing situations. Next year, Hargrave will have a year of NFL experience under his belt and Dupree should be fully healthy and ready to go, especially when he can put his hand on the ground and just pin his ears back as a nickel/dime pass rusher. Although I would certainly attempt to add some pass rush depth in the next draft, I wouldn't be overly concerned with a front four of Dupree, Tuitt, Hargrave, and Heyward attacking the QB next year. Just because the primary pass rush came from OLB's in the past doesn't mean it necessarily has to continue that way in the future.

Great point about overpaying for perceived value. And while I do agree with most Steeler fans (that we should focus on our own), I do think there are some names that should be considered. I want guys that can be had at or below market value... guys like aging players looking to make it to the SB, or hometown guys who might give a bit of a discount to come here.

A name like Darrelle Revis, who's play at Corner this year certainly will require him to take a pay-cut. I think he still has a couple years if he moves to Safety, like so many others like him have. I also like another guy we can bring into our DL rotation.

One thing on AB: I like him just as much as everyone, but we have to be a little careful with him. He's great, but we can't overpay him at the expense of a guy like Martavis Bryant. That guy really is a game-changer, who we miss a lot this year (even if Coates played well). We need to be able to keep Bryant, along with Bell and Brown. Along with our OL, and Ben, that is all-time great O.

[SteelCrazy]

The only way we get a OLB that can rush the QB is if we draft one or we get someone else's Jarvis Jones and he produces for us. We will not spend big money outside the organization to acquire one. I still can't believe we spent 20 mill on a Ferrari TE.....

[RuthlessBurgher]

Great point about overpaying for perceived value. And while I do agree with most Steeler fans (that we should focus on our own), I do think there are some names that should be considered. I want guys that can be had at or below market value... guys like aging players looking to make it to the SB, or hometown guys who might give a bit of a discount to come here.

A name like Darrelle Revis, who's play at Corner this year certainly will require him to take a pay-cut. I think he still has a couple years if he moves to Safety, like so many others like him have. I also like another guy we can bring into our DL rotation.

One thing on AB: I like him just as much as everyone, but we have to be a little careful with him. He's great, but we can't overpay him at the expense of a guy like Martavis Bryant.That guy really is a game-changer, who we miss a lot this year (even if Coates played well). We need to be able to keep Bryant, along with Bell and Brown. Along with our OL, and Ben, that is all-time great O.

Brown is way more of a game changer than Bryant will ever be. He's reliable, and you can't change the game if you are mandated to be home on your couch. Brown deserves a huge extension. He earned it. Bryant has to re-earn everything again...back from square one.