2022 in the NFL begins on Wednesday, March 16, with the legal intervention period opening on Monday, the 14th. And this time, the Pittsburgh Steelers have something to spend money on. Don’t expect them to make huge $80 million deals, but they should be more aggressive than they were last season. That makes the free agent wish list a little more interesting this year than last offseason, especially given the quarterback uncertainty.
Below is my list of the most eligible players, talents, and guys who would make sense to come to Pittsburgh on the defensive side of the ball. This list has variety, bigger names, and more economical options that you guys can stomach.
As I know you will, let me know your thoughts and other players you might suggest in the comments below. If you missed it, be sure to check out my free agent wish list posted Thursday.
line of defense
Bilal Nichols/Chicago Bears
I admit that I didn’t have the opportunity to study linebackers as I had hoped, but I would be remiss if I didn’t offer at least a couple of them, given Stephon Twitt’s insecurities and, apparently, a large number of official team interviews. truckers at the Combine.
Nichols won’t turn 26 until September and has shown some eight-sack pass rushing ability as a backup, rotational lineman for the Bears over the past two years. He was a great athlete from Delaware, running 4.95 at 306 pounds at the 2018 Combine. He stands nearly 6’4″, 306 pounds, and has hands nearly 33 1/2″, making him a good candidate for someone who can play a nickel and rush a passer, an area that up-and-coming rookie Isaiah Loudermilk has struggled in.
Nichols could be worth some money, but if Twitt doesn’t come back, Pittsburgh could be more aggressive in dealing with the problem.
Taven Bryan / Jacksonville Jaguars
More pedigree corresponds to opportunity and cost. Like Tyson Alualu years ago, Bryan is a former Jaguars first-round pick, 29th overall in the 2018 draft. He didn’t hit that mark with just 5.5 career sacks, but he had two in 2021 for just 299 defensive snaps. Both sacks hit Billy in week 9, but at least it was something positive.
He is a solid height/weight for the Steelers, although he lacks the ideal length to play on the edge of the field as a 4i/5 technician. But with how much the Steelers play their guys in the shadows these days, it’s a little less of an issue, and Brian could be the No. 5 defenseman on game day, snapping 15-20 per game. He also turned 26 today.
Outside Linebacker
Vince Biegel/Miami Dolphins
I try not to reuse names from past free agent wish lists because I don’t want to be the guy who screams John Simon for five seasons in a row (it was all me, by the way – and I got my redemption!). Bigiel was on my list a year ago, but it’s too easy to connect the dots here.
Every free agency list is required by law to have some sort of connection to Brian Flores, and this (one) is mine. Bigiel saw little to no time on defense after missing the entire 2020 season with an Achilles rupture. But he’s seen work on special teams and will sell for cheap, probably in the league lows. Backup depth on EDGE, especially if Taco Charlton doesn’t oversubscribe.
Inside midfielder
Ja’Von Bentley/New England Patriots
Another link by Brian Flores. Many have pointed to Dont’a Hightower, and no doubt the points converge. Not just for Flores, but for the Steelers’ own interests, from nearly drafting him in 2012 to nearly signing him as a free agent years ago. Josh Carney also rightly pointed out the possibility of Miami’s Elandon Roberts, but Bentley is my boyfriend. He was drafted by the Pats in 2018 while Flores was the team’s linebacker coach. Flores praised him for his football IQ and how quickly he learned the rules of the game.
Pittsburgh really missed Vince Williams last season, whose sudden exit from the game was one of the reasons the defense struggled to find stability. Bentley is very similar to Williams, but in a larger body. At 255 pounds, Bentley is a strong downhill player who has been a starter for the Pats for the past two years. He worked productively on this spam: only 200 tackles (eight for a loss), three forced fumbles and 2.5 sacks.
Looking through Bentley’s feed, I saw a big, brutal and physical linebacker who regularly beats blocks in a running game. He’s not going to offer much in coverage, and he was usually sent off on third down and the most obvious passing situations. At 255 pounds, you know what you’re signing up for.
One could argue that Bentley is not much different from Robert Spillane, but he is better than Spillane. And there is value in “better than” too, as opposed to a stylistically different type of midfielder. The number one goal for inside linebackers and the Steelers defense in general is to get better at defending. Bentley will do it. So Pittsburgh should be interested.
Bentley Run Guard Clips (#8):
Rashaan Evans/Tennessee Titans
There are quite a few point connections here, as many have done with Hightower. But Evans might be a better option. He’s definitely younger. Pittsburgh reportedly intended to pick him in the 2018 draft until the Titans took him six spots ahead. Evans is now available after an NFL career that likely fell short of Top 25 expectations. But he definitely wasn’t a bad player. He is a versatile midfielder who does nothing well but is not a liability in any aspect of his game. He can run, cover, and generally stay clean in a running game. He doesn’t produce many brilliant games, but he is making tackles and is an all-around solid linebacker, although I think the goal is for Devin Busch to still be a three-down linebacker in 2022. Evans didn’t. played a lot of passes last year.
He’s only 26 years old and one of those pre-draft/breed guys that the Steelers have always gravitated towards.
Alex Anzalone/Detroit Lions
The third name in the list of midfielders without the ball. And all three are players of different styles. Bentley is huge, Evans is versatile, and Anzalone is more of a cover guy. The tall Florida linebacker who has struggled with injuries has fared better in the NFL, having been mostly available and healthy in the past two seasons.
He has trouble running, and yes, that could really hurt his chances of joining the Steelers, who need to improve against ground play, but he’s a strong defensive linebacker. His seven pass deflections were fourth among all midfielders last season, and he’s an impressive shot in the bottom zone, constantly getting his hands on the shooting lines. He is an above average athlete with a range from sideline to sideline that should not break the bank. He needs to show more power against the run, but if Pittsburgh thinks a much-improved defensive line can solve the run problems, then Anzalone makes more sense.
Honorable Mentions: Dont’a Hightower/Patriots, Josie Jewell/Broncos, Leighton Vander Ash/Cowboys, Josh Bynes/Ravens.
There are many other names here. Hightower is easy to hook up, Jewell was a good linebacker before he got injured in early 2021, LVE has a few draft connections and I’ve always been a Bynes fan.
corner defender
Tavon Young/Baltimore Ravens
Angular was a tricky list to try and find a name that seems to fit and work. Tampa Bay’s Carlton Davis could be a strong addition and a No. 1 in the close rotation to deal with the Ja’Marr Chase twice a year (and the Browns are likely going to hit WR hard this offseason). Davis’ price tag, even for a Steelers team that has money, can be a problem.
Young recently hit the market after the Ravens released him on Wednesday, meaning he could sign with any team immediately. Health was a big issue for him and he only appeared in two games from 2019 to 2020. But he returned last season and played in all 17 matches. He made a strong impression on the descent: four of his 35 tackles were lost along with two sacks. This type of physical playing angle is what the Steelers have been looking for ever since they lost Mike Hilton and is the reason they took the Arthur Molet flyer.
Young will soon be 28 and should be pretty approachable. Tre Norwood played well as a rookie and should have done well in that defense, but Young will be competition and some injury insurance that gives the defense flexibility.
Honorable Mention: Bryce Callahan/Broncos, Bradley Robey/Saints (if shortened).
Callahan is another slot option, but he has health issues. Pittsburgh showed interest in Robie and even offered him a contract before giving him to Steven Nelson.
Security
Jordan Whitehead/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Whitehead has been on my radar for a while and his name has been reportedly associated with the Steelers. This is a light projection. He played in Pitt and grew up in the area, from Aliquippa and visiting the HS Central Valley. A homecoming makes a lot of sense if the team can’t re-sign Terrell Edmunds.
Whitehead is not as big or as big as Edmunds, he has a leaner lower half, but he has the same amount of energy and punching power. He is also slightly better in terms of coverage than Edmunds in terms of his ball skills and overall angles.
Whitehead won’t turn 25 until next week and Whitehead, like Edmunds, has played a lot of football, making 55 starts in his four-year career. He would be a great replacement for Edmunds, and possibly an upgrade.
Whitehead Tackle Clips (#33):
DeSean Elliott/Baltimore Ravens
Elliot has been discussed a lot less than Whitehead, but he also makes sense for the same reasons. He’s not from the area, but the Steelers know him well as an opponent from the division. He started 16 games in 2020 before his 2021 was cut short with a torn chest/bicep. This will reduce its cost and allow you to sign a lucrative deal.
Our 2018 scouting report highlighted his versatility, melee and grappling abilities, and his Power 5 performance. Elliott has more flexibility to offer the defense. With Edmunds so close to the VOC player, the Steelers have had to get creative with how they can move around Minky Fitzpatrick so that he isn’t always the quarterback that gets discarded.