Friday, March 7th, 2008 by Adam Wagner
Steelers working the free agent market
Despite having less than $1 million under the cap (depending on whether or not Max Starks accepts his $7 million or so transition tag), the Steelers are still working the free agent market to fix their offensive line, free safety and their special teams, all spots that need an upgrade. This week, the Steelers brought in DB Euguene Wilson, FS Chris Crocker, OL Rex Hadnot and special teams ace Tracy White.
The free safety position is the oddity of these, as the Steelers have the injured Ryan Clark and the young Anthony Smith there. Clark was playing very well last season until he had severe internal issues after reacting badly to Denver’s high altitude. Smith then came on only to show that, as a second-year player, he was completely unprepared for the pressures of playing in the NFL, going for the big hit instead of making a play and looking completely lost at times.
If the Steelers think that Clark’s injuries will prevent him from taking the field healthy for a while and that Smith has sufficiently demonstrated that he will not be a good player. If that is the case, it makes sense to be going after a consistent, veteran player such as Crocker or Wilson, both of whom could fit in with the Steelers’ plans by allowing Troy Polamalu to freelance and be the type of playmaker that he can be.
As for Hadnot, the guard/center started all 16 games for Miami last year and would bring a fair amount of versatility to a Steelers’ line that desperately needs the assistance. Hadnot is a large, young lineman who would fit in nicely with the Steelers as either a starting center or guard or as a versatile backup.
White would help fill in at one of the Steelers’ areas of greatest weaknesses last season, special teams. The former Packer is well-known for his ability on kickoff and punt coverage and the Steelers will be looking for a replacement on special teams and linebacker after releasing former ST captain Clint Kriewaldt earlier this offseason.
All in all, the Steelers are not looking at the cap-busting superstars whose signings indicate to the rest of the league just how desperate a certain organization is, but good, consistent players who would make them a better football team, the type of supplementary player that free agency should be used to add.
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