Tim Benz: Grading Steelers free agency moves. And why that’s so hard to do.
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This doesn’t have to be “it” for the Pittsburgh Steelers when it comes to acquiring talent for the upcoming 2020 season.
Obviously, there is the NFL Draft in April.
Yes, that event is still taking place despite the covid-19 crisis. In a studio. To what degree of participation or production, we don’t know. Although it is still happening.
Unfortunately, the Steelers only have one pick (No. 49) within the first 100 selections.
Don’t forget post training camp cuts. Cornerback Joe Haden famously came to the Steelers on August 30, just a few hours after the Cleveland Browns released him.
The Steelers even made a trade in September last year to get Minkah Fitzpatrick from the Miami Dolphins, two games into the regular season.
So, much like many universities around the United States in the wake of the coronavirus shutdown, the Steelers are being graded in March during a semester that may not be fully evaluated until late summer.
That being said, instead of just slapping an A, B, C, D or F arbitrary grade on what the Steelers did via free agency in the first few weeks of the league year, let’s take a more progressive grading approach and look at the Steelers from a written evaluation point of view.
Who they picked up: Eric Ebron (TE/IND), Stefen Wisniewski (OL/KC), Derek Watt (FB/LAC), Chris Wormley (DL/BALT) via trade
Who is gone: Javon Hargrave (DT/PHI), Nick Vannett (TE/DEN), Artie Burns (CB/CHI), Tyler Matakevich (ILB/BUFF), Sean Davis (S/WASH), B.J. Finney (OL/SEA)
Who they retained: Bud Dupree (OLB) via franchise tag, Zach Banner (OL), Jordan Dangerfield (S), Kameron Canaday (LS), Mike Hilton (CB) via tender, Matt Feiler (OL) via tender
Who has been turned loose: Mark Barron (ILB), Anthony Chickillo (OLB), Roosevelt Nix (FB), Johnny Holton (WR)
Positions they addressed: Tight end
Positions that still need attention before the season starts: Running back, outside linebacker depth, inside linebacker depth, wide receiver
Right away, I’m going to guess what you are thinking: “They addressed way more positions than tight end.”
Did they, though?
The acquisitions of Wormley, Wisniewski and Watt merely offset the losses of Finney, Nix, Hargrave and Matakevich.
That’s not addressing a need. That’s patching a hole.
Watt is essentially being asked to be both Matakevich on special teams and Nix at fullback. He may even be the de facto version of Vannett, too, as a reserve tight end.
Watt may be the least recognizable of his brothers. But he’s a decent player. And if he can fulfill all those duties, the Steelers will be getting good bang for their buck.
I liked Wormley with the Ravens. He’s a little taller and leaner than Tyson Alualu. So maybe a more up-the-field guy to back up Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt in passing situations along the defensive line. But not a traditional Steelers nose tackle.
As if those guys really exist anymore anyway.
If it was my call, I’d go into training camp thinking Wisniewski is the starting left guard. Playing on two Super Bowl winners (Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles) over the last three years as a starting offensive lineman has to count for something, right?
Make Wisniewski the starting guard unless he is awful in the preseason, leave Feiler as the starting right tackle, and have Banner and Chuks Okorafor ready to start if need be.
Plus, dressing two more players (48 instead of 46) on game day under the new collective bargaining agreement will help that process, too.
Ebron is, at least, an attempt to upgrade the tight end position.
At least an attempt.
Something that was dreadfully needed. His consistency, drops, blocking, demands for the ball and injuries have already been a point of concern in both Detroit and Indianapolis.
But his red-zone proficiency (27 career touchdowns) and 6’4” frame may be worth the hassle if he can stay on the field.
If not, well, much like Ladarius Green and Vance McDonald, at least he looked the part and they tried.
Plus, there is no greater assurance that a draft choice of cable-ready quality would have been available to the Steelers in the second round. And if they did draft such a player, that would leave one of those many holes gaping until pick No. 102 late in the third round.
Franchising Dupree and keeping all those other players were decisions somewhere between obvious and expeditious. So that’s all well and good.
Hargrave would’ve been wonderful to keep, but his $39 million price tag from the Eagles was way too much, and I do think losing Matakevich — especially for $8 million to Buffalo — was a surprise.
Hopefully general manager Kevin Colbert can go two-for-two on the Watt family tree. Although it would’ve been nice to see Watt’s $3.25 million average annual value go toward depth at inside linebacker, running back or a veteran backup quarterback such as Brian Hoyer who went to the New England Patriots.
Now all those holes, as well as all the others listed above have to be addressed in limited and less-than-stellar draft slots. Or via the bargain bin closer to training camp.
So, all in all, what’s the evaluation?
Better than I expected. Ebron is worth the risk for at least one year. They were nimble when Matakevich and Finney left for the money they got. And Wormley is a bit of a sleeper, I think.
None of the departures will be a reason why they tank. None of the additions will be the reason why they get to a Super Bowl.
But the new guys — along with the return of a hopefully healthy Ben Roethlisberger — may collectively add up to be a reason why they improve from 8-8 to maybe 10-6 and finally get back in the playoffs for the first time in three years.
However, whoever they get at running back, wide receiver and both linebacker positions in the draft better be quick studies and able to contribute immediately.
Oh, and Roethlisberger still isn’t allowed to get hurt. Ever. Not even for a game.
OK. OK. Fine. You want a real grade? Just above a “B-”and into the “B” range?
There. You happy?
No. Probably not. I didn’t say A+.