Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan is moving much more deliberately since NFL free agency kicked off on Monday. Since the legal tampering period began, the Steelers have signed Russell Wilson to play quarterback, Patrick Queen to play inside linebacker and Bill Burr's doppelganger Cameron Johnston, to punt in 2024.
The Steelers still have holes at cornerback, safety and offensive line that must be addressed in free agency. Khan and Andy Weidl must also find another effective wide receiver to pair with Diontae Johnson and George Pickens. Arthur Smith runs a lot of heavy personnel on offense, but the Steelers have a real need after releasing Allen Robinson.
Khan, who earned the nickname the "Khan Artist" from The Pat McAfee Show during the 2023 offseason, has a plan. The Pittsburgh general manager was burned by rushing to sign Patrick Peterson early in free agency in his first offseason. The more subdued pace could reveal a more profound commitment to due diligence. Many choices are still available for the Steelers, including these three big names that could make a big splash in black and gold.
WR Calvin Ridley
The Steelers offense under Smith will not feature many three-wide receiver sets. Calvin Ridley and Trevor Lawrence did not entirely mesh with the Jacksonville Jaguars after he returned to the field during the 2023 season. Ridley showed some rust early in the season, but still caught 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. Lawrence targeted him a whopping 136 times.
Ridley will turn 30 in December, but has only played five seasons in the NFL after sitting out the 2022 season because of a suspension for gambling. He has struggled with injuries and sat out most of 2021 with mental health issues. He is a phenomenal talent with incredible natural ability. Some teams will be scared off by his off-the-field issues, but Mike Tomlin and the Steelers' support system would be a perfect fit for Ridley.
CB Kendall Fuller
Joey Porter Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick are elite options in the defensive secondary. Washington Commanders cornerback Kendall Fuller would be an ideal addition to the Steelers' secondary. He is versatile, can play on the outside, and is an elite slot cornerback. Pro Football Focus graded him as the seventh-best cornerback in the NFL in 2023.
Fuller's price tag is expected to be $13-15 million per year. The money they saved on the Queen contract, which was expected to command $18-20 million, can be applied to secure a top-10 cornerback who just turned 29. Fuller is a full four years younger than Peterson was last year and could be exactly what the Steelers were hoping to get from the future Hall of Famer last season.
S Justin Simmons
The Denver Broncos safety is 30 years old, which may explain why he did not go on day one of the legal tampering period. Safeties do not age like cornerbacks, and Simmons has been a Second Team All-Pro safety for the last three seasons. Despite the All-Pro nods, however, he only earned his second Pro Bowl nod after the 2023 season.
Simmons would be a solid addition to the secondary and a substantial upgrade over Damontae Kazee. Teryl Austin's defense features many three-safety looks, and moving Kazee or Eric Rowe into that position could pay big dividends for a defense that should have much better underneath coverage with the addition of Queen to the linebacker corps.
Steelers' Free Agent Moves Are Painting A Clear Picture For What Will Be An April Priority
Khan seems to be looking to make the same impact with his 2024 free-agent signings that he did with the 2023 draft class. Pittsburgh still needs a center, and the Steelers general manager could be telegraphing that they intend to do whatever it takes to draft Jackson Powers-Johnson or Zach Frazier early in April.
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