The Steelers Should Resign These Pending Free Agents

Calvin Austin has spent three seasons as a Steeler, and it has been up and down. He hasn’t carved a large role for himself, but he can be valuable if used correctly. Austin is about to turn 27 years old and still has his best football in front of him if he can bring more consistency to his game. His expected market value is $4.9 million a year via Spotrac. If that is the price, he is worth bringing back, but a desperate team with a thin receiving core could overpay for his services. 

4. Connor Heyward

Spotrac has Connor Heyward’s estimated value at $1.3 million per year. If that is the price, that is a steal. Despite many yinzers hating on him, the dude is a solid football player. He doesn’t offer much on offense, but he is a great special teams player, and the Steelers used him as their tush push guy last season. In four seasons in Pittsburgh, Heyward has found the endzone five times. If Cam Heyward is sticking around, they should keep his brother, too. He does the dirty work. 

3. Asante Samuel Jr.

Asante Samuel Jr only played six games with the Steelers last season, but he got one interception and should be a candidate to return to the team. He was coming off missing extended time with an injury and was just starting to get his feet wet. It’s hard to imagine his price tag being high, and at 26 years old with five years of NFL experience, it would be a great signing. Samuel Jr would be a great depth cornerback for Pittsburgh to retain. He has a nose for turnovers. 

2. James Pierre 

It feels like James Pierre has been a Steeler forever, and that is a good thing. He has spent six years with the team, but last season he came into his own on the defensive side of the ball. Pierre has always been a solid special teams player, but he got good reps at cornerback last year. According to spotrac, his market value sits at $1.9 million per year, which is a steal for a player that versatile. He’s 29, and he should be back in the Steel City next season. 

1. Kenneth Gainwell

Kenneth Gainwell should be the Steelers’ top priority this offseason outside of a Joey Porter Jr extension. Gainwell had the best season of his career last year and proved that he and Jaylen Warren are a wicked one-two punch in the backfield. Between rushing and receiving, Gainwell gathered 1,023 total yards and eight touchdowns. Unfortunately, a team that needs a running back could overpay. Spotrac estimates that he is worth $3 million per season, and if that is the case, it should be a no-brainer for the Steelers. Bring Gainwell back. 

End Of My Pittsburgh Steelers Rant

With the departure of Mike Tomlin, the offseason has already been weird for the Steelers, and it has barely even started. With free agency and the draft ahead of them, things have a chance to get even weirder. It’s apparent that a rebuild isn’t happening under Art Rooney II’s reign in Pittsburgh, so they are going to try to retool and get to the playoffs with Mike McCarthy. Fans want a rebuild, but it’s time to give that up, because it isn’t happening anytime soon, for better or worse. The Steelers don’t tank. These guys give them the best chance of the potential returners to get where they want to be.