Steelers Free Agency Frenzy "Wish List" 2015

Photo Courtesy of Andrew Rush/Post-Gazette

NFL Free Agency Frenzy officially begins this Tuesday, March 10th, 2015, although a hand full of teams have already made various transactions before the start of the NFL Fiscal year. Majority of those transactions aren't official until this Tuesday, with so much depth of talent in this year's NFL Free Agency list, who could blame them for taking early actions? NFL Fans have already witness shocking blockbuster trades in LeSean McCoy going to the Buffalo Bills for Kiko Alonso, and the Jets trading a 5th round pick to acquire one of the top Wide Receivers in the NFL-Brandon Marshall.  Starting Tuesday, teams will hustle to acquire players that feel a need among their most needed positions, and only the teams that have sufficiently created enough salary cap space will succeed.

Once again, the Pittsburgh Steelers will participate in this year's Free Agent Frenzy with an *estimated $14 million under the Cap space, (*assuming Troy Polamalu retires) to take on players to fill much needed positions. The Steelers enter this Free Agent Frenzy and the upcoming draft with needs at the following positions:

1) Outside Linebacker 2) Defensive Back (Corner back & Strong Safety) 3) Nose Tackle

Other positions require back-up roles/or depth for the Roster: Running back, Wide Receiver/KR/PR, Offensive Tackle, Tight End, and Defensive End. 

The top two needs OLB, and CB will not only be addressed in Free Agency, but in the 2015 NFL Draft as well. As both experience and youth will be require to rejuvenate last year's 18th rank Steelers Defense.

The Steelers way of approaching offseason acquisitions always start internally of "Keeping their own"  first, before acquiring new players to the system. Second, is the "Youth Movement" acquiring talent of players in the mist of their prime is a priority for the Steelers franchise, older players are usually brought in for emergency via injuries, or lack of production from existing players on the depth chart. Last year, the Steelers took this approach with the early re-signings of players Will Allen, Cody Wallace, and Greg Warren. That was followed with the signing of Carolina Panthers fifth year Free Safety Mike Mitchell, the rest of the positions was addressed in the 2014 NFL Draft. The Steelers will execute the same approach from last season to address their needs during the 2015 NFL Offseason.

Photo Courtesy of Steelers.com 

Here’s my potential “Wish-list” of Free Agents that the Steelers could re-sign and acquire to improve the overall team in 2015: (Players are listed in top priority order)

Photo Courtesy of Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sport

Arthur Moats leads the pack of Unrestricted Free Agents that needs to be re-signed by the Steelers 

Re-sign:  Restricted free agents Robert Golden (Safety), Antwon Blake (Cornerback) and unrestricted free agents Arthur Moats (OLB/and ILB), and Will Johnson (Fullback & TE)

PITTSBURGH STEELERS 2015 FREE AGENCY FRENZY  

Outside Linebacker: 

With Jason Worilds looking for a large NFL contract, the Steelers will be forced to move on without him.  

1)    Jerry Hughes (DE/OLB) *Maybe to expensive for the Steelers, but he's worth putting an offer on the table 

2)    Derrick Morgan (OLB/DE)

3)    Brandon Graham (OLB/DE)

4)   Jabaal Sheard (OLB)

Cornerback: 

Much needed position for the Steelers Defense in 2015 

1)     Chris Culliver  (I wanted Bryon Maxwell here, but his demand by other NFL Teams make his price difficult for the Steelers to afford him)

2)     Perrish Cox

3)     Bradley Fletcher

One out of three should be picked up by the Steelers, the team will also take a CB in Rounds 1-3 in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Nose Tackle: 

Steelers still trying to replace the void left by Casey Hampton

1)     Nick Fairley

2)     Terrance Knighton

3)      Dan Williams

RESERVE ROLES:

RB #2: 1) Roy Helu Jr. (Duo threat compliment to Le’Veon Bell and won’t demand a lot of money towards the salary cap)  
2) Ryan Mathews 
3)  CJ Spiller 
4) Pierre Thomas

WR #3-4 plus Special Teams: 1)  Denarius Moore 2) Darrius Heyward-Bey

Offensive Tackle: Joe Barksdale

Tight End: 1) Lance Kendricks 2) Virgil Green

Defensive End: Da'Quan Bowers