CBS Sports Provides Steelers ‘B’ Grade For Initially Week Of Absolutely free Agency

With the weekend right here, it is a very good time to appear back at how the Pittsburgh Steelers fared in the initially week of NFL free of charge agency. Even though some, like myself, believe new basic manager Omar Khan has completed a very good job so far, what does the national media believe?

CBS Sports writer Garrett Podell place out grades for each and every NFL team’s free of charge agency so far and gave the Steelers a grade of “B.” Podell referenced that losing cornerback Cameron Sutton wasn’t fantastic but the group brought in an sufficient replacement and also filled holes.

“While losing Cameron Sutton is not best, replacing him with a single of the NFL’s active co-leader in interceptions, Patrick Peterson, is a strong pickup for two years and $14 million,” wrote Podell. “Peterson totaled 5 interceptions this previous season, the second-most in his whole profession, and had a 79.7 coverage grade, the eighth-highest amongst all cornerbacks according to Pro Football Concentrate.”

Even though Sutton is younger, additional versatile, and a far better player than Peterson is at this point in his profession, bringing in a veteran like Peterson for much less revenue than Sutton is not necessarily a terrible move. It is no secret that Pittsburgh desires to upgrade its cornerback area in the NFL Draft, and paying $11 million per year for Sutton who may perhaps have had to move back to slot would not have produced the most sense primarily based on worth.

Moving on, the Steelers also produced moves to bring in depth at offensive guard and shake up their inside linebacker area. Podell particularly pointed out the signings of guard Nate Herbig and linebacker Cole Holcomb as moves he liked for Pittsburgh.

“Nate Herbig on a two-year, $eight million contract is a good depth addition. Exact same goes for linebacker Cole Holcomb who comes more than to replace former initially-round choose Devin Bush on a 3-year deal. It is early, so not substantially other activity for Mike Tomlin’s club, but a strong start off to the offseason.”

Herbig has a likelihood to compete for the beginning ideal offensive guard spot with Kevin Dotson this offseason, and even if he does not win it he delivers substantially-necessary depth God forbid Dotson or James Daniels get hurt. Steelers Depot’s personal Josh Carney did a film area on Herbig and he is an absolute individuals mover. If he wins the job he will assist out mightily in the run game.

Moving to Holcomb, he is a speedy linebacker who is powerful against the run and can get sideline-to-sideline. Even though he is weaker against the pass, that is some thing the Steelers will have to address either at the NFL Draft or later on in free of charge agency. Jonathan Heitritter did a film area on what to count on of Holcomb in Pittsburgh and broke down his game.

The addition of former Miami Dolphins linebacker Elandon Roberts also aids out the Steelers’ run defense. Just this previous season Roberts produced ten tackles for a loss, displaying that he has no concerns finding in the backfield and stopping the run.

There are nonetheless places Omar Khan has to enhance this group on. Pittsburgh desires a young cornerback to play on the outdoors, some depth at the tackle positions, a coverage linebacker, a slot receiver, and perhaps even a slot cornerback. Fortunately for the group, there is nonetheless a lot of time and the Steelers have currently filled out some desires. There’s a methods to go to make this group a Super Bowl contender but only a week into free of charge agency Khan has completed a very good job and deserves his grade of a “B.”