5 Smoldering Questions: Free Agency Edition
by Hombre de Acero
The Steelers are in their second week of free agency, yet already the South Side has seen a whirlwind of action as Steelers Nation doesn’t know whether its saying bye or saying hello…. While Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin have many more chess pieces to move before it is all over, enough of the board has been set for 2016 for Going Deep Steelers to pose 5 Smoldering Questions on Free Agency and the Steelers 2016 Off Season thus far.
1. If there was ever a spot in Steelers Nation that appreciated Heath Miller’s contribution to the Pittsburgh Steelers it was this site. Numbers might never do Miller justice as a player, but perhaps they can reveal what he meant to the Steelers:
The graphic at left ranks Heath Miller’s performances vs. the rest of the players during his time with the Steelers who got over 100 targets. As you can see, only Le’Veon Bell has a better targets-to-catch ratio. Heath Miller was a close to a sure catch as you can get in the NFL.
Even with all other offensive fire power the Steelers will have in 2016, can they really compensate for the loss of Heath Miller’s dependability?
2. One of the biggest X-Factors facing the Steelers entering free agency is how Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin would deal with the left side of their offensive line hitting the open market. Now that their decision is clear, do you agree in their opting to resign Ramon Foster at the expense of keeping Kelvin Beachum?
3. Speaking “bang-for-your salary-cap-buck” calculations, the Steelers have lost Steve McLendon to the Jets, which drew this reaction from Mark Kaboly:
McLendon may be worth 4M a season to some teams but not Steelers and how they use NT
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) March 15, 2016
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Agree or disagree? Defend your choice.
4. Of the Steelers free agency signings not discussed so far on this thread, which do you predict will have the biggest impact in 2016 and why?
5. Finally, what do you think of Martavis Bryant’s decision to drop his appeal and accept his season-long suspension?
There you go folks, have at it!