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The Pittsburgh Steelers previously ended the 2021 season with a 9-7 record for the second spot in the AFC North. However, their postseason campaign was short-lived as they absorbed a Wild Card Round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs.
They will now be opening a new chapter upon entering 2022 as longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has officially retired after 18 seasons in the league. The upcoming offseason will be crucial for them as they seek to find Big Ben's replacement as well as fill the other holes in their roster. Currently, they still have room to make significant moves as they have $27 million in cap space available, per Spotrac.
Hopefully, Mike Tomlin and his men will be able to retool and come back stronger as they begin the post-Roethlisberger era next season. With that said, let's take a look at the three best names that the Steelers can target in the upcoming NFL free agency.
Pittsburgh Steelers Free Agency Targets
3. Donte Jackson
One of the groups that need to be addressed by the Steelers would be the cornerback position. The team's veteran CBs in Joe Haden and Akhello Witherspoon are both set to enter free agency in the upcoming offseason. The Steelers can still manage to retain either one of them but it is also a must to increase the depth in the position as well.
A player that they can target would be Donte Jackson from the Carolina Panthers. He has been with the team since 2017 but they recently stacked up in cornerbacks with the selection of Jaycee Horn and the arrival of Stephon Gilmore. Jackson suffered a season-ending groin injury which only limited him to play in 12 games. However, he still managed to have a productive season with 61 combined tackles, 10 passes defended, and a couple of interceptions.
The LSU product excels in zone schemes as he utilizes his speed and explosiveness to gain an advantage over his opponents. He also won't break the bank for the Steelers and would give them solid depth at the outside cornerback position which makes him a promising target for Pittsburgh in free agency.
2. James Daniels
Pittsburgh's offensive line also served as a huge problem for the 2021 season. They managed to see improvements throughout their campaign though it was evident that the group's performances won't be enough to take them deep into the playoffs. A potential talent that they can take a look at would be guard James Daniels from the Chicago Bears.
He has been a staple in the Bears' offensive line ever since he came to the league in 2018. Daniels saw significant improvement when he started playing at the right guard position. Nonetheless, the Iowa product is still versatile enough to be switched around in the interior depending on the situation.
Daniels primarily thrives in both zone and pass blocking which will surely be a huge help for the new Steelers QB moving forward. At the age of 24, he has already shown his durability on the field and will definitely be a solid investment for Pittsburgh's offensive line in the years to come.
Perhaps the biggest hole in the Steelers' lineup right now would be the quarterback position after it was vacated by the recently retired Ben Roethlisberger. For a team like Pittsburgh, it would be better for them to make a run at an experienced veteran as compared to going with a young prospect, especially if they want to get back on track as soon as possible.
New Orleans Saints QB Jameis Winston could be a potential fit for the Steelers next season. His 2021 campaign abruptly ended after he suffered a season-ending torn ACL injury in Week 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, prior to being sidelined, he still showed that he can make things work despite having a shallow depth of receivers at that time. Winston concluded the season with 1,170 yards and 14 touchdowns in seven games played for the Saints.
At this stage of his career, his arm strength and willingness to throw long balls to push the downfield attack will never be in question. However, the primary concern for him would be his health and ability to stay on the field after missing a ton of games over the past two seasons due to major injuries.
With Jameis Winston's current situation, the Steelers might be able to get him at a discount in free agency. It's still not certain if he will secure the starting job in Pittsburgh but acquiring him at a relatively low cost can potentially pay a ton of dividends if he manages to play well and stay healthy next season.
