Another elite defender would be a welcome addition to this team.
It is rare for the Steelers to spend big in free agency. While they hand out the occasional big deal, as we saw with Patrick Queen last year, more often than not, the team is tepid once free agents can sign deals. Even when cap space is available, this team has shown a tendency to hold back on spending.
This offseason, the team needs to change that mindset.
For starters, cap space will be abundant this year. That is one of the main benefits of not having a franchise quarterback on the roster. While spending recklessly isn’t prudent, this team can afford a major splash or two.
If they do take a big swing, there are a few names that make sense. The main one people focus on is Tee Higgins given his age and talent. While I like the idea of adding him, especially if George Pickens is traded this offseason, he will likely be the crown jewel of free agency, and I doubt Pittsburgh will offer him the deal he wants.
Instead, they should pivot to this defensive talent. He’s young, has excelled with his second team, and he can wear a couple of different hats for a defense. The Steelers should pay this man whatever he wants.
The Steelers should go all in on Byron Murphy
While I don’t believe cornerback is the biggest need on this team, and I also believe Donte Jackson is worth re-signing if the price is right, adding a talent like Byron Murphy would be a home run. He would instantly give this team a near-elite and youthful tandem at cornerback.
Murphy was seen as a hot and cold player following his rookie contract with the Cardinals, and his deal with the Vikings seemed like a slight overpay at the time. He has proved everyone wrong, though, playing at an elite level as an everydown starter, including being named to his first Pro Bowl this past season.
He does everything well. In coverage, he has developed into a stout defender that quarterbacks struggle to throw against. He constantly ranks out as a high run defender, important for a Steelers defense that preaches solid run defense from their defensive backs. When given the opportunity, he is also a ballhawk, as evident by his nine interceptions over the past two seasons.
What really makes him a draw this offseason is the fact that he plays both inside and outside on defense. While you would pay him to play every snap for your defense, meaning he is an outside cornerback when only two are on the field, whenever you work in subpackage, he does great work in the slot.
This means that Cory Trice still gets a shot to prove his worth. He can be the third outside cornerback and see defensive snaps whenever Murphy is working inside. Likewise, if you still want to draft someone, you can do that and still provide them a role on defense.
Murphy has done well in a system similar to what Pittsburgh runs. The Vikings like to get constant pressure on the quarterback, which allows for their cornerbacks to make big plays. He would be in a similar scheme here.
In terms of a fair price, $20 million seems like a fair floor for him, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see his deal hit $22 million on the open market. Despite the large contract it would take to sign him, the team can structure it in a way that won’t lead to a massive first-year cap hit.
While fans want the Steelers to invest more in the offense, the Eagles showed that adding top talent wherever you can is always the best play. Murphy would be that, and he is just now entering the prime of his career. If Pittsburgh wants to land a massive free agent, Murphy should be their guy.
