The Philadelphia Eagles won a Super Bowl doing exactly what the Pittsburgh Steelers are trying to do in the Steel City. A run-focused offense that holds onto the ball paired with a stout defensive front is one of the many reasons that the City of Brotherly Love is celebrating with a parade on Friday. There is a lot of work left to be done for Head Coach Mike Tomlin and General Manager Omar Khan as the duo will attempt to bolster every area of the roster throughout the 2025 offseason. Another key executive will be Khan's partner-in-crime, Andy Weidl.
Weidl helped the Eagles build a roster that won a Super Bowl and went to a second during his time there. On top of that, several players that were drafted when he was in Philadelphia were a part of the organization's roster as it took down the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX. Weidl had to have played a part in Isaac Seumalo coming to the Steel City in 2023, and there might be a massive opportunity in free agency to bring a defensive lineman across the state.
Milton Williams was an integral part of the Eagles' defensive operation in 2024. He may fly slightly under the radar because of players like Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, but make no mistake, he was a stud on the defensive line. Williams secured five sacks in his fourth professional season and also forced and recovered a fumble in the Super Bowl.
Williams told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he would like to stay with Philadelphia, but also acknowledged that having a little bit more cash in his pocket would be an attractive part of free agency. The Steelers have money to spend.
"Just being in the right situation," Williams said when speaking about 2025 for him. "Valuing what I bring to the table. Obviously, a raise. But I want to win. I like this feeling of winning and being on top of the world. So definitely want to try to get in a situation as close to this as possible."
The last part of that quote could make one believe that Williams is under the impression that he won't be back in Philadelphia for the 2025 season. He was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and this was when Weidl was still a part of the Eagles' front office. That connection should absolutely lead to the Steelers at least having a conversation with the near 300-pound lineman in free agency.
The Steelers have heavily invested in the offensive line since Khan and Weidl began running the front office, and there's no reason to believe that the approach of building in the trenches will stop. It is now time to slightly adjust what is needed on offense, but seriously revamp the defensive side of the line. This is an incredibly deep draft class for interior defenders, so pairing that with one major signing of a guy like Williams could make a monumental difference for Pittsburgh.
Unfortunately for the Steelers, Williams is not going to be an easy guy to sign. There are going to be several organizations that desire his services, making the free agency pitch and Weidl's presence imperative. It doesn't hurt that Pittsburgh is expected to have plenty of cash available to spend, potentially leading to an aggressive free agency period.
Pittsburgh has proven under the Khan regime that spending money in free agency on external options is on the table. Recent signings of Seumalo and Patrick Queen, just to name a few, are evidence of that. Cameron Heyward needs help on the defensive interior, and bringing in a soon-to-be 26-year-old entering his prime would be worth the significant investment.
Steelers Using Weidl To Sell Williams Will Be Absolutely Pivotal
It's going to be hard for the Eagles to retain all free agents, especially with several big contracts already on the books. Philadelphia's defensive line will get by without Williams, so he could be expendable. If he makes it to free agency, Weidl should be on the phone with him and reminding him of why he fell in love with his talents back in 2021 as the Eagles' Vice President of Player Personnel. Signing a difference-maker like Williams would be an incredibly important acquisition for the Steelers.
