The Pittsburgh Steelers had a remarkably aggressive offseason. Traditionally, Pittsburgh isn't very active during the offseason, adhering to their traditions and showing patience with their players. However, this year, General Manager Omar Khan took a different approach, opting for a more assertive strategy.
One of the biggest and most exciting developments for Pittsburgh football fans was the signing of former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen. The Steelers secured Queen with a three-year deal worth $41 million. His addition to an already strong defense has thrilled fans, as it both weakens the Ravens and bolsters the Steelers' defensive unit.
Queen wasn't the only linebacker Pittsburgh pursued in free agency. Andrew Krammer, a reporter for the Star Tribune, revealed that the Steelers were among several teams eager to sign former Houston Texans linebacker Blake Cashman. Cashman mentioned to Krammer the teams that showed interest in him this offseason.
“When free agency rolled around in March, Cashman said he had many suitors, including the Vikings, Texans, Broncos, Packers, Steelers and Falcons. He agreed to the Vikings' offer just hours into the NFL's legal negotiating window. He broke the news to his family by texting: ‘Skol Vikings.’”
Cashman ultimately signed a three-year deal worth $22.5 million with the Minnesota Vikings. He expressed his excitement about playing for the Vikings in the upcoming season and shared his enthusiasm for finalizing the deal with them.
"This is like the best-case scenario," Cashman said. "I'm loving it so far. The opportunity is there, and I really like the role the coaches have envisioned for me. All the stars are aligned for what I have been working towards my entire career."
The Steelers ended up acquiring a much better linebacker in Queen, though they paid nearly double for his services. This premium is justified by Queen's impressive start to his NFL career. In contrast, Cashman had a slower start and is entering his sixth season in the league. In 2023, he had his most productive season with the Texans, amassing 106 combined tackles, two sacks, five passes defensed, one fumble recovery, and one interception in 13 games started.
Before the 2023 season, Cashman had only started eight games in his career. Drafted by the New York Jets in the fifth round (157th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft, Cashman spent all three seasons with the Jets battling injuries and was placed on injured reserve each year.
The Jets decided to trade Cashman to the Texans on March 18, 2022, receiving a 2023 sixth-round pick in return. In 2023, Cashman seized every opportunity and managed to stay healthy, making it his most productive and healthiest year yet.
The Steelers' missing out on Cashman isn't a significant loss. He has only had one solid year in the NFL and has a history of injuries. He would have been an expensive addition, and the Steelers opted for Queen instead—a player who brings much more excitement. While Cashman is a good player, he comes with significant risk and a high price tag.
Steelers Are Very Happy With Their New Rookie LB Payton Wilson
The Steelers also bolstered their linebacker corps through the draft, selecting North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Wilson joins the Steelers with great enthusiasm and hype, receiving high praise from almost everyone who has spoken about him. Many pundits believe Wilson was the best linebacker in the draft, but injury concerns caused him to fall. The Steelers were thrilled to add Wilson to their already strong defense.
