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Pittsburgh Steelers: Why free agency grades don’t matter

By Brian Spaen

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The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t have a flashy free agency period, and that was reflected in the ESPN grades when judging all 32 NFL team’s performance. However, there’s a pretty major reason why the average grade given to the Steelers doesn’t matter.

According to Beyond the Steel Curtain, ESPN gave the Steelers a “C” grade on their free agency moves. NFL insider Matt Williamson liked that they retained James Harrison, but still slams the secondary.

"“They have watched a ton of outside linebackers and corners sign everywhere else,” Williamson said. “They did get Harrison and I like that now. He played very well last year. So if you go into next season with Jarvis Jones, who might be a bust, plus Moats and then Harrison as a rotational guy, that is OK. But their secondary is still junk. The need at corner is so huge now that you wonder if they finally have to take one in the first round.”"

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An argument to Williamson’s point of view is the Steelers did look at Patrick Robinson and Sterling Moore a week ago, but let them leave Pittsburgh without a contract. Ultimately, both teams ended up elsewhere. Perhaps the team was trying to improve their secondary but didn’t find a right fit.

Despite not grabbing a valuable cornerback, the Steelers arguably made one of the best moves in free agency — resigning Ben Roethlisberger. Yes, the quarterback was technically not a free agent, but the team still had to spend money that could have gone to other potential candidates in free agency. It was also a move that was the most important to the Steelers organization.

The move probably wasn’t factored into ESPN’s rankings if they strictly went by free agency players, but it should at least have been acknowledged in their report.

It’s not like the addition of running back DeAngelo Williams was all that bad either. Jeff Hartman of BTSC explains how the offseason was actually a success and everything is going according to the team’s plan.

"The team’s top priority this offseason clearly was extending Roethlisberger’s contract. Doing so will keep their best offensive player on the field for years to come. On top of that, they wanted to replace LeGarrette Blount’s vacated position as the veteran back up running back with someone who could carry the load in Le’Veon Bell’s absence likely at the start of the season."

For what it’s worth, Williams was replaced by Jonathan Stewart with the Carolina Panthers last season, but Williams recorded over 1,100 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in 15 games. The former Panther running back could be a valuable backup once Bell returns to the field.

High grades are usually reserved for big-name additions. Ignoring the Roethlisberger extension just shows how pointless ESPN’s grade on free agency is at face value. They didn’t do anything to turn heads, but they didn’t have to. The Steelers have always been a more conservative franchise, and they’re going to be a playoff contender once again heading into the 2015 season.

Next: Steelers: Is Jarvis Jones a potential bust?

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