Pittsburgh Steelers: Focus Shifts to Finding a Left Tackle
By Dan Thomas
There are some glaring holes the Pittsburgh Steelers need to address before the start of the 2016 season. Safety, cornerback and a pass-rushing outside linebacker are a few that come to mind.
Yet, the biggest need these days for the Pittsburgh Steelers is finding a starting left tackle.
Somebody who is quick, agile and powerful. Somebody who is capable of anchoring the Steelers’ offensive line. Somebody who is trusted with the responsibility of protecting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger‘s blindside.
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It’s an important and difficult task for any NFL franchise to find a player who is skilled enough to excel at this position. That is why just about every year multiple rookie left tackles are drafted somewhere in the top-ten in the NFL Draft. That is why teams will shell out big money to players in free agency who have shown they are capable of playing the position at high level.
It looked as if the Steelers had that type of player in former seventh-round pick Kelvin Beachum.
Beachum had a strong year in 2014 and it did not go unnoticed. Pro Football Focus graded him out as the second-best pass-blocking left tackle in the entire NFL in 2014. With another strong campaign on the horizon in 2015, Beachum surely would have been the best available left tackle to hit free agency this off-season. Unfortunately for Beachum, those events did not turn out that way.
In Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals, Beachum exited the game due to an injury. Later, that injury would be determined as a torn ACL and as a result, he would miss the rest of the 2015 season.
Now, the former SMU product who has been donning the black and gold over the last four years finds himself in a grey area. Does he go back to Pittsburgh who drafted him back in 2012?
Does he accept less money on the open market because he is coming off an injury? Does he sign a one-year “prove it” deal in order to increase his value for next off-season?
What do the Steelers do?
Do they let Beachum walk because his one solid season back in 2014 isn’t enough to warrant a long-term lucrative contract? Do they try to bring him back or do they simply try to find a different solution for their vacant spot at left tackle?
Is that different solution former Seattle Seahawks LT Russell Okung? According to multiple sources, including ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers have a contract on the table for Okung.
Is this a genuine contract offer from the Steelers or is it just a leverage move in order to get Beachum to re-sign with the team?
Okung is a great player but has been bit by the injury-bug throughout his entire NFL career. Injuries have prevented him from playing a 16-game regular season during his entire career. Is he a player the Steelers would still prefer instead of Beachum?
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The Steelers will reportedly meet with former Denver Broncos left tackle Ryan Harris who started all 19 games for the Super Bowl champions last year. Could the 31-year old be a short-term stopgap for the left tackle position?
Former Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers left tackle Chris Hairiston is also scheduled to visit the Steelers. Hairiston started 11 games for the Chargers last year but has only started a total of 19 games over the last three seasons. Is he a realistic candidate to start Week 1?
Are there any other free agent tackles that haven’t been linked to the Steelers that could eventually make a trip over to the Steel City? Donald Penn? Will Beatty?
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All of visits from free agent left tackles makes it clear that the Steelers would not be comfortable letting last year’s backup and sometimes starter Alejandro Villanueva to take over the starting role in 2016.
There are some options out there for the Steelers and left tackle is priority number one for Pittsburgh right now. Yet, the team is also financially strapped. So the obvious question Steeler fans should be asking isn’t “who would the Steelers be comfortable with?” but “which free agent left tackle is comfortable with the money the Steelers are offering?”