Pittsburgh Steelers bolster pass rush by signing Melvin Ingram
The Pittsburgh Steelers needed help on their defense, and they get it with the signing of Melvin Ingram.
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense has recaptured dominant form over the past year but, with some offseason departures, they were in need of some reinforcements. Now, they’ll get some veteran help in the form of Melvin Ingram. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the former Charger has signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh ahead of training camp.
This move is one that the Steelers will be glad they made. For one, it comes at a position of need as, outside of T.J. Watt after losing Bud Dupree in free agency, there isn’t much to go on when it comes to the pass rush. Additionally, Ingram has been a high production player and that type of individual is what you want on your roster. Lastly, he provides a level of intensity that is useful, provided he stays on the field, however.
Injuries have been largely the headline of Ingram’s career, hence the one-year deal. However, when on the field, Ingram is productive. Additionally, he’s a three-time Pro Bowler. For the Steelers, what do they really have to lose by taking a flyer? Plus, it keeps him away from other teams that were potentially looking to sign him.
Melvin Ingram provides help to the Steelers defense, which will be needed given their division.
It seems rather shocking, but the AFC North is competitive among all four of its teams. Baltimore is still among the best in the league, thanks to Lamar Jackson. The Browns? All they did was go on the road and beat Pittsburgh in a playoff game, plus they got better this offseason. The Bengals are still at the bottom of the division, but they also beat Pittsburgh this past season.
In other words, the Steelers need all the help they can get and Ingram provides that with his 49 career sacks and 360 tackles. What Mike Tomlin does with Ingram, however, remains to be seen. He may just be added to the starting lineup right away or be used as a rotational player. The best guess is he starts, however.
Melvin Ingram is a new member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. If he stays healthy and produces another Pro-Bowl season, the Steelers may have just found themselves a bargain on the market, which can go a long way in determining just how their season will play out.