TRADE ALERT: Pittsburgh Steelers Land two new deals with…
The Pittsburgh Steelers, who added two new quarterbacks in Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, a new kick returner in Cordarrelle Patterson, and an All-Pro linebacker in Patrick Queen, among other additions, did a fine job of overhauling their squad this summer. However, the club still has a lot of gaps to fill, and according to Brad Spielberger of PFF, the Steelers can replace some of those voids through free agency. For both former Miami Dolphins center Connor Williams and former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd, the Steelers were deemed the ideal place to settle.
When Williams joined the Dolphins, he switched from guard to center, and the Steelers don’t currently have a strong center option. The best center option available to the Steelers following Mason Cole’s release in late February is Nate Herbig, and there’s a good chance the team will acquire a starting center between now and training camp.
Williams is the best available free agency center and, as the guy in the middle, he would help the Steelers improve their rushing assault, even though that could happen in the draft.
Williams did, however, tear his ACL in Week 14, which may have an effect on his availability come 2024. Because of this, it becomes somewhat more difficult for him and Pittsburgh to be a good fit, and it now seems more probable that the team will select a center in the draft.
Boyd and the Steelers have been connected, as Pittsburgh wants to find a reliable wide receiver to play next to George Pickens. The Steelers added Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins to the receiving group in addition to Calvin Austin III after dealing for Diontae Johnson. Although none of them seem like they could step up and be a No. 2 wideout, it seems like Boyd and the Steelers aren’t all that good close when it comes to salary.
Despite having a 1,000-yard receiving career in the past, Boyd has largely played behind Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase as Cincinnati’s third wide receiver during the last three seasons. Boyd, who was born in Clarion, Pennsylvania, will be 30 years old the next season, and the Steelers probably don’t want to pay for a multi-year contract. In a class that is extremely deep at receiver, it does appear probable that the Steelers will go to the draft to locate their receiver, just as they did with center.
Since general manager Omar Khan has alluded to the idea of a center deal, I would really argue that the Steelers would want a receiver rather than a center. But if they don’t wind up being selected, both need to be very high on Pittsburgh’s list of priorities going into the draft up linking with Boyd and/or Williams.