NFL Free Agency: TE Ladarius Green reportedly headed to Pittsburgh Steelers

Tight end Ladarius Green is reportedly heading east, leaving the San Diego Chargers to join the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The fans in Western PA might be done chanting “Heath” when Ben Roethlisberger throws a pass to his tight end, but maybe they’ll figure out that “Green” sounds almost the same. Tireless ESPN Insider Adam Schefter says that Ladarius Green is expected to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers when the NFL free agency period officially opens.

Just 25 years old, Green could be an immediate replacement for the retired Heath Miller as the Steelers’ primary pass-catching tight end. The Louisiana-Lafayette product was a fourth-round pick of the Chargers in 2012, but despite high hopes that he’d prove to be the heir apparent to Antonio Gates (who just re-signed with the Bolts), that never really panned out.

Green is coming off his most productive season as a pro so far, hauling in 37 passes for 429 yards and 4 touchdowns. There’s no question that his speed and jumping ability make him a potential match-up problem, but it remains to be seen if he can develop into the type of security blanket for Big Ben that Miller was.

Even so, AFC North defensive coordinators have to be cursing under their breath at the thought of Pittsburgh getting yet another athletic target in the passing game. Free agency can be about filling holes or the rich getting richer, and this move seems like the latter.