Pittsburgh Steelers free agency 2019: Top 5 targets

KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 09: Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Dee Ford (55) before the snap in the fourth quarter of an NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs on December 9, 2018 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 30: Outside linebacker Dee Ford #55 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks across the line during the first half against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /

1. Dee Ford

Ford may not always line up in the right spot, but he frequently ends plays in the opposing backfield. The Steelers, along with every other team in the NFL, can use a disruptive force like Ford on their team.

It’s very likely the Chiefs will go to great lengths to keep him in Kansas City for years to come, but Pittsburgh should at least make their AFC rivals pay for the privilege. If you draw up the ideal outside linebacker to flourish in the Steelers’ 3-4 system you’ll come up with a guy who looks a lot like Ford.

Tomlin’s entire defense would benefit greatly from adding a player who can consistently produce double-digit sacks from the outside linebacker spot. Ford got to the opposing quarterback 13 times last year. Ironically, that’s the same number that T.J. Watt produced for Pittsburgh. Imagine putting one of them on each side of the formation to wreak havoc.

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Clearly, Ford is going to be in a position to get a massive contract. If the Steelers want to win the race for his services they’ll need to make a big offer. That might require some salary cap calisthenics from the Steelers front office, but it’s the kind of big move the team needs to make if they want to make a Super Bowl run in 2019.

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