Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 free agents to sign in order to win in 2020

NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 25: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 and Head Coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers shake hands before a game against the Tennessee Titans during week three of preseason at Nissan Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Steelers defeated the Titans 18-6. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

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BALTIMORE, MD – NOVEMBER 18: Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick #27 of the Cincinnati Bengals reacts after a play in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

3. CB Dre Kirkpatrick (Released by Cincinnati Bengals)

The Steelers are always looking for more help at the cornerback position, due in part to the fact that they have swung and missed on some players in the draft. An example is 2016 first-round selection Artie Burns, courtesy of the University of Miami.

Kirkpatrick simply never lived up to the club’s expectations. The Steelers did not pick up his fifth-year option a year ago and this offseason, he signed with the Chicago Bears.

Speaking of former first-round picks, University of Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick was the 17th overall selection in 2012 by the Cincinnati Bengals. He spent eight years with the club and after picking off 10 passes (2 returned for touchdowns) in his first six seasons, he failed to come up with an interception the past two years.

In 2019, he was also limited to only six contests and this offseason, was released by an organization that addressed the cornerback position in a big way during free agency.

Nonetheless, Kirkpatrick is obviously very than familiar with the other teams in the AFC North. It’s not as if the Steelers did not get solid cornerback play a year ago from both Joe Haden and 2019 free-agent addition Steven Nelson, late of the Kansas City Chiefs. But adding another veteran can only make this a more formidable group.

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