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Steelers news: 3 free agents to target after missing out on J.J. Watt

By Rucker Haringey

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 03: John Wolford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams prepares to pass in front of Haason Reddick #43 of the Arizona Cardinals during an 18-7 Rams win over the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 03: John Wolford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams prepares to pass in front of Haason Reddick #43 of the Arizona Cardinals during an 18-7 Rams win over the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Steelers free agency, Kawann Short
(Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images) /

2. Kawann Short

The Steelers’ front office shouldn’t limit themselves to shopping for perimeter pass rushers in free agency. Finding a guy who can collapse pockets from the interior should also be of interest.

That makes Short an intriguing lottery ticket for Pittsburgh. It wasn’t so long ago that he was one of the most dominant interior defensive linemen in the game. Unfortunately, the former Panthers star has seen his career unravel due to injury over the past several seasons.

Carolina cut him to avoid paying his hefty salary, but the Steelers might be able to land him on a one-year deal for under $5 million. There’s a chance that he’s simply cooked, but if he bounces back that could turn into a massive bargain for the team.

Tyson Alualu’s free agency does leave Pittsburgh with a massive hole to fill at defensive tackle. Short can’t be the only option the Steelers acquire to fill that void, but he can be part of the solution. He’s just the sort of boom or bust prospect that could dramatically elevate the Steelers’ ceiling in 2021.

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