4 free agents the Steelers can sign thanks to increased salary cap
By Mark Powell
Steelers could sign a veteran left tackle
Taylor Lewan’s supposed beef with T.J. Watt aside, the Steelers need a left tackle. While there’s some talk of them taking one of the top tackles in this year’s NFL Draft, there is another option — signing an established LT in free agency.
Lewan has shown interest in joining the Steelers on social media, and the Titans can save about $10 million by cutting him this offseason. Given his age, Pittsburgh could sign Lewan at a bargain. He’s the exact kind of chippy player who would thrive with the Steelers, and would protect Kenny Pickett at all cost.
Offensive line is arguably the Steelers weakest position group. While some of the young players on the right side of the offensive line made strides in 2022, the left side, primarily left tackle, is a gaping hole. Lewan would fix that, and has also praised Mike Tomlin in the past.
“Mike Tomlin was the head coach of the Pro Bowl in 2017 and he is a fantastic individual. I think he’s so cool, so calm. I hear the guys talk about him, how great he is in the locker room and how he handles the locker room. Being a leader is a very difficult thing to do and when I was around him for that short week, in a calm and relaxing setting, I thought to myself, ‘This is a cool coach to play for,'” Lewan said.
The only issue with Lewan, of course, is his durability. He’s missed 19 games in the past three seasons, and would be a gamble for any team, not just Pittsburgh. That also makes him more affordable.
If the Steelers do take a tackle high in the NFL Draft — even if it’s not the first round — signing Lewan and letting the rookie learn might make the most sense.