4 free agents the Steelers should happily let leave

3. Larry Ogunjobi

Ogunjobi’s youth makes him a much tougher choice in free agency than Alualu. It’s still best for Pittsburgh to avoid paying for his potential given his lack of production during the 2022 campaign.

The former Charlotte 49er was a decent player for Pittsburgh at the defensive end spot, but they need more production than the two sacks in 16 games he gave them a year ago. It’s difficult to rack up a ton of sacks as a defensive end in a three-man front but Ogunjobi failed to take advantage of the attention garnered from Cameron Heyward on the opposite side of the line.

Unlike the nose tackle spot, this is a position where the Steelers might need to spend significant resources to acquire an upgrade. Their need to get younger up front will lead them to take a close look at defensive linemen in the draft who can both rush the passer and set the edge against the opposing ground game.

The key here for Pittsburgh is to find a player who gives them more dynamic play from the defensive end position. Bringing Ogunjobi on a minimum deal for depth purposes would be fine for the Steelers, but anything more would represent a costly overpay by the front office.