The Pittsburgh Steelers, in desperate need for help in the secondary, had two cornerbacks visit last week and both left after being offered “below market value” contracts I’ve been told. Perhaps more alarming was that they were also told they were likely looking at playing in the slot.
Patrick Robinson and Sterling Moore both visited the Steel City knowing the Steelers need help at cornerback. Robinson has since signed with San Diego for a meager one year deal worth $2 million while Moore has signed with Tampa Bay for $1.5 million.
Robinson would have been risky because of his up and down career but he played pretty well against Antonio Brown last season and there was a thought he was rounding into form.
Moore was one of Pro Football Focus’ top graded cornerbacks last year but he to left Pittsburgh when the deal and perhaps the playing assignment wasn’t enough.
Toss in the fact that Tramon Williams didn’t even bother coming to Pittsburgh and you’ve got a more conservative approach to free agency then I can remember in recent years. I was informed that Williams was told William Gay and Cortez Allen would be the starters.
Imagine you’re Tramon Williams for a second…. You’ve had a very good, durable career in Green Bay and you’re told you wouldn’t be one of the starters?
I don’t blame him for a second for signing elsewhere and he did. He has a three-year deal in Cleveland for $21 million. Too long, too expensive for a guy his age? Certainly could be but imagine if he plays well and plays out the deal. Who looks silly then?
I know there are a lot of people who think Allen will bounce back in 2015 and I hope they’re correct. But not signing either Moore or Robinson for the peanuts they eventually found elsewhere is very disheartening.
If Kevin Colbert is putting all of his eggs into the draft then that’s one hell of a risk.
6 comments
Trust in the Steel machine…
I think they feel they are fine just right where they are. There are no plug and play CB’s available at the 22nd spot in this draft. I think this draft has some talent at RB, LB and OL. As i have said in early post this draft poll is pretty level and there’s not much of a gap from first guy drafted to last.Good luck Steelers and draft smart.
What the He’ll are the Steelers Doin ? We are cheap…. damn spend some money !!!!
This is what is most disturbing. They have more cap room than they’ve had in previous years when they actually signed FAs. I wished I shared their optimism about the secondary especially in regards to corners/depth.
One thing that I hope is true..if they are going to rely on young DB’s in the draft to be significant contributors this coming season, then at least we Butler as the DC who hopefully isn’t afraid to play them. Leaving Cortez out there as a starter with Gay….are you kidding me!!
[…] They failed to sign a single cornerback in free agency and only brought a few in for visits. One report stated that the CBs they did bring in were unimpressed by the fact that they were being courted as […]