One free agent signing that makes too much sense for Pittsburgh
2021 was an interesting year for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was mostly up-and-down, but Mike Tomlin still found a way to make the playoffs despite numerous issues on both offense and defense. On defense, the primary issue was stopping the run. Per Sports Info Solutions, the Steelers gave up the league's third-highest EPA/att on the […]
2021 was an interesting year for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was mostly up-and-down, but Mike Tomlin still found a way to make the playoffs despite numerous issues on both offense and defense.
On defense, the primary issue was stopping the run. Per Sports Info Solutions, the Steelers gave up the league's third-highest EPA/att on the ground (0.03) and the fifth-highest positive play rate (44.4%). The defense also gave up a league-high 5.0 yards per carry and 146.1 rushing yards per game.
Per Football Outsiders, the Steelers run defense finished 2021 the sixth-worst DVOA when it came to stopping the run. They were below-average in both power success and stuff percentage, which are measures of stopping opponents on 3rd/4th and short and stuffing backs at the line of scrimmage, respectively.
A lot of it had to do with injuries to Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu. Tuitt didn't play a single snap in 2021 due to a knee injury that was suffered during preseason rehab. Alualu played a grand total of 57 snaps through two games before he went out for the rest of the year.
Both players are set to return in 2022. However, Alualu will be 35-years-old in May. Tuitt will be 29 in May, but has played just 21 games over the last three seasons due to various injuries.
Both players are entering the final year of their contracts, as well.
With free agency right around the corner and close to $25.4 million in effective cap space, it wouldn't come as a surprise if the Steelers try to upgrade the defensive trenches as well as add depth.
The Steelers can take care of both aspects with one player – and that's current Bears free agent Bilal Nichols.
Nichols has been a starter in the Bears' 3-4 defense over the last three seasons. He's a proven run-stuffer and he can also pressure the quarterback, evidenced by his 8.0 sacks over the last two seasons.
He's young, he's effective, and he's entering his prime. The current thought process is he'll count around $8-$10 million per year, on average, which is more than affordable considering the Steelers' current cap situation.
Adding Nichols to the roster gives Pittsburgh a plan for the potential scenario of an Alualu/Tuitt departure in 2023. And, if they feel comfortable enough with Nichols, they could release Alualu and save $2.5 million in the process.
Sometimes, timing is just too convenient when it comes to free-agent signings in the NFL. Nichols would be a great fit in Pittsburgh and could a long way in helping the Steelers improve in the trenches.
Featured image via-Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
