An alternative to drafting a NT

1) Are the Dolphins just going to let him walk? If so, great, snatch him up, but I expect his price to be more than the Steelers want to pay.

2) How can they sign anyone significant when they are 20 million over the cap? Obviously, cuts will have to be made, Hampton being one of them, but there’s a lot more cutting that will need to take place just to get under the cap…let alone sign a free agent.

3) If the Dolphins were to let him test the market, I’m sure the Steelers would have to outbid at least 1 other suiter. I’m sure another team would not let a player with his talent slide off their radar.

If the Steelers sign a free agent NT, it will likely be another 3-4 team’s backup.

We are $25,000,000 over the cap. We have no ammunition in free agency. While teams like Tampa may be $25M or more under the cap and can throw money at holes in their roster, we are shooting a squirt gun.

Hate to burst your bubble. But reality will hit the roster come March when we have to get under the cap.

but it will take some work!!! i think we’re well overdue for an impact free agent!!!(Kevin Greene, farior, the bus, ect…)

1) New York Jets – Sione Pouha. The Jets may let him walk, as they have drafted Kenrick Ellis to take his place. Pouha won’t command the salary Solai will. He’s not as much of an impact player as Solai or the next guy I’m going to mention…

2) San Diego Chargers – Antonio Garay. Again, the Chargers have a little depth with Cam Thomas, they may let Garay walk. I think the Chargers try to keep him, which may price the Steelers out of the market. Either way, the most expensive one of the 3 options, and least likely.

3) Baltimore Ravens – Brandon McKinney. The Ravens are stacked on Defense. A quick offer might slide under the radar.

He will require $10 million a year to sign and we have NO where near that much money. However, if we could sign him to a 4 or 5 year deal and put most of his money in the 2014 and beyond part of his contract (when the cap will likely go up 50 or so million dollars a year) then it MIGHT be possible but still highly unlikely.

He likely won’t be ready to go until mid-season, but the best option for NT in the long-term is a veritable Casey Hampton clone and (according to all of the current projections I’m seeing which have him valued somewhere in the 5th round) can be had for our 4th round pick. Josh Chapman from Alabama. Alabama gave up over 100 yards rushing only 3 times: 1) 107 yards at Penn State, roughly half of which came in the 4th quarter when the game was basically over. 2) 148 yards at home to LSU in the regular season matchup, most of which came off of option runs to the outside which is not usually indicative of poor play on the nose. 3) 302 yards at home to Georgia Southern (a very good FCS school, but FCS nonetheless) and Chapman didn’t play that game. Chapman was rated a solid 2nd rounder until he had ACL surgery after the season (mind you he played 7 games WITH the injury). Given that the VAST majority of NTs come out in obvious passing situations, a 4th round pick is MUCH more palatable than the other options I’m seeing discussed, and Chapman is very experienced as a 3-4 NT playing against top caliber competition in the SEC he is a steal.