Steelers 2020 Free Agent Market Watch: The Guards

Disclaimer: The author realizes that the team is burning in Salary Cap Hell and can’t pony up much money for free agents. However, you never know what they have planned and it’s the author’s responsibility to highlight the free agent options. It’s like the lyric in the Howard Jones song, “No One Is To Blame”...You can look at the menu, but you just can’t eat.

The Steelers have an issue with an offensive line getting much older. Ramon Foster may be a cap casualty, while free agents Matt Feiler and B.J. Finney are free agents. The Steelers would like to sign their own, but that might be tough with the cap.If they do add, here is the list of available free agents should a Steel City Money Miracle occur.

Joe Thuney - New England Patriots

Age 27 - 6’5”/308 lbs.

2019 Stats

No. 5 PFF Ranking: 77.4 Overall Grade, 87.4 Pass Blocking, 66.7 Run Blocking

Games - 16, Offensive Stats Played - 1140, Sacks Allowed - 1, Penalties - 0

The loss of a pass protector of this caliber could be devastating for the New England Patriots. Thuney is one of the best in the league at his craft, but critics say that his run blocking Could stand improvement. Nonetheless, it’s a shame that the Steelers can’t afford Thuney, who’s going to come in a lot of cash on the open market.

Brandon Scherff - Washington Redskins

Age 26 - 6’5”/315 lbs.

2019 Stats

No. 10 PFF Ranking: 75.0 Overall Grade, 72.0 Pass Blocking, 76.3 Run Blocking

Games - 11, Offensive Stats Played - 643, Sacks Allowed - 1, Penalties - 9

Scherff would be a high reward signing, but he’s missed 13 games over the last two seasons. So that means there’s a lot of risk involved too. The Washington Redskin is equally talented at both blocking and running.

Graham Glasgow - Detroit Lions

Age 27 - 6’6”/310 lbs.

2019 Stats

No. 12 PFF Ranking: 74.1 Overall Grade, 69.0 Pass Blocking, 74.2 Run Blocking

Games - 15, Offensive Stats Played - 832, Sacks Allowed - 0, Penalties - 3

A very reliable and versatile blocker for the Lions, the center/guard really increased his worth on the open market in 2019. He’s very much in the mold of a BJ Finney, so the Steelers would go with their own player if they were going to spend the money at this position.

Greg Van Roten - Carolina Panthers

Age 29 - 6’3”/305 lbs.

2019 Stats

No. 23 PFF Ranking: 65.6 Overall Grade, 74.3 Pass Blocking, 57.3 Run Blocking

Games - 11, Offensive Stats Played - 704, Sacks Allowed - 1, Penalties - 2

Van Roten is a very talented player and had a solid 2019 campaign. However, a toe injury put him on the shelf in November for the remainder of the season. Carolina faltered without the talented pass blocker, that should be a consideration when teams consider tendering him a free agent deal.

Stefan Wisniewski - Kansas City Chiefs

Age 30 - 6’3”/313 lbs.

2019 Stats

No.16 PFF Ranking: 68.2 Overall Grade, 80.5 Pass Blocking, 59.9 Run Blocking

Games - 11, Offensive Stats Played - 211, Sacks Allowed - 0, Penalties - 9

Wisniewski would be a great free agent addition for any team. He helped the Eagles and Chiefs win rings in two of the last three seasons. He signed with KC in October and is a great veteran presence. I’d love to see the Steelers find money for this player.

Other Notable Free Agent Guards

Quinton Spain - Buffalo Bills

Mike Iupati - Seattle Seahawks

Alex Lewis - New York Jets

Ereck Flowers - Washington Redskins

Andrus Peat - New Orleans Saints

Denzelle Good - Oakland Raiders