Steelers News: There is plenty to be excited about regarding the Steelers free agent moves

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2019 season is officially over. After finishing the year 8-8, the Steelers, and their vast fan base, has another long offseason awaiting them. Just because the games are done doesn’t mean we stop providing you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over throughout the offseason!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how there is plenty to be excited over, as it pertains to the newly acquired members of the Steelers.

Let’s get to the news:

• Steelers fans might be concerned about 2020, but there is a lot to be excited over leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft.

GM Kevin Colbert discusses offseason additions to Steelers roster

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Taking a respite from evaluating college prospects as the NFL Draft approaches in three weeks, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert provided insight Tuesday about some known commodities that recently joined the team’s roster.

In a conference call with reporters, which followed a similar session he conducted with fans, Colbert spoke publicly about four of the veteran players he acquired since the NFL calendar year began March 18.

Colbert signed three free agents — tight end Eric Ebron, guard/center Stefen Wisniewski and fullback Derek Watt — in addition to trading for Baltimore Ravens defensive end Chris Wormley.

The most expensive contract, a two-year, $12 million deal, went to Ebron, a former Pro Bowl player with the Indianapolis Colts.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Maybe the Steelers taking a QB with their first pick in the draft isn’t crazy.

Why the Steelers could take QB with their first pick in the 2020 NFL draft

By: Brooke Pryor, ESPN

The Pittsburgh Steelers addressed the most glaring gaps in the 2020 roster through free agency, allowing them to target the best playmaker available with their first pick in the NFL draft.

That would put the Steelers firmly in the mix for the second wave of available quarterbacks after top talent like Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa likely come off the board in the first round.

Because the team sent its first-round pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Steelers won’t make their first selection until the No. 49 overall pick in the second round. It’s the first time since 1967 that the Steelers have entered the draft without a first-round pick.

The Steelers have primarily addressed defensive needs with their first picks in the past couple of years, trading up to select LB Devin Bush No. 10 overall last year and drafting safety Terrell Edmunds at No. 28 the year before. The Steelers have also used their top pick to draft OLB T.J. Watt (2017), DB Artie Burns (2016), OLB Bud Dupree (2015), OLB Ryan Shazier (2014) and LB Jarvis Jones (2013). The Steelers haven’t taken an offensive skill player with their first pick since selecting running back Rashard Mendenhall at No. 23 overall in the 2008 draft.

That could change this year, though, as Todd McShay tabbed Washington quarterback Jacob Eason as the Steelers’ top draft pick — which would make him the fourth quarterback drafted by the Steelers since 2013. That would also make him the Steelers’ highest pick used on a quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger was picked No. 11 overall in 2004. Kordell Stewart was the last quarterback picked by the Steelers in the second round, selected with the No. 60th pick in 1995.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• The coronavirus is no joke to Cam Heyward.

Steelers’ Cam Heyward pens letter urging people to take care of Pittsburgh

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Cam Heyward is concerned for the grandmothers in Pittsburgh.

Actually, the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle is concerned for everyone in the city, but particularly the grandmothers.

Heyward penned an article titled “A Letter to Pittsburgh” in The Players’ Tribune, which was posted Thursday morning. The article addresses his concerns about the how the elderly is impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

A Pittsburgh native, Heyward tells a tale of his grandmother, Judy Jordan of Highland Park, making a trip to the Target in East Liberty at the outset of the outbreak. He emphasizes that she wasn’t stocking up on toilet paper, but merely returning an item to the store.

Wrote Heyward:

“Pittsburgh grandmas always got something to return, man! They live for that customer service window on a Saturday morning. They got the receipts. You know they got the receipts. Pittsburgh grandmas love being out ’n’ about, right? So that’s what we’re up against right now, Pittsburgh.

“And to some extent, you know what? I get it. When you come from a tough, hard-nosed town, and your family is filled with people who have lived through pretty much everything, there’s a tendency to think you’ll always be fine, no matter what.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• BTSC articles you may have missed...

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The difficulty in evaluating the Steelers’ 2019 depth

What Eric Ebron brings to the Steelers offense

Kevin Colbert talks about the pre-draft visit schedule

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