It has been a one-of-a-kind offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020. Unable to attend most player pro days and participating in the NFL’s first virtual draft, the Steelers keep pushing forward toward a return to football activities. Just because the Steelers are unable to hold their typical OTA’s and the NFL has cancelled the 2020 Hall of Fame Game 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 a list of available free agents the Steelers could consider as the get closer to the 2020 season.
Let’s get to the news:
- Should the need arise, here are the most notable free agents available by position
Best of what’s left: Available NFL free agents
By: Jeff Hartman, DK Pittsburgh Sports
As the calendar prepares to turn from June to July, NFL teams start to prepare for training camps at the end of the month. With these preparations in place, every team has holes on their current roster. Some are more glaring than others, but holes nonetheless.
With the main free agency period long gone, and the 2020 NFL Draft completed, it only leaves one option for teams who are still looking to add to their roster prior to the start of the new season. That option is to find free agents who are on the open market.
Consider it a best of what’s left list.
Could the Steelers add a player or two before the start of the regular season? Absolutely, especially at specific positions. Below is a list of players who are still available, broken down by position. I have put their age next to their name in parentheses, and a brief synopsis of why the Steelers will, or won’t, be looking to add a player at that specific position.
It should be noted the Steelers don’t have enough salary cap space currently to sign any player, but with a few moves they could create space necessary to make one, or more, additions to their 2020 roster.
Quarterback
There are some fans who still aren’t confident in the Steelers’ current depth chart at the quarterback position. After Ben Roethlisberger is a list of players who don’t have a lot of experience under their belt. The organization has made it clear they are confident in their quarterbacks, so it seems unlikely, barring injury, they add a quarterback anytime soon.
Cam Newton (31)
Drew Stanton (36)
Matt Moore (36)
Blake Bortles (28)
DeShone Kizer (24)Running Back
If there is one position the Steelers don’t need more players it would be at running back. James Conner has been injury prone, but the Steelers’ drafting Benny Snell Jr. and Anthony McFarland Jr. in consecutive years makes any addition of a running back unlikely.
Devonta Freeman (28)
Theo Riddick (29)
Lamar Miller (29)
Spencer Ware (28)
Wide ReceiverLike running back, the Steelers’ receiver depth chart doesn’t need much adjusting. After taking Chase Claypool with their top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, it bolstered the young receiving corps even more. Barring injury, the group headlined by JuJu Smith-Schuster is here to stay.
To read the full article, click HERE (Free)
- Reliving the Steelers 2018 victory over the New England Patriots
Leaping to victory
By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com
The Steelers and the NFL continue to bring a solution to sports starved fans.
The NFL has opened the vault of past Steelers games, and those classic games are featured in ‘Game Rewinds’ on the team’s digital and social media channels.
The Steelers ‘Game Rewinds’ began with Super Bowls XIV, XIII, and XL, but this week things are switching up. Steelers Nation Unite members were given the opportunity to vote through the team’s official App on a game they would like to see re-aired from 2012 on. And the drumroll please…the winner was the Steelers victory over the New England Patriots on Dec. 16, 2018.
On Sunday, June 28, Steelers fans can tune in to watch a condensed version of the game on their desktop or mobile device. The game will kick off at 4:25 p.m. on Steelers social media channels.
The win, a 17-10 victory, snapped a five-game regular season losing streak to the Patriots, with the last win dating back to 2011. The Steelers never trailed in the game but didn’t exhale until the final seconds ticked off the clock.
To read the full article, click HERE (Free)
- The NFL has some ideas to make up any lost revenue if capacity is limited for the 2020 season
First Call: Two huge developments on topic of NFL seating in the fall
By: Tim Bentz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
For Thursday’s “First Call,” we take a look at two major developments when it comes to the prospect of having fans at NFL games in the fall.
I know what you’ve been thinking during this pandemic.
How … how, dear Lord above … will we be able to emerge from these historically unstable economic times with NFL owners as far in the black as possible? That’s all that matters!
Yeah. It’s been worrying me as well.
Assuming covid-19 restrictions last throughout the year — and that’s what I’m assuming at this point — league owners are going to lose beaucoup bucks compared to what projections were pre-coronavirus.
Preseason games may be shaved off the schedule. And, along with them, associated broadcast income. Merchandise sales from open training camps are gone. Let alone ticket sales from games in stadiums that are either empty — or limited — during the pre-season.
Well, fret not. These small-time, plucky NFL entrepreneurs have come up with a plan to buffer losses from the 2020 bottom line.
To read the full article, click HERE (Free)
- BTSC articles you may have missed
A few forgotten Steelers players from the 1980s
JuJu Smith-Schuster is entering a key season in his NFL career
Can Minkah Fitzpatrick bring the same splash to the Steelers defense as Troy Polamalu?
T.J. Watt is projected to be the NFL’s top edge rusher in 2020
2020 game predictions for the AFC North
- Social Media Madness
.@sackmaster91 was a baaaad man! #tbt pic.twitter.com/VuPXVmfwvM
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) June 25, 2020
4️⃣8️⃣@Bud_Dupree pic.twitter.com/ntfy4HscWL
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) June 25, 2020
That’s a lot of food and supplies already!
— Steelers Community Relations (@SteelersCR) June 25, 2020
When all are completed, the packages of food and supplies will be picked up and distributed to agencies who serve those in need on Friday!@unitedwaySWPA pic.twitter.com/OM9DynoQkS