In free agency it is always nice to hear your team in the news, making moves and moving forward. Unfortunately, since the signing of Mike Mitchell on day one of free agency the Steelers news has been mostly about players they lost or lost out on.
With the Mitchell Signing already in place, the Steelers went after nose tackle Cam Thomas and he signed a two year deal last Friday. Thomas was a 5th round selection for the Chargers in 2010 and has played four seasons in San Diego. Thomas lost his starting spot in week eleven last season and became an unrestricted free agent at seasons end. It is not certain at this point if Thomas will be a starter but at the very least he will provide some needed depth.
Inking Cam Thomas to a contract was a necessity after the Steelers first round selection in 2009, Ziggy Hood, left to sign with the Jaguars as well as the loss of back-up DL Al Woods to the Titans shortly after the start of free agency.
Last week, the Steelers brought in former Buffalo lineman, Alex Carrington. Carrington was courted by many other clubs and left the Steeler facility with out a deal and has yet to sign with any one.
Having lost both Woods and Hood and veteran DE Brett Keisel looking like he has played his last down in Pittsburgh, adding as much depth to the defensive line is very important to a defense that struggled often last season. If somehow the Steelers can get a deal done with Carrington, that will go a long way to elevated the depth problem the team is facing at defensive end. Cam Heyward and nose tackle Steve McLendon are the only remaining players from last years line.
Another position of need the Steelers face is at wide receiver. The team lost two of it’s top three from last year as Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery signed deals with other teams this week.
Veteran wide receiver Lance Moore visited the facilities on Wednesday this week and seems to be that back up plan for the loss of Cotchery. After a great season in 2012 (65 catches), Moore had a down year last season, at 30 he still has plenty of football life and it remains to be seen if the Steelers and Moore can reach a deal.
Outside of the Moore and Carrington visits, the Steelers also hosted free agent running back Maurice Jones Drew on Wednesday. Jones left without a contract and is expected to visit other teams in the league as well. The running back position has also become a depth concurs much like the wide receivers and defensive line as Jonathan Dwyer has left to sign with Arizona back in March. The Steelers also scheduled a visit from RB James Starks but soon delayed the meeting by a day, in the end he wound up re-signing with Green Bay.
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