Scunge's free agency wish list: DE

[Scunge]

Howdy, these are my thoughts on getting some help for Cam and Tuitt at DE. Yes, it would be nice to draft another stud in the first or second round but then they would have to go through the growing pains of learning to play in the NFL. Why not just sign a free agent who has experience and is ready to come in and play?

In no particular order:

Robert Ayers, 6'3 275, 30 years old, former 1st round pick of Denver in 2009. Has been with the NY Giants the past two seasons, playing in 24 games with 12 starts and had 63 tackles, 14 sacks, 5 passes defensed and 3 Forced fumbles. The Giants have always used a heavy rotation for their D-line. Maybe Ayers would love to sign with us and have a chance for a Super Bowl ring. He would be able to rotate in with Cam and Tuitt and really make for a dangerous trio of DEs.

Jared Crick, 6'4" 280, 26 years old, drafted by Houston in the 4th round of 2012. Has started 31 games for them the past two years with 104 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries. The youngest guy on my list and may have the most value in terms of getting a bigger deal and out of our budget. Would look great in a 3 man rotation at DE for us.

Jack Crawford, 6'5" 275, 27 years old, former 5th round pick of Oakland in 2012, played the past two years with Dallas. He played in 22 games the past two years with one start and had 29 tackles, 6 sacks. This was a player I liked in 2012 and thought would make a great 3-4 DE for us. Again, he does not need to be a full time starter, just part of a rotation.

Akeem Hicks, 6'5" 320, 26 years old, originally a 3rd round pick of NO in 2012, was traded to NE this past year after 3 games into the season. Has played in 61 games, 33 starts, 148 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery that he returned for a TD. Would be great to stick it to New England and sign Hicks away from them. He would be tremendous in a rotation at DE.

Cedric Thornton, 6'6" 300, 27 years old, played in 61 games with 45 starts for Philly and had 171 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, scored a TD and had a safety. Not really a prolific pass rusher but has the size and length of Cam and Tuitt. May be able to land a big payday, might be out of our price range.

Leger Douzable, 6'4" 305, 29 years old, played in 48 games, with 2 starts for the NY Jets. Had 59 tackles, 4 sacks and 1 fumble recovery. Love the Jets depth along their D-line, Leger just was not able to play that much behind the likes of Wilkerson, Sheldon and Damon Harrison.

Kendall Reyes, 6'4" 300, 26 years old, drafted in 2nd round of 2012 by San Diego. Played in 64 games, 50 starts, and had 13.5 sacks, 129 tackles, 8 passes defensed and 1 INT. I feel like somebody will pay him a big contract, he is out of our budget.

Billy Winn, 6'4" 296, 26 years old, was drafted in the 6th round by Cleveland but played last season with INDY. He has played in 51 games, 21 starts, and has 92 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 5 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries. This would be a cheap signing but a good one I think. He just always seems to be around the ball and gives great effort.

Jarvis Jenkins, 6'4" 310, 27 years old, played last year for Chicago but was originally drafted by Washington in the 2nd round in 2011. In 15 games started last year for Chicago he had 32 tackles and 4 sacks. I realize he was a bust for Wash and that he may be a boom or bust free agent signing but he does have some talent and if he were to be in a rotation with Cam and Tuitt he might just shine. Probably would not cost that much to sign to a 2 or 3 year deal.

Corbin Bryant, 6'4" 300, 28 years old, originally an UDFA by the Steelers, has been with the Bills the past 3 years. Played in 47 games, had 12 starts and had 73 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 1 forced fumble. Buffalo has a deep D-line and Bryant did not get that many opportunities. Figured I would throw in Winn, Bryant and Jenkins as the bare minimum of what the Steelers could do.

It is interesting how the class of 2012 has panned out and how many of those DE prospects are now available to hit free agency. The Steelers should snap up one of these players and strengthen the DE position for the next 3 years.

[Steelafan77]

I know he's not on your list and he had some struggles last season too. Quiton Coples would be worth a look IMO. The phins played Coples at OLB after having him drop 20 pounds. Not Coples natural position. He then only played in 6 games. Low miles. Sign him have him add that 20 pounds back and play him at his natural position on the DLine as a rushing DE/DT and DLine is set. A DLine of Tuitt, Heyward, Walton and Coples would be outstanding. A former 1st RND pick and only 25 years old.

[Scunge]

Yeah, there are so many players at DE available and maybe many more depending on if teams have to cut and slash their rosters to make moves to get under the cap.

I think this is the year to shore up the D-line in free agency and not by way of the draft.

Geathers is not under contract, McLendon is not under contract, and Cam Thomas is, finally, not under contract.

We have Heyward, Tuitt, McCullers and Walton as sure things. McLendon got his last contract because the Green Bay Packers made an offer and the Steelers had to match it, that is how it worked out. He had interest not from just Green Bay but other teams. Maybe he does not want money so much as he just wants to play! He only plays about 33% of the snaps and he is 30 years old AND he still gets hurt with regularity.

I just don't know if I am in a hurry to pay him. Especially if the money could be spent to bring in a worthwhile DE who would play more snaps than him and have more of an impact. McLendon could sign a new deal for 3-3.5 million a year and play just 24 snaps a game. But a DE like a Jared Crick or a Robert Ayers or an Akiem Hicks could be given $4 million a year deal, and play 40 snaps a game, rotating in for Cam and Tuitt, taking 20 snaps away each and giving them the rest they need.

[Steelers4Life]

Isn't McClendon better suited for DE than NT? If so, for chemistry purposes, it might be best to bring him back to rotate with Heyward and Tuitt. But then who plays NT?

[Legacy User]

As far as puss rusher is concerned been hearing some rumblings of Cam Wake maybe getting released in Miami..He would give us the bonafide elite sack/pressure player we currently lack.

[Legacy User]

Everyone always wants pass rushers. Any guy who can will already be expensive.

After watching the Von Miller show, knee-jerk, copycat GMs are especially going to overpay for their services this off-season.

It's not a good year for teams in need.

[Legacy User]

Everyone always wants pass rushers. Any guy who can will already be expensive.

After watching the Von Miller show, knee-jerk, copycat GMs are especially going to overpay for their services this off-season.

It's not a good year for teams in need.

I hardly think wanting/signing pass rushers is a new trend. We need one to pair with Dupree.

[Steelafan77]

wrong thread...

[steelmann58]

I really think they will add a DE before the draft.

[bradshaw2ben]

Crawford is pretty good as a situational pass rusher DE.

Hicks or Thornton of that bunch.

[BethlehemSteel]

The gB d end set the market.....fa's ate gonna want 11m+

[Steelafan77]

Other FA's I'd take a long look at...
Interior Offensive Linemen
Kelechi Osemele
Amini Silatolu

Defensive Linemen
Damon Harrison
Cedric Thornton
Clifton Geathers

Edge Defenders
Nick Perry
Sam Acho

Cornerbacks
Trumaine Johnson
Brandon Boykin
Jeremy Lane
E.J. Biggers Can play either S/CB
Darrin Walls Can play either S/CB
Johnson Bademosi Can play either S/CB

Safeties
Tashaun Gipson
George Iloka
Walter Thurmond III Can play either S/CB
David Bruton
Jaiquawn Jarrett

[Gonzo]

Hicks would be great here IMO

[Scunge]

More and more I just don't want Steve McLendon back at all.

Yes, the bedwetters come out and cry and say who will play NT? What is a NT anymore, anyway?

McLendon played in 16 games this season and is only credited with 10 starts at NT. Why is that? It is because the NT position is being phased out in our defense. He only played in 34% of the snaps. He had just 14 tackles. The percentage of snaps per game is not going to increase. Casey Hampton was only on the field for one third the snaps his last few seasons. It has been that way for a good long while.

McLendon's tackles have gone from 33, to 22, to just 14 in the last 3 years. He has just 2 sacks in the last 3 years, I think people are kidding themselves if they think he can be the rotational 3rd DE that we need.

He just turned 30, he missed 6 games in 2013-2014. I am sorry, but to me Dan McCullers can step in for him and play the 22 snaps a game out of 70 total snaps (34%). And if not Dan, then some mid-late round rookie NT can play 22 snaps a game.

I just see this every season with the Steelers where they resign one of their own and just blindly ignore the players they could have gotten. Instead of giving McLendon a 3 year $11-12 million contract I would rather they roll with Big Dan and give a 4 year, $16-18 million deal to a DE in free agency.

I would rather have Big Dan play those 22 snaps and have that newly signed DE play 40 snaps.

If Butler is going to continue and expand the 2 down lineman in terms of pass rushing it is more important to have that quality 3rd DE, not a NT who plays 22 snaps a game.

[Steelafan77]

If McLendon is re-signed I'm hoping he is back as a swing DE on the cheap. I'm hoping they go after Damon Harris (27yrs old) as the starting NT. With the Jets looking at having to pay Wilkerson and eventually Richardson I think Harris is a cap casualty.

[Steelersfan]

If McLendon is re-signed I'm hoping he is back as a swing DE on the cheap. I'm hoping they go after Damon Harris (27yrs old) as the starting NT. With the Jets looking at having to pay Wilkerson and eventually Richardson I think Harris is a cap casualty.

Sirrus NFL reporting the Jets will tag Wilkerson. Damon Harris might be a possibility. Would be a fantastic add to the roster. Hopefully Geathers turns into something also. Got to be a reason he's still even a roster possibility.