The Pittsburgh Steelers have been among the least active teams in free agency over the past three years, ranking tied for 24th in the NFL in total signings and 30th in total contract value. Here’s a look at how those decisions have panned out on the field:
Total signings: 25* (tied for 24th in NFL)
Total contract value: $86,865,000 (30th in NFL)
Three-year W-L: 32-16 regular season (3-3 playoffs)
Biggest hit: For sheer value on the dollar, it's hard to argue with DeAngelo Williams, who gave the Steelers 17 regular-season touchdowns on a two-year, $4-million contract. Williams proved invaluable while Le'Veon Bell missed games to suspensions and injuries. In Carolina, Williams played on a contract that averaged nearly $9 million per year. The Steelers got similar production out of Williams at about one-fourth the cost. On defense, safety Mike Mitchell validated his five-year, $25 million contract with 228 tackles, four forced fumbles and four interceptions in three seasons.
Biggest miss: Tight end Ladarius Green can become a hit with a resurgent second season, but as it stands, the Steelers just paid Green $6 million in Year 1 for 304 receiving yards and one touchdown. That's a poor trade-off. Green's ankle surgery and concussion issues kept him off the field for much of 2016. Perhaps Green will be cleared for action and make plays up the seam once again, but his outlook is uncertain right now. Otherwise, the Steelers haven't taken many losses in free agency because they've given less than $1.2 million in guaranteed money to all but two players (Mitchell and Green).
Sneaky-good move: Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey wasn't a coveted free agent in 2014. At the time, the former top-10 overall pick was considered a bust. But Heyward-Bey bolstered his value after signing a one-year deal with Pittsburgh, which has extended his contracts twice since then. With steady special-teams play and five touchdowns on offense, Heyward-Bey has acquitted himself well. He's one of offensive coordinator Todd Haley's favorite players. And he turned back-to-back one-year contracts into a three-year deal last offseason.
Verdict: Considering the relatively low money attached to most of their deals, the Steelers are batting a high enough percentage to justify their free agency plan, which is to supplement a draft-pick-heavy roster with outside signings. There are several success stories in this batch of signees, including James Harrison re-inventing himself in his late 30s on a two-year, $2.75-million deal. Many players signed to one-year deals re-signed with the team a year later, which is a good sign. The issue is 2016, when the Steelers got minimal returns from their two biggest signings -- Green and offensive tackle Ryan Harris -- because of injury. But last year's crop shouldn't dissuade Pittsburgh from adding complementary pieces in the future.
*Signings made during free agency period beginning in March.
