The Steelers should go after this guy in free agency

Rams CB Trumaine Johnson he's 26 years old and in his prime, a 6'2 210 lb guy who had 7 ints last season. Of course he's probably looking to get paid and the Steelers can't afford him. It's time to cut Cortez and don't re-sign Antwon Blake, re-sign William Gay and draft a CB.

 

I agree. We need an elite NFL CB like Johnson or Josh Norman. We've got a fantastic opportunity over the next 2-3 years to win a Super Bowl and we actually have some cap space this year so if we're ever going to go after an elite CB this is the time. Windows close quickly in the NFL so let's go against the grain and grab one of the top free agent CBs and then go out and get number 7!

 

Or, just resign Boykin...

 

We need a corner who can play on the outside.

 

There is one thing at least as important as a payday and that's the opportunity to earn a ring. With the Steelers being one of the favorites to go to the Super Bowl they may have some leverage heading into free agency and maybe a guy like Johnson or Norman (assuming he doesn't win one this year) would be willing to listen to a contract proposal slightly below market.

 

I feel they will load up the Steeler way for a Super Bowl run. I like the idea of getting a DB and SS in FA. Then draft a corner and safety.
Secondary will be the priority and is the weakest position on this team, ranked 30th in the league.
Maybe that's why they are holding back on extending Bell. I would like Gay to be resigned but at a fair price. Also talk to Boykin. I believe he will go elsewhere though. Golson will be ready but can he come in and contribute? who knows what Grant will bring. Golden is a FA as well and should be brought back.

Cortez will be cut. Blake who? Oh, the 2nd worst corner in the league last season.

 

Rooney himself said he wants a much improved secondary. They are gonna do something.

 

i would go for it. Steelers time is NOW.

 

Nope. Tomlin's not concerned.

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2016/02/tomlin-not-concerned-30th-ranked-pass-defense/

THIS is what frustrates me about Tomlin. A blind man can see the Steelers secondary needs to be improved but he just downplays it like it's not big deal. Why can't he just say that he acknowledges that there is a deficiency in this area and that the team will be looking for ways to shore up that deficiency in the offseason. We're all fed up with Colbert and Tomlin's cavalier attitude about the secondary and our inattention to it over the last few years has cost us big time! Pay attention coach. Cornerbacks and safeties!!!!!

Why do I have a bad feeling that we're going to go into next season with Antwon Blake once again our starting CB?!

 

Not for nothing though as bad as are secondary is if they had brown bell and williams they beat denver easy and probably beat the Paties

 

I didn't take that article the same way you did. When healthy we scored a lot of points, and we were ranked top 5 against the run... We were definitely going to give up some passing yards. I think what he is saying is that the yardage totals matter less when you are taking the ball away from the other team, and we did that at a pretty decent rate this year. I don't think he doesn't want to improve the pass defense, he just isn't as disgusted with it as you (or other fans) seem to be.

We had a 30 year old, a guy we signed from another teams cuts, a back up who is a ST specialist and a guy we traded for to play slot playing out of position outside... Not to mention a 33 year old SS. Idk how we were gonna manage to be a top pass defense. The guys played hard despite giving up a good deal of yardage, they managed to get some picks and force some fumbles along the way to help the offense out.

 

Boykin can't carry Trumaine Johnson's jock strap. Besides, he's a slot corner. We drafted one of those in the second round last year... We need a guy who can play outside and play it well.

 

unless johnson agrees to play for 3 million a year, he wont be a steeler

 

I want him bad but we can't afford him, plus it aint the steeler way to sign an awesome CB lol a tall one at that

 

I doubt he wants to return to the Steelers, Golson will most likely play the slot.

 

How much do you think they can spend... a good outside corner doesn't come cheap?

How many millions could they afford to pay a FA Corner per year?

 

It depends on who we decide to pay in the off season. I'm sure we could clear up enough space to sign a guy for 5-7mil a year, but we would have to be content with some re structures and letting Beach walk.
We aren't in totally rough shape at all if we make a few moves, so I'd expect us to be able to afford someone halfway decent. I just think that money will have a better chance at being spent on a SS than it will on a CB. Who knows tho, I wouldn't say a FA "splash" of some sort would be out of the question

 

Well since they threw away money on Fragile Allen to the tune of 4 years at 24.6 mill with guaranteed 6.7 mill I believe they can sign one for at least 5 or 6 mill a year, 4 to 5 years. So I can see them going after a Johnson type.

Cortez will cost them 4 mill to cut as he will and should be.

 

No, he probably can't. But he played well for us and well for the Eagles. Gay and Boykin outside with Golson inside. Or Boykin and Golson outside with Gay inside. 3 decent guys are better than what we had last year, and even if all are better suited for the slot I think I'd like to have 3 quality guys on the field. We may not get the 1st overall pass defense but a bump up to 20th would help immensely.

I'm basing all of this off the fact that I think Johnson will be thrown bags of money in FA, so I think I'd rather have Boykin at $4 million/year than Johnson at $10 million/year in our current situation (with studs on offense coming due for huge increases).

 

well if that's the case we need to sign a stud at OLB and get a good S at draft

 

boykin will find a 4-5 milion a year at least ,t.johnson 8-9 milion a year . so i' don't think we will sign neither of them

 

I'd probably agree with you that is rather have Boykin at 40% salary than an overpaid Johnson. Its a tricky situation, but I really think our interest in Boykin largely will have to do with what our plans are for Golson. If we view Golson as a guy we want outside, then we can pay Boykin a contract like 4yr 16mil and feel okay about it. It we think Golson is our future at slot, then I'd be wary about paying Boykin to be a long term solution outside for us. I just don't want to pay him then realize he isn't really that good outside and have him become a 4mil a year backup to Golson somewhere down the line. We'd better be sure one way or the other about him.

Personally if we view him as a slot only type of guy, then I don't want us to offer him a contract. I'd rather target someone who can play outside and just play Gay in the slot in our nickel defense.

 

i would try to bring here amukamara