Pittsburgh Steelers Urged to Sign $23 Million Former Defensive Player of The Year
The Pittsburgh Steelers have not shied away from signing accomplished veteran defenders in recent offseasons.
Just last summer, former All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson landed in the Steelers’ secondary, on the heels of the franchise selecting cornerback Joey Porter Jr. in the second round of the draft, and Marcus Golden put a Pittsburgh helmet before developing into a quality rotational pass-rusher.
As NFL training camps and the 2024 season near, another veteran could be about to make his way to the Iron City.
Is Stephon Gilmore a Perfect Fit for Pittsburgh Steelers?
Stephon Gilmore
Dec 10, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) fumbles the ball after being tackled by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore (21) in the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
As the Steelers aim to continue bolstering the defense, and adding veteran stability to a secondary tasked with defending the likes of Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes, among others, in the AFC Gauntlet, Stephon Gilmore could be an ideal free agent signing before the season kicks
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine put together a list of the best fits for the best remaining NFL free agents, including the Steelers signing Gilmore.
“The Pittsburgh Steelers could use a veteran to go with Joey Porter Jr,” Ballentine writes for B/R. “And Donte Jackson. They took a shot on Patrick Peterson last season, so they’ve moved on a veteran before.”
Gilmore would make a lot of sense from a leadership standpoint, and is also coming off a solid season with the Dallas Cowboys.
Last season, Gilmore posted a career-high 68 total tackles with two interceptions while finishing the 2023 campaign with a strong 72.3 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus while holding opposing quarterbacks to a meager 83.3 passer rating when targeting him.
Given the quarterback and receiver gauntlet the Steelers must navigate in hopes of making a deep postseason run, Gilmore could be an ideal counterpunch in the secondary.
