In some ways free agency is like the NFL Draft. While the big names get all the money and generate all of the headlines, fans gripe when their team isn’t make a sufficient splash early on.
Yet, just as there are quality players to be found later rounds of the draft, there are also 3rd line free agents who can contribute.
- You just have to be wise enough, and smart enough to find them.
In 2014 Brice McCain proved to be a true a testament to Kevin Colbert’s ability to find talent in the most unlikeliest of places. McCain’s signing a year ago was panned by much of Steelers Nation, but by the end of the season it was McCain and not Cortez Allen who was making splash plays.
- Indeed, McCain made key plays in the Steelers wins over Jacksonville, Baltimore and Cincinnati.
McCain’s rejuvenation story is something for Pittsburgh to be proud of, but sadly he won’t be finishing it with the Steelers as McCain bolted to the Miami Dolphins for a reported 2 year deal that included 3 million dollars in gurentted money.
McCain’s Dolphins Defection Unfortunate, But Unsurprising
McCain’s loss is bad news for the Steelers, who now only have William Gay, Antwon Blake, and Cortez Allen under contract for the coming season. Of the three only Gay is a proven starter, and Blake realistically only projects as a 3rd corner – at best.
- But the news of his departure should shock no one.
As our Steelers 2015 Free Agent Focus indicated, McCain was in a similar situation to Arthur Moats – someone who wasn’t going to get a ton of money thrown at him, but quite possibly someone who would get more than the Steelers could or would pay.
- This happened a year ago with Jerricho Cotchery and again with Al Woods.
The Steelers, it would seem are not quite out of salary cap purgatory yet. Which doesn’t mean that they would have signed McCain for anyway, as the Steelers rarely entertain bidding wars for free agents and have even more rarely been guilty of overpaying.
Steelers Restructure Pouncey Contract, Eyeing Johnson
While the Steelers are expected to target cornerback early in the 2015 NFL Draft, they’re likely to address the need in free agency and word is they’re interested in Patrick Johnson of the New Orleans Saints.
The Steelers are clearly angling to make some sort of move, as they restructured the contract of Maurkice Pouncey and gained an additional 3.5 million in salary cap space, according to reports.
Thanks for visiting. Click here for more of our Steelers 2015 Free Agent Focus.
