The Pittsburgh Steelers cut Genard Avery yesterday as part of the effort to get to 80 players before the NFL deadline. This was not a move expected by anyone, and has left the team extremely thin at outside linebacker. Pittsburgh will undoubtedly be on the lookout for someone to replace him on the roster. Here are seven edge rushers the Steelers could add to fill this giant hole on their roster:
1. K’Lavon Chaisson:
We wrote about Chaisson last week as a possible trade candidate for the Steelers even before the Avery move. Three trades the Steelers should make right now
This makes even more sense with Pittsburgh’s dire need for a backup edge rusher. Chaisson is a distant third on the depth chart for the Jacksonville Jaguars after selecting Travon Walker with the first overall pick in this year’s draft. He may very well be available for the right price, and someone the Steelers should take a hard look at.
2. Quincy Roche:
Quincey Roche was a sixth round pick of the Steelers in 2021. He was cut late in the off-season with the hope of sneaking him through to the practice squad. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, the Giants claimed him off waivers. Roche is very much on the roster bubble in New York this season. If he is cut in the next few weeks, expect the Steelers to be very much interested in bringing Roche back into the fold.
3. Dee Ford:
This one is a long shot given the questions about work ethic, and injury woes associated with this player. Dee Ford is a very talented edge rusher who has had quite a bit of success in this league however. He had 13 sacks in 2018, which led to his massive free agent contract with the 49ers. Injuries, and other issues made him a cap casualty this off-season. As far as current free agents go, Dee Ford is far and away the best player available right now.
4. Trey Flowers:
Yet another off-season cap casualty, Trey Flowers is pretty much the polar opposite of Dee Ford. Flowers is not flashy, nor is he a twitchy athlete. He is instead a solid veteran who excels versus the run. That is a trait that could be quite intriguing to the Steelers.
5. Ola Adeniyi:
Yet another former Steeler on our seven edge rushers list. Adeniyi is a good bet to make the Titans roster, but he is not indispensable. Tennessee could be easily be convinced to part ways with Adeniyi for a reasonable fee. This is a player who’s been a serviceable outside linebacker in the league, and is familiar with the system in Pittsburgh.
6. Clelin Ferrell
Clelin Ferrell has been a huge disappointment for the Raiders since being drafted fourth overall in 2019. Truth be told, Ferrell was not a top ten talent coming out of college. There is plenty of talent here to be at least a rotational edge rusher on the right team however. This one might cost the Steelers more in terms of assets, but could pay off in a big way.
7. Taco Charlton:
Our last candidate on the list is former Steeler Taco Charlton. Charlton showed some interesting flashes with the team last year in limited playing time. He is solidly third on the Saints depth chart as we speak. If the Steelers are patient, Taco Charlton could be available after the next round of cuts. If not, a seventh round pick would probably be all it would take to pry him from New Orleans.