Most significant signing: Running back DeAngelo Williams was the Pittsburgh Steelers' only signing but he is a significant addition nonetheless. The Steelers had add to a proven player to back up Le’Veon Bell and they signed the Carolina Panthers’ all-time leading rusher who sports a career average of 4.8 yards per carry and can also catch the ball out of the backfield. Dri Archer and Josh Harris, the only other running backs on the roster, have 19 NFL carries between them, and the Steelers need a starting-caliber back as injury insurance -- and to start at the beginning of next season with Bell expected to miss the first two games for violating the NFLs personal conduct policy. An added bonus: Williams, who turns 32 next months, is plenty motivated after an acrimonious exit from Carolina.
Most significant loss: The Steelers didn’t exactly lose Rod Woodson when cornerback Brice McCain signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins. But McCain’s departure leaves the Steelers even thinner at cornerback. And McCain tied for the Steelers lead with three interceptions last season and bailed them out when Cortez Allen faltered. The Steelers have a similar player in Antwon Blake, who signed a one-year, $1.554 million contract as a restricted free agent. Blake’s return softens the loss of McCain but the Steelers only have four cornerbacks on their roster right now with NFL experience. They will try to add a cornerback in free agency -- Patrick Robinson visited the Steelers on Monday and Sterling Moore is visiting today -- and need to take one early in the draft.
Biggest surprise: The Steelers let Jason Worilds hit the open market and weren’t planning on trying to re-sign the outside linebacker unless he didn’t generate a lot of interest -- and his asking price went down considerably. No team got to bid on Worilds’ services as he walked away from the game after five NFL seasons to pursue a religious calling. Worilds led the Steelers with 15½ sacks over the past two seasons and was poised to land a long-term contract after earning $9.754 million in 2014. He retired a week after celebrating his 27th birthday.
What’s next: The Steelers are among a handful of teams interested in Robinson, a 2010 first-round draft pick. They need help at cornerback and outside linebacker and pass-rushers went off the board quickly once the signing period started. The Steelers’ best option is re-signing James Harrison for one more season and drafting an outside linebacker early to add young talent at the all-important position. The smoke has cleared from the frenzied first week of free agency and this is the time when the Steelers get more involved as far as signing outside players.