From the notebook of a sportswriter who’s fully prepared to cut the expensive and sign the cheap:
• The first guy I would sign in free agency is one of three DTs: Chris Jones, Justin Madubuike, Leonard Williams.• Just kidding. Those guys are too expensive. But I had to get them off the top of my list to begin thinking rationally.• Last year, the plan was to buy the less-valued positions in free agency and draft the bigticket positions. I’m going to presume, since the foundation isn’t yet• The next name on my list will probably cost too much, too, but I love strong safety Antoine Winfield Jr. My guess is that Mike Tomlin also loves him (and his bloodlines).• The SS position was troublesome last year, and you have to wonder if injury-plagued Damontae Kazee (save $3 million) and ineffective Keanu Neal ($2.25 million) will be brought back.• At the safety position, I would certainly bring back safety/special-teams stud Miles Killebrew.• As for the Steelers’ other potential unrestricted free agents, I would re-sign NT Montravius Adams and QB Mason Rudolph.• Levi Wallace really wasn’t that bad, and CB is a thin position. I also felt Patrick Peterson played well enough. Of course, at 34, his release would save $6.9 million. Gives me pause. I would like to see him as mentor to the next young CB.• I like Corey Trice Jr.. Don’t get me wrong. But a seventh-rounder coming off an awful knee injury can’t be counted upon.• Might they find an inexpensive, quality cornerback in free agency? Always doubtful, but Chidobe Awuzie will be two years off his ACL injury. And you’re plucking him from the Bengals.• Speaking of which, how about stealing Ravens ILB Patrick Queen in free agency? Probably cost too much, but I’d dial him up. I’m not sure the Steelers can count on Cole Holcomb bouncing back, either.• I asked for old man ILB Bobby Wagner last year and no one listened. I’ll go with old man ILB Lavonte David this year. I think he can still play.• I still think no one will listen.• The draft is said to be weak at ILB, and it’s a position that’s not heavily valued in free agency. I’m realistically looking at a cheap coverage ’ backer such as Drue Tranquill, a quality backup with the Chiefs.• Back to the quarterback position. If Rudolph isn’t re-signed, Ryan Tannehill is an obvious alternative. With the Titans, he had his best seasons directing new Steelers coordinator Arthur Smith’s offense. And at 34, Tannehill might be willing to settle in as a backup behind Kenny Pickett.• Have to laugh at all of these breaking news stories about the Steelers going with the QB whom Tomlin and Art Rooney II said they would.• I laugh until those breaking news stories are re-written by fan sites and passed through Facebook by “insiders.” That’s when I begin to cry. My profession is long since dead.• The only potential free agent listed with an asterisk next to his name just might be affordable. He’s a wide receiver. He’s a slot wide receiver. He’s a Clairton Bear. He’s a Pitt Panther. He needs to be a former Cincinnati Bengal. He’s 29-year-old Tyler Boyd.• No new ground here in desiring guys like Boyd and Tannehill, but sometimes the most obvious guesses are obvious for a reason.• Here’s some nuttery that I actually believe in: The Steelers should try to sign 38-year-old DL Calais Campbell. He can still play. And he would make 34-year-old Cam Heyward feel young again.• I have center Andre James, 26, of the Raiders on my list. But in spite of the affordability of the position, I don’t see them spending Mason Cole money ($6.9 million savings) to release Mason Cole. I do see them drafting a center in the first or second rounds.• There are three – Jackson Powers-Johnson, Zach Frazier, Graham Barton – who appear to be foundational centers.• I know the Steelers have tried to make Minkah Fitzpatrick that rover wild card bigtime playmaker, and if he’s their guy, find a free safety. Geno Stone of the Ravens and Julian Blackmon of the Colts can play either. But one of the safeties has to begin making Mike Wagner-Donnie Shell-Carnell Lake-Troy Polamalu plays. Consistently.• To touch a little bit more on the draft, the way I see the Steelers’ first round, draft the better value at either center or cornerback. If there’s no value at either spot, take an offensive tackle.• Most Steelers analysts have them drafting that tackle in the first round. But it’s a very deep crop and one should be available in the second round. They desperately need a No. 3 tackle, so a second-rounder seems like a better fit as a backup.• To disagree with most others one final time, I don’t see the Steelers moving Broderick Jones over to his more natural left tackle position, at least until next year. Remember, natural left tackle Marvel Smith didn’t move over until his fourth season. As they did then, the Steelers have an adequate LT.
