Steelers Could Target Big Name DL Free Agents

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers now have some more money to play around with after the NFL announced a $30 million increase to the salary cap last week and one reporter has an idea of where they should look to spend that money first. The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly wrote that the Steelers could afford to add some talent and youth to an aging defensive line and he named two stars from inside the AFC that could be potential fits in Pittsburgh. “The Steelers should be able to add a veteran stud defensive lineman,” Kaboly wrote. “Cameron Heyward is turning 35 this year and coming off an injury, and Larry Ogunjobi will be 30 and hasn’t lived up to his contract. Throwing money at Christian Wilkins or D.J. Reader might be doable.”

Reader, a standout interior linemen with the Bengals for the past four seasons, was the fifth-highest paid defensive lineman during the 2023 season, brining in $13,250,000 in the final year of a four-year, $53 million contract he signed prior to the 2020 season. Wilkins played on a fifth-year option worth $10,753,000 in 2023. Wilkins, 29, has made 55 or more tackles in four of his five seasons with the Miami Dolphins. He’s amassed 20.5 sacks and 43 tackles for loss, 19 passes defended and an interception over his career. He set a career-high with 23 quarterback hits in 2023. Reader, 30, made 34 tackles over 14 games last season. He’s made 9.5 sacks and defended eight passes over the course of his career.