The Steelers’ free agent philosophy has evolved since the 1990s. In his autobiography, former Steelers coach Bill Cowher wrote that back then, the Steelers’ philosophy was to replace their outgoing free agents with rookies. This initially led to some down years, but eventually, many of those rookies turned into seasoned veterans who helped Pittsburgh win two championships during the 2000s.
While they still prefer homegrown talent over outside help, the Steelers have embraced modern free agency since the start of the new millennium. Linebacker James Farrior, acquired in 2002, is regarded as the best free agent signing in franchise history. Cornerback Joe Haden’s arrival in 2017 was also significant, as Pittsburgh’s pass defense — one of the league’s worst before his arrival — has been one of the NFL’s best over the past five years.
The Steelers will likely lean on history as they chart out a path for free…
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