Pittsburgh Steelers, Benny Snell Jr. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
The Pittsburgh Steelers have massively retooled the roster this offseason, but these former players are somehow still free agents, which is hard to believe.
To say that the Pittsburgh Steelers roster has undergone an overhaul this offseason would be an understatement. Between free agency and the draft, it’s looking like Mike Tomlin might have 10 new starters overall in the 2023 season from the players who were in those roles a season ago.
By my estimation, that’s for the better overall. The Steelers‘ ceiling appeared limited in the 2022 campaign and it feels less so now with some of the additions they’ve made, such as Allen Robinson, Broderick Jones, Patrick Peterson, and many others. It’s going to be a new-look group. But while that’s been happening, some familiar faces have yet to find a home.
Deep into free agency and the offseason to this point, it’s frankly stunning that these three former Steelers players are still available on the open market ahead of the 2023 season.
Steelers: 3 former players who are shockingly still free agents
3. Benny Snell Jr., RB
There haven’t been many moments since Pittsburgh selected running back Benny Snell Jr. in the fourth round of the 2019 draft wherein the former Kentucky star has been able to secure a consistent role. His first two seasons with the Steelers were when he got the most work, carrying the ball 108 and 111 times and starting a combined five games over those seasons.
Over the last two years, though, Snell saw his role decrease with the arrival of Najee Harris, carrying the ball just a combined 56 times with four total receptions despite playing in all 34 games over the past two years.
Even with that erratic role, though, Snell has been solid, rushing for 982 yards and seven touchdowns while also hauling in 17 of 24 targets in the passing game for 114 yards as well.
It’s certainly unlikely that Snell will ever be a star in the NFL, but as far as reliable and solid depth pieces go, you find numerous teams that need to fill that role in every season and that’s a role that Snell could definitely fill.
Perhaps the fact that the former fourth-rounder was never a terrific pass-blocker with the Steelers is a factor in why he’s not been signed in free agency this offseason, but for a player who we’ve seen perform at a solid level in the past few years, despite limited opportunities, it’s surprising that another opportunity on a new team hasn’t presented itself.
