FILE – On this Nov. 15, 2020, file photograph, Miami Dolphins deal with Austin Jackson (73) blocks Los … [+]
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The confluence of two occasions late within the offseason helped the Pittsburgh Steelers give their protection a probably large increase.
For one, the Steelers freed up extra cash underneath the wage cap by releasing standout guard David DeCastro on June 24. Secondly, edge rusher Melvin Ingram was nonetheless a free agent with the beginning of coaching camp simply two days away.
The Steelers signed Ingram to a one-year, $4-million contract Tuesday with the hope he can bolster the move rush after they misplaced Bud Dupree in free company throughout the offseason.
The Steelers certainly would have a tougher time signing Ingram if not for the $7.9 million they saved by slicing DeCastro, a Professional Bowl choice every of the final six years. That elevated Pittsburgh’s cap house to round $12 million.
Ingram performed simply seven video games final season with the Los Angeles Chargers due to a knee damage and didn’t report a sack. Nonetheless, the Steelers are hopeful Ingram can not less than strategy the shape that enabled him to be chosen to a few straight Professional Bowls from 2017-19.
One motive for optimism is that Professional Soccer Focus gave Ingram a grade of 72.3 final season, which ranked 27th amongst all NFL edge defenders.
Ingram additionally had a mixed 24.5 sacks in these three Professional Bowl seasons, 10.5 in 2017 and 7 in each 2018 and 2019. He additionally took down the quarterback 10.5 occasions in 2015.
The Steelers have one of many NFL’s premier edge rusher in T.J. Watt, who was runner-up to Los Angeles Rams defensive deal with Aaron Donald final season for the NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months award.
Watt led the league with 15 sacks a 12 months in the past whereas being chosen as a first-team All-Professional for a second straight season and being picked to his third consecutive Professional Bowl.
Alex Highsmith is slated to start out reverse Watt this upcoming season. But whereas Highsmith began the final 5 video games of 2020 after Dupree sustained a season-ending knee damage, he’s nonetheless largely unproven.
A 3rd-round draft decide from Charlotte, Highsmith completed his rookie season with two sacks. Nonetheless, he additionally graded out extremely with Professional Soccer Focus as his 72.9 mark was 24th at his place.
Dupree had eight sacks in 11 video games in 2020 and the Steelers completed with an NFL-best 56. Nonetheless, he was simply 75th in PFF’s grades at 60.2.
The Steelers’ depth behind Watt and Highsmith was additionally skinny till signing Ingram. That they had journeyman Cassius Marsh, who has began 9 video games in his seven-year profession, together with sixth-round draft decide Quincy Roche and three others who’ve gone to NFL coaching camps however by no means appeared in a regular-season recreation.
