The Pittsburgh Steelers signing of defensive lineman Tyson Alualu has the potential to end up being one of those sneaky good low risk depth signings that pays dividends during the season. And what the depth signing does is solidify a position on defense going into the draft where the Steelers have no need to address in the first three rounds.

With Cam Heyward – Javon Hargrave – Stephon Tuitt entrenched as the starters, Alualu provides an upgrade over Ricardo Mathews who entered last season as the Steelers top backup and the Steelers are now a good 5-deep at the position with Alualu and the emerging L.T. Walton as the top backups.

What the Steelers like is the versatility of Alualu to play all three positions on the line and they’re getting a hungry player who at age 29 wants to win.

“I just wanted to be part of something special,” Alualu said during his media session of joining the Steelers.

Alualu, 29, had 37 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 1 forced fumble in 2016 for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has spent his entire seven year career with the Jaguars, totaling 258 tackles and 17.5 sacks.

Alualu never lived up to being the 10th overall pick, most notably when it came to getting to the passer. Alualu has a high motor but quickly showed early in his career he has no go-to move against elite linemen and often gets swallowed up.

When rushing the passer he has to rely on his length and strength which can be a positive against smaller offensive linemen and one thing the Steelers are always going to get is effort. Alualu goes all out on nearly every snap.

For a Steelers team whose time is now with Ben Roethlisberger at age 35 as elite seasons from Roethlisberger are starting to dwindle, there would have been no complaints here if the Steelers would have taken a one year gamble like the Falcons did on nose tackle Dontari Poe who the Steelers loved coming out of the draft and would have became a much more dangerous team in getting to the passer from the interior with Poe in the fold.

Alualu, though, checks some boxes in being able to provide quality depth and it’s the type of low risk signing the Steelers prefer to do with free agents.

Steelers have high grade on OSU’s Raekwon McMillan
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All of the chatter on edge rushers connected to the Steelers, talk in Steelers circles is don’t be shocked if the Steelers draft has a 2007 feel. Linebacker heavy in the first-two rounds.

At linebacker the Steelers are worse off right now  with the defection of Lawrence Timmons who signed with Miami Dolphins. Yes, Vince Williams is serviceable but Timmons is a superior player even at his age.

Timmons decision to bolt for Miami was an easy one with the Steelers offer having a gap of $6 million in guaranteed money compared to the contract he got from the Dolphins.

If the Steelers are so content with Williams being able to fill the void, then why go so hard after Dont’a Hightower in the manner they did in offering Hightower a contract in the neighborhood of $32 million?

The Steelers didn’t just bring in Hightower for a visit for the heck of it. He visited with the Steelers for over seven hours last Tuesday as the Steelers at least tried to get him not to leave without a contract.

The Steelers are determined to draft an edge rusher at No. 30, and believe there will be multiple players available with proper value in that spot where they won’t have to reach.

There’s one inside linebacker, though, they really, really like.

Mike Tomlin is always drawn to Ohio State players and Ohio State’s Raekwon McMillan has impressed the Steelers in every facet on the field and off the field. They see McMillan not just as a dynamic player but a leader on and off the field who could run the defense for years to come. He’s a name gaining a lot of buzz.

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