The Steelers have their pass-rushing duo set with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. The pair combined for 26 sacks and 54 quarterback hits last season and helped power Pittsburgh's defense into the postseason.
However, it never hurts to have a third capable edge-rusher in a rotation, and the Steelers used Markus Golden in that role last year. The 32-year-old wasn't a massive contributor, but he did chip in four sacks, six tackles for loss and nine quarterback pressures.
Like Sullivan and Rudolph, Golden played on a team-friendly contract in 2023. The Steelers landed him with a one-year, $1.3 million deal, and his rotational production far exceeded his contract value.
In a typical offseason, retaining Golden at a budget-friendly price might be difficult. He's shown high-end ability in the past—producing double-digit-sack seasons in 2016, 2019 and 2021—and sack artists generally draw attention in free agency. However, this year's FA class is deep with pass-rushers.
From Chris Jones and Danielle Hunter to Josh Allen, Jonathan Greenard and Josh Uche, there is a pass-rusher to fill just about every need or scheme. This will keep the price down for pure rotational players like Golden—who is certainly worth re-signing on the cheap.
Contract Projection: One Year, $2.5 Million with $1.1 Million Guaranteed
