Finally, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a move in free agency after the 2021 NFL draft. They will be bringing in Melvin Ingram on a one-year deal to give TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith some help on the edge. This was a no-brainer move by the Steelers to bring in Ingram because the organization was not going to walk into the 2021 season one injury away from having Cassius Marsh or Quincey Roche being a starter at the outside linebacker position.
Not only do the Steelers realize Roche is coming into his rookie year, but they also must see he needs some more work before seeing the field. Insert a proven veteran who can teach up the young rookie throughout the year and eventually allow him to see the field in Pittsburgh down the road if everything works out.
Ingram knows the Steelers are bringing him in to be the starting reserve. He told ESPN after signing his deal his 'role will be his role' in Pittsburgh. Tomlin knows how Ingram plays football and loved it enough to sign him to a contract in Pittsburgh. He ended up telling Ingram to just come in and be himself because he knows what Melvin is capable of doing on the football field.
Coach Tomlin did meet with Melvin Ingram today and Ingram said Tomlin is a big-time players coach. Melvin said, "You can tell he's very involved and that's what stood out to me. He wants to win, and that is what I am on."
It sounds like Coach Tomlin had a strong impression on Melvin Ingram because the Chiefs and Dolphins were in on him too. Ingram ended up choosing the Pittsburgh Steelers in the end though. Ingram ended up only playing seven games with the Chargers last season due to a knee injury. He also failed to record a single sack last season which is the first time in his career.
Expect Ingram to be the first one in when Alex Highsmith or TJ Watt needs a breather and I still would expect him to at least see the field 15-20 times per game in 2021... That is if he can stay healthy. Highsmith should get the starting nod, but if he were to go down then I guarantee the Steelers wouldn't hesitate to give Ingram the starting role.