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Steelers lose out on Hightower, Add WR Justin Hunter

By Tyler Donaldson

Nov 27, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Justin Hunter (17) jumps to catch a ball for a touchdown defended by Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey (20) and strong safety Johnathan Cyprien (37) during the second half at New Era Field. Buffalo defeated Jacksonville 28-21. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Justin Hunter (17) jumps to catch a ball for a touchdown defended by Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey (20) and strong safety Johnathan Cyprien (37) during the second half at New Era Field. Buffalo defeated Jacksonville 28-21. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Steelers have been relatively quiet during free agency outside of resigning Antonio Brown. Pittsburgh has been in the hunt for plenty of big names free agents. But with a limited cap space, they haven’t been able to land most of those names.

No name may have been bigger than Dont’a Hightower. The inside linebacker was heavily linked to the Steelers in the past few weeks. However, in the end, Hightower chose to stay with the Patriots for a big money deal.

Although Hightower would have helped the Steelers after Lawrence Timmons departure, his price tag was a hefty one. And the Steelers need all the cap flexibility they can get with Le’Veon Bell’s inevitable contract extension coming up.

Steelers sign Justin Hunter to 1-year contract

Despite losing out on a big fish, the Steelers did manage to reel in a small one in Justin Hunter. The former Bills wide receiver has been a journeyman since being drafted in the second round by the Titans in 2014.

Hunter is pegged as a vertical threat with great speed and height. Hunter hasn’t quite lived up to his potential in recent years. But he won’t be asked to be a starter or game changer as he was in previous offenses with the Bills and Titans.

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Hunter will get a chance to compliment Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, and Eli Rogers in what was already the league’s most dangerous receiving corps despite losing Marcus Wheaton to Chicago. With Hunter joining the offense and Bryant hopefully being reinstated soon, Ben Roethlisberger will look to recapture some of the big playmaking ability he looked to lack last season.

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