Steelers Free Agency 2013: Steelers interested in Beanie Wells
By Matt Shetler
One of the biggest needs for the Pittsburgh Steelers as the offseason has officially begun is the dire need to improve their porous running game from a season ago.
Even though last year’s leading rusher Jonathan Dwyer signed his tender as a restricted free agent, if Dwyer is the Steelers featured back in 2013, the team is likely in trouble.
Dec. 16, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA: Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells (26) against the Detroit Lions at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
I would expect to see the Steelers take a look at a few cheap options to improve in the backfield over the course of the next few weeks, as they don’t have nearly the salary cap space available to attract the likes of free agents Reggie Bush, Steven Jackson, Ahmad Bradshaw or any of the other top backs available.
One option could be Arizona Cardinals former featured back Beanie Wells.
Tim Kavanagh of ESPN.com is reporting that the Steelers are one of two teams to already show interest in the former Ohio State product, with the other being the Cincinnati Bengals, who have much more cap space.
Wells is only 24 and has averaged 4.0 yards per carry over his four-year NFL career and has found the end zone 24 times.
Out of those four seasons, Wells has only eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark one occasion (2011) and is coming off a season in which he gained only 234 yards on 88 carries (2.7 ypc).
Then there’s the fact that Wells has played in only 51 of a possible 64 regular season games due to injury.
The likely scenario is that all the top backs have to sign first in order for Wells to see what the market is for him, but in order for the Steelers to have a chance he would have to be willing to sign for around the veteran’s minimum, which is unlikely.
But maybe that’s a good thing for the Steelers as Wells is a slow back who runs in between the tackles and not very effectively at that.
The Steelers already have enough guys like Wells who don’t perform.
Keep checking back to City of Champions Sports for all of the wheeling’s and dealings now that free agency has begun.