Steelers sign OT Ryan Harris

2 year 3.9 mill is pretty cheap for a tackle.. Much cheaper than what Okung would've been and less injury prone.

Quote :

The Pittsburgh Steelers added depth and possibly a starter to their offensive tackle group by signing Ryan Harris to a two-year contract for a reported $3.9 million Tuesday.

The move signified a farewell to Kelvin Beachum, who was close to signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Beachum was a seventh-round draft pick by the Steelers in 2012. He started five games at right tackle as a rookie before starting 34 regular-season games and one playoff game at left tackle from 2013-15.

Beachum suffered a torn ACL in the sixth game last season and was placed on IR. He was replaced at left tackle by first-year player Alejandro Villanueva, who started the final 10 games in the regular season and then both playoff games.

Harris provides the Steelers with competition for Villanueva, while both can also play right tackle for starter Marcus Gilbert if needed.

Full article http://www.scout.com/nfl/steelers/story/1652067-steelers-sign-ot-harris?preview=true

Solid depth move. I like that he can play both positions.

Yeah, I guess he is veteran insurance and will compete for a starting spot. He played pretty solid last season for Denver, but I recall earlier in his career he was a turnstile in some games.

Paying big money to Gilbert, Decastro, Pouncey....I wanted Okung but maybe spend it elsewhere. I'd like to see Rashad Johnson at safety, but something tells me he is gonna get paid by the Titans.

I guess this means the Okung offer is off the table? Or Okung informed the Steelers that he isn't planning on signing?

Not sure if he's instantly a starter....I think he's brought in more to take over mike Adam's role as primary backup....but we'll see how camp goes.

Not sure now what they do in the 1st round OL might be back in play.

This is more in line with what I was hoping. Ladarius Green was the only big contract I wanted to see come from FA and its looking to be the case. 5 year deal for Weddle @ the Ravens? Lets see if the old guy can last 5 in the AFCN. Personally I'm loving this offseason, Steelers are forcing their own hand to draft a Safety/DL/CB by taking care of TE and depth at tackle.

And yeah I'd rather build Safety through the draft. Weddle would have been a stud for a few years and he'll probably ball out for The Ravens for 2-3 but were not a band aid team. We chose to target a TE whose a matchup problem with large upside and since have stayed pretty quiet. Its like what we did with DeAngelo last FA. Meanwhile our hated rivals are overpaying as what seens to be a knee-jerk reaction from the 5-11 hit last season.

I like the Steelers longevity in the North more now.

SUPERBOWL!

Solid depth move. I like it!

Chris Adamski ✔‎@C_AdamskiTrib

For those of you into these sorts of things, Ryan Harris rated as the NFL's 53rd OT last year by @PFF; Alejandro Villanueva 51st.

10:49 AM - 15 Mar 2016

I'm not ruling out an OT in round 1. If someone like Taylor Decker is there at #25, don't be shocked.

Okung is offered as a starting LT. Harris is signed for depth. We would be in trouble if Harris wins the starting job as it means LT would be a big weakness. The good thing is that Pouncey is back so Foster can focus on helping Villanueva in pass protection. Villanueva better grows up quickly. It's hard to not root for him.

I think Villanueva is our starter. Harris is depth for the line. Villanueva played well enough to warrant a chance to start again, and he has yet to hit his ceiling, I feel he still has a lot of room to grow as a player and be far better than he's been. Harris is a guy that I feel has already hit his ceiling.

Villanueva played well last year imo. I'm cool with him being the starter heading into 2017

START ADAMS!

DIRECT COMPETITION

When the Steeler signed Denver veteran free agent left tackle Ryan Harris last week, it wasn't to anoint him the starter. It was to provide “direct competition” for Alejandro Villanueva, who started 10 games last year for the injured Kelvin Beachum.

“He knows how to play. He started at left tackle. He has also started at guard and at right tackle. He will provide great competition for the left tackle spot,” Colbert said of Harris. “Whoever doesn't win the spot will provide great depth.”

Harris started all 19 games, including the Super Bowl, for the Broncos last year filling in for the injured Ryan Clady.

http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/10179921-74/colbert-steelers-free