Steelers Could Target Familiar Friend in Free Agency

Originally appeared at Steelers Now: Steelers Could Target Familiar Friend in Free Agency

The Pittsburgh Steelers look poised to target the offensive line in free agency and the NFL Draft. There are needs at tackle and center, and while one of those could be addressed in the NFL Draft, it seems likely that another will be, at least, somewhat addressed in the free agency period.

Given how much the team values versatility and familiarity, there is someone on the market who makes sense. Former Steelers offensive lineman Chris Hubbard. Bleacher Report believes he would make a great target, and a void could be filled along with it.

“An aging veteran who has experience as a swing tackle could be a worthwhile investment,” they wrote. “Chris Hubbard played that role for the Titans this season and was one of their better-graded linemen via PFF’s metrics. He scored a 69.0 on 473 snaps.”

Undrafted out of the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Hubbard was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent in 2013. He played four seasons in Pittsburgh and started ten games his final season, but ultimately signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2018.

Hubbard spent five seasons in Cleveland, ranging from a starter to a backup. He was the starting right tackle for the team in 2018 and 2019, but Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills pushed him out of that job. Still, Hubbard remained on the roster as a critical swing tackle for the Browns and plugged into the rotation several times whenever injuries would pop up for both Conklin and Wills. In 2020, Hubbard had surgery on his knee after dislocating his kneecap in December, forcing him to miss the rest of the season at that point.

Hubbard did not only play tackle but also guard in both stops. 32 years old, Hubbard has been in the league for nearly a decade at this point, carving out a solid career for any NFL player. The Titans needed plenty of tackle depth this season, and so he joined their roster. But Pittsburgh could be a landing spot for the veteran.