The very first report of interest in one of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ own free agents from outside the organization has just surfaced courtesy of Jim Wyatt, who originally reported the Steelers’ interest in Alterraun Verner.
According to Wyatt, defensive end Al Woods is scheduled to visit with the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday. The Steelers are believed to consider Woods one of their most important free agents to retain.
Also, considering some of the contracts already given out, such as the money received by former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Tyson Jackson, filling the hole at defensive end for the Steelers via outside free agency may not be as easy as originally thought.
The Steelers, of course, have two other defensive ends in the free agent market, both of them with vast starting experience. Ziggy Hood and Brett Keisel—separated in age by the better part of a decade—have been integral to the Steelers’ defensive line for the last few seasons.
It’s unclear what degree of interest or importance the Steelers place on retaining either of these two players. Some believe that Hood is most likely to go to a 4-3 team that would allow him to play defensive tackle, rather than defensive end in a 3-4 system, and could command a $3 million a year salary.
Keisel, meanwhile, has said recently that while he wishes to continue to play, and would like to play his entire career in Pittsburgh, he has not heard from the Steelers. While that doesn’t eliminate him from being in play, it does suggest that he is not a top priority, or the first option as the starter.
