Do you trust reports from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network? If so, you will likely enjoy his latest Saturday Twitter report.
According to Rapoport, the Pittsburgh Steelers are ‘in the mix” for Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent on March 9, the start of the new league year. Rapoport also claims that the Tennessee Titans are “in the mix” for Kirkpatrick as well.
Personally, I can’t see the Steelers going after one of the higher-priced free agent cornerbacks this year and that’s exactly what Kirkpatrick will wind up being. At 27 years of age and being a former first-round draft pick who has produced some during his first five years in the league, Kirkpatrick is sure to have several suitors come the start of free agency.
If the Steelers did indeed ultimately sign Kirpatrick, he would likely wind up being the second-highest paid player on the defensive side of the football. Think about that for a minute.
Speaking to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, the Bengals’ director of player personnel, Duke Tobin, said the team would make an effort to keep Kirkpatrick in Cincinatti. Kirkpatrick has registered 38 defensed passes and 9 interceptions in his first five years in the league.
In short, if Kirkpatrick doesn’t re-sign with the Bengals, I don’t expect he’ll sign with the Steelers.
