Pittsburgh Steelers Rumors: LaMarr Woodley Cut, Free Agency Will Focus On Cornerbacks

Pittsburgh Steelers rumors are flying on the eve of free agency. Reports say the team is going after some big-name cornerbacks, but the first major move of the offseason came by subtraction.

Even though the Steelers have been seen as a defense-first team, the past few years they’ve been going more on reputation than results. Their defense let them down several times this year, leaving them at 8-8 and on the doorstep of the NFL playoffs.

In fact, as they go into the 2014 offseason, the Steelers have only three cornerbacks on their roster with meaningful playing time in the league.

Rumors have said that the Pittsburgh Steelers are looking after cornerback Nolan Carroll from the Dolphins, along with Tennessee’s Alterraun Verner and Carolina’s Captain Munnerlyn.

Verner is seen as the best cornerback in the free agency pack, with five interceptions in the 2013 season and a trip to the Pro Bowl. The fourth-year player could be a logical target, with ties to Steelers assistant coaches Mike Munchak and Carnell Lake.

But getting Verner won’t be cheap for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and rumors indicate that Munnerlyn and Carroll may be more cost-effective options.

Whoever joins the Steelers will join a team that just lost one of its biggest names. On Monday, the team cut outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley. He leaves the team ranked No. 5 on the all-time sack list for the franchise despite only seven years in the league. He also was the first player in NFL history to record 1.5 sacks or more in the playoffs, helping the Steelers win the Super Bowl in his second year in the league.

But Woodley has been plagued by injury, ending the 2013 season on injured reserve.

Fans who want to see if the Pittsburgh Steelers free agency rumors pan out don’t have to wait much longer. The free-agent signing period starts Tuesday at 4 pm ET.

[Picture via gridirongrit.com]