A 21-year-old has agreed to terms with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A 21-year-old has agreed to terms with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The NFL free agency period has begun, and we’re tracking every major signing, trade, and release of the 2023 offseason, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts. The new league season started on March 15 at 4 p.m. ET. The first round of the 2023 NFL draft begins on ESPN on April 27.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were active on the first day of the legal tampering period on March 13, when they agreed to terms with veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson. The 32-year-old Peterson, who had five interceptions in his second season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, will assist Pittsburgh in making up for the loss of Cameron Sutton, who agreed to terms with the Detroit Lions earlier on Monday.

On March 14, the Steelers agreed to terms with former New York Jets guard Nate Herbig, as well as re-signing safety Demontae Kazee and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi.

On March 16 and 17, the team agreed to terms with a pair of linebackers, bringing in former Commander Cole Holcomb and ex-Dolphin Elandon Roberts to help bolster the defense.

On March 18, Pittsburgh added veteran guard Isaac Seumalo to its offensive line with a three-year contract.

On March 25th, the team re-signed tight end Zach Gentry and signed veteran tackle Le’Raven Clark to a one-year contract.

Here’s a breakdown of the Steelers’ 2023 NFL free-agent signings and how they’ll affect the upcoming season:

Neal agreed to a two-year contract.

What it means: The Steelers signed Neal to add depth at safety, but the Falcons first-round pick in 2016 has starting experience. After starting 48 games in Atlanta, he moved on to one-year stints in Dallas and Tampa Bay. Neal, a free safety with linebacker experience, is expected to fill the role that Marcus Allen most recently held as a hybrid inside linebacker/safety with a prominent role on special teams.

What’s at stake: The Steelers appear to have chosen to bring in a new option to replace Allen rather than keep the free agent. And, while Allen’s immaturity cost the Steelers on the field at times, he did know the system, which Neal will have to learn from scratch. Still, it’s a low-risk signing that provides the Steelers with starter-caliber depth, which they’ve been vocal about this offseason.