PITTSBURGH -- For a team that traditionally combs through the clearance rack of free agency, even mildly aggressive spending caught the attention of Pittsburgh Steelers fans.
Pittsburgh used the tampering period to offer cornerback Steven Nelson $25.5 million over three years, the richest contract in franchise history for the first week of free agency. Then it doubled down with a complementary receiver, Donte Moncrief, at $9 million over two years. And after losing linebacker L.J. Fort to free agency, the Steelers thought bigger. Hybrid linebacker/safety Mark Barron has the pedigree of a former top-10 pick and got $12 million over two years from Pittsburgh after the Los Angeles Rams cut him.