Pittsburgh Steelers March Madness ‘25: Chipped Ham Bracket, Round 2 free agency trades

Football News

It’s Day 3 of the second round of Steelers March Madness 2025. This year’s theme is front office moves. Choose which moments advance to the Sweet 16. And if you missed out on voting on the other brackets this week, check out DAY 1 & DAY 2

Let’s get to today’s matchups.

CHIPPED HAM BRACKET

Chipped Ham Bracket ‘25, round 2

1 seed: April 5, 2002 – Signed free agent linebacker James Farrior

(Signed a three-year, $5.4 million deal)

Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Farrior was the 8th overall pick in the 1997 draft, but the Jets used him as an outside linebacker. New York was not interested in extending him after his rookie contract, despite putting up career numbers in 2001. Farrior says he received no other offers besides Pittsburgh. He went on to start 154 games at inside linebacker.

9 seed: March 17, 2023 – Signed free agent linebacker Elandon Roberts

(signed two-year, $7 million deal)

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

The Steelers completely overhauled their inside linebackers in 2023, saying goodbye to Myles Jack, Devin Bush, and Robert Spillane. In came Roberts, who said he had waited his entire career to play for Pittsburgh and Mike Tomlin. He’s played in 33 games so far, starting 29.

Poll

Better Front Office Move?

98%

1: Farrior signing

(50 votes)

9: Elandon Roberts signing

(1 vote)

51 votes total

Vote Now

2 seed: March 8, 2001 – Signed free agent center Jeff Hartings

(signed a six-year, $24.2 million deal)

Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Former general manager Kevin Colbert was with Detroit when the Lions drafted Hartings. Although Hartings played guard in the NFL, Colbert knew he could play center, and replace the retiring Dermotti Dawson. Hartings went on to make two Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team during his 89 starts in Pittsburgh.

10 seed: March 13, 2015 – Signed free agent running back DeAngelo Williams

(signed a two-year, $4 million deal)

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Pittsburgh needed a running back in 2015. Le’Veon Bell was facing up to a four-game suspension to start the season. Williams ultimately started ten games that year, scoring a league-leading 11 touchdowns. He was needed to open the 2016 season as well, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 1. Williams appeared in 25 games in total over two seasons.

Poll

Better Front Office Move?

90%

2: Hartings signing

(45 votes)

10%

10: DeAngelo Williams signing

(5 votes)

50 votes total

Vote Now

3 seed: August 30, 2017 – Signed free agent cornerback Joe Haden

(signed a three-year, $27 million deal)

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Haden was a two-time Pro Bowler in Cleveland. But the Browns were looking to trade him after he reportedly became the worst-looking defensive back in their camp. Instead, Cleveland released him. Within hours, Pittsburgh scooped him up and he became the Steelers’ starter for the next 68 games.

11 seed: June 17, 2002 – Signed free agent quarterback Charlie Batch

(signed a one-year, $525,000 deal)

Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

Detroit cut Batch due to salary cap reasons, plus their investment in Joey Harrington. Batch received multiple offers, but took less money to play for his hometown Steelers. He stayed in Pittsburgh for 11 years, playing in 33 games and starting in nine.

Poll

Better Front Office Move?

53%

3: Haden signing

(26 votes)

46%

11: Batch signing

(23 votes)

49 votes total

Vote Now

4 seed: August 20, 1970 – Traded for defensive end Dwight White’s pick

(traded Roy Jefferson to Baltimore for Willie Richardson and 1971 4th round pick (Dwight White).

Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Before the 1970 season, Roy Jefferson was the best player in Pittsburgh, but he was a vocal critic of head coach Chuck Noll, so the Steelers went shopping. Trading the team’s star was controversial at the time, but all would eventually be forgiven when the fourth-round pick that Pittsburgh received in the trade turned into future Hall of Honor defensive end Dwight White.

12 seed: March 13, 2019 – Traded away receiver Antonio Brown

(traded Antonio Brown to Raiders for 2019 3rd round pick (66th overall, Diontae Johnson) and 2019 5th round pick (141st overall, Zach Gentry))

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The writing was on the wall when Brown ditched practice at the most important point of the season. The drama thickened when a potential trade to Buffalo was called off at the 11th hour. Finally, Kevin Colbert and Mr. Big Chest found a suitable trade partner in Oakland. Initially seen as a loss for Pittsburgh, the trade has to be seen as at least a partial win as it led to the third-round selection of another top-ten all-time Steelers receiver, Diontae Johnson.