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With free agency underway, I’m currently keeping a very close look at every mention of Dre Kirkpatrick, Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler on Twitter. As such, I’m seeing what a lot of NFL fans have to say about the Cincinnati Bengals’ big three free agents.
Also, I’ve noticed a ton of NFL fans Tweet at NFL players in hopes of swaying their free agency decisions...Which, is an interesting (and likely ineffective) approach.
The thing that has surprised me the most on Twitter in regards to the Bengals’ top three free agents is the number of Steelers fans who badly want Kirkpatrick to come to Pittsburgh. As much hate as Steelers fans have for the Bengals and as much trash as those fans talk about the Bengals, I wasn’t expecting to read about so much interest from those same fans. But, it seems Steelers fans are quite intrigued by the idea of Pittsburgh acquiring a player who has spent his entire career in Cincinnati.
Here’s a sampling of Steelers fans who are interested in Kirkpatrick.
Have my heart set on team signing Dre Kirkpatrick. @DreKirkSWAG Can play for Coach Tomlin, help win #StairwayTo7. I'll keep an open mind.
— Steel Legends (@Steel_Legends) March 8, 2017
Man, Dre Kirkpatrick is awesome. I'd love to have him. At what price, though? I've seen him absolutely shut down WR1.
— Chris (@ChrisPottsNY) March 8, 2017
@DreKirkSWAG so u tryna come play for the Kings of the North? You know what they say, if you cant beat em, join em.
— Bill Buttlicker (@dcouch02) March 8, 2017
Would love to see the @steelers to pick up Dre Kirkpatrick and then some defensive stud first round and James Conner as well. And a QB late
— Rich Stoklosa (@stoklosa79) March 7, 2017
@DreKirkSWAG sign with the Steelers. Bring that Swag to the Burgh. #pittsKIRKswag
— Rich Stoklosa (@stoklosa79) March 7, 2017
@SteelerDelivery signing Dre Kirkpatrick is best case.
— #ThaLastJedi (@AustinSporcic) March 7, 2017
Second player on the free agency wishlist: Dre Kirkpatrick, cornerback, Cincinnati Bengals. Hope we keep Cockrell however. #Steelers
— Patrick Henson Shaw (@Aliquickk) March 7, 2017
@Yinzburghs I'd agree. That may change this year though. I'd like to see us sign Dre Kirkpatrick although I'm not super hopeful.
— Dan Goldfarb (@degarts) March 7, 2017
I hope the Steelers draft 2 DBs. Unless the get Dre Kirkpatrick maybe 1.
— Kat (@katharry33) March 6, 2017
I know players like Pryor, maybe Marshall, and Gilmore will be out of #Steelers cap range. But I'd like to see them get Kirkpatrick/Garcon.
— Marc Bowers (@marcbowers7) March 8, 2017
Gilmore and Kirkpatrick to the Steelers would make my dream come true
— adrian (@AdrianTheGeat) March 8, 2017
There’s not much I’d like to see less than Kirkpatrick going to the Steelers. But, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Kirkpatrick is thought to be out of the Steelers' price range, so it seems many Pittsburgh fans will not be getting their wish.
Someone close to Kirkpatrick didn't deny potential interest when reached this week. But, even then, Kirkpatrick could command close to $10 million per year if the cornerback market shakes out how some people expect. I don't see the Steelers paying that for an outside player, at least not right now.
Would it make your “dreams come true” (like one Steelers fan says above) to have any of the Steelers’ free agents sign with the Bengals in 2017?
The Steelers' free agents are ILB Lawrence Timmons, CB Justin Gilbert, OLB Jarvis Jones, RB DeAngelo Williams, C Cody Wallace, TE David Johnson, DT Ricardo Mathews, WR Markus Wheaton, SS Shamarko Thomas, QB Landry Jones and QB Bruce Gradkowski.
Wheaton could be an interesting option, but it certainly wouldn’t make my dreams come true.