Timmons, 8 others likely to be set free
By the time the NFL free agency began last year, the Steelers already had signed four of their impending unrestricted free agents. Unless a deal is struck before 4 p.m. Thursday the Steelers’ nine unrestricted free agents this year will be free to determine their market value by negotiating with other teams.
Last year the Steelers signed backup receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and backup safety Robert Golden two days before free agency began and starting offensive lineman Ramon Foster and starting cornerback William Gay one day before they were to become free agents. After they took care of their own free agents, they made a splash by signing tight end Ladarius Green to a fouryear, $20 million contract.
But this is a different year and different circumstances. For the first time in a long time, the Steelers have the money (about $21 million under the salary cap, according to the NFLPA) to spend big in free agency if they wish. By not yet coming to terms with their own free agents yet, the Steelers at the very least have the option to explore contracts with free agents from other teams.
Of the Steelers’ nine unrestricted free agents, only one was a full-time starter last season. Lawrence Timmons, who has started every game for the past six seasons at inside linebacker, will turn 31 in May, and the Steelers have indicated they will allow him to test free agency. Timmons, according to ESPN, will visit the Miami Dolphins soon after free agency begins.
Many of the other eight unrestricted free agents are in the same boat. The Steelers appear willing to let them see what’s out there before deciding if they want to offer contracts.
In addition to Timmons, receiver Markus Wheaton, quarterback Landry Jones, linebacker Jarvis Jones, running back DeAngelo Williams, safety Shamarko Thomas, defensive lineman Ricardo Mathews, offensive lineman Cody Wallace and tight end David Johnson are unrestricted, meaning the Steelers don’t have the right to match offers if they want to keep them.
The Steelers have two restricted free agents — starting cornerback Ross Cockrell and versatile backup offensive lineman Chris Hubbard. Both were offered the lowest level right of first refusal tenders, which this year is $1.67 million. Both players are free to negotiate with other teams, but the Steelers retain the right to match any offers.
Timmons will command the highest price among the Steelers’ unrestricted free agents.
He has played all 10 of his NFL seasons with the Steelers and has started 126 games, but the team declined to extend his contract last summer and instead signed veteran backup linebacker Vince Williams to a three-year, $5.5 million contract.
Williams will take over as a bridge starter if Timmons signs elsewhere, but the Steelers remain open to bringing Timmons back at the right price. After not performing to expectations in 2015, Timmons bounced back with a team-leading 114 tackles, 2½ sacks, 2 interceptions and a forced fumble last season.
If the Steelers don’t resign Timmons they would have plenty of money to spend on an outside free agent to address cornerback, outside linebacker or receiver, the three positions that are considered their biggest areas of need.
Cornerback could be the biggest area of need given the situation with Cockrell.
If another team signs Cockrell and the Steelers don’t want to match the offer they could be in search of two cornerbacks because Gay struggled late last season and might not return.
For those reasons, the Steelers have been connected to some free-agent cornerbacks, including Dre Kirkpatrick of division rival Cincinnati.
The 2012 first-round pick earned $7.7 million in the final year of his rookie contract last season.
But spending freely in free agency would be out of character for the Steelers.