Free agency begins from within
To keep or not? Big decisions await
Like most seasons, the Steelers will not be active players in free agency — at least, not in terms of pursuing outside players.
But they will be very active deciding what to do with 19 unrestricted free agents — one of their highest totals in recent memory — a list that includes nine players who were either starters or major contributors in 2020.
One of the decisions is fairly obvious: The Steelers are in no position to re-sign outside linebacker Bud Dupree, not with big money earmarked for outside partner T.J. Watt. Nor will be they be able to place the franchise tag on him again. The reduced salary cap will preclude that from happening, especially with a projected price tag of $14.5 million for outside linebackers in 2021.
The biggest decision will involve wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, a player they would like to retain under ideal circumstances but someone who might be seeking to make a bigger strike in free agency.
While some NFL people may not view Smith-Schuster as a true No. 1 receiver, his 97 catches in 2020 and 1,427 receiving yards in 2018 make him a valuable commodity in the free agent market, especially at age 25. The Steelers, though, view Smith-Schuster as their modern-day Hines Ward — tough, physical, dependable, surehanded — the type of player they would like to retain
Then there is a matter of what to do with James Conner, whose production and reliability have dropped drastically since he made the Pro Bowl in his first season as the starter in 2018. But that shouldn’t be a difficult decision.
If the Steelers are committed to fixing their running game, which they are intent on doing, then the likelihood of Conner returning is slim at best. They will not only change their scheme and technique with new offensive coordinator Matt Canada and offensive line coach Adrian Klemm, they will change their personnel, as well.
Which leads us to the offensive line,
Left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, who has started 90 consecutive games since 2015, is 33 and will not be re-signed. His cap number in 2020 was $8.3 million.
The Steelers are in position to re-sign guard Matt Feiler, 29, who earned $3.25 million last season, but only if they move him back to his best position at right tackle. That would allow the Steelers several options, including moving Chukwuma Okorafor to left tackle and/or drafting a tackle early in the draft.
They can also re- sign tackle Zach Banner, who missed nearly the entire 2020 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Banner won’t cost a lot of money in a one-year deal. A lot of that, though, is predicated on the Steelers signing a veteran center in free agency to replace retired Maurkice Pouncey, thereby eliminating that need in the draft.
After that, most of their decisions will come on defense. Here’s what they are likely to do with each of the other significant UFAs:
Tyson Alualu: The veteran
nose tackle will be 34 and plays only 43 percent of the snaps, but he is a solid runstopper and a capable sub-package defensive end. With little proven depth on the defensive line, his cost should not prohibit him from returning.
Mike Hilton: The Steelers paid their top nickelback $3.25 million on a one-year deal in 2020, which isn’t a lot of money for a player who makes a lot of plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. But Hilton does not do the same in coverage, where he is picked on repeatedly because of his small stature. This might come down to which type of player the Steelers want more — Hilton or Cam Sutton?
Cam Sutton: Their former No. 3 draft choice in 2017 could become something of a rarity — a drafted cornerback who receives a second contract from the Steelers. Sutton might not be as good along the line of scrimmage as Hilton, but he is better in coverage as a slot corner and more suited to play outside in case of an injury. If it comes down to one or the other, Sutton might be the winner.
Chris Wormley: The Steelers got little production from the defensive end they acquired from the Baltimore Ravens, partly because of injuries. Wormley played only 14.5 percent of the snaps and registered one sack, one tackle for loss and three quarterback hits, meager numbers for a player who cost $2.13 million on a one-year deal last season. Because of a lack of productive depth, the Steelers could go either way on this one.
Avery Williamson: The Steelers traded a fifth-round pick in November to acquire the inside linebacker from the New York Jets after injuries to Devin Bush and backup Robert Spillane. A lot of what they will do with Williamson could depend on what the Steelers do with veteran Vince Williams, 32, who is scheduled to count $7,031,668 against the salary cap in 2021. Williams is a very good run-stopper who is a liability in coverage, but he is also a good complement to the faster and more mobile Devin Bush. Nonetheless, Williamson is likely to get more on the free agent market as a former starter than the Steelers would be willing to pay him to be a backup. Do not expect him back.
Jordan Dangerfield: The backup safety is a special-teams standout who has been playing on a series of one-year contracts with minimal salary damage. Expect the same again.
Jordan Berry: This will be curious if nothing else. The Steelers released their fiveyear punter when they signed veteran Dustin Colquitt before the 2020 season, but brought him back in Week 6 after Colquitt struggled. Berry responded with one of his best seasons, averaging a career-high 45.8 yards on 57 punts. But the Steelers have strong-legged Corliss Waitman waiting to be unleashed after spending last season on the practice squad.