Steelers bring back Williams
LB re-signs after being cap casualty
One month after releasing him, the Steelers are re-signing veteran Vince Williams to help fix the hole at inside linebacker, sources have confirmed to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The Steelers saved $4 million by releasing Williams, but they are bringing him back on a lower salary because they were razor thin at inside linebacker with Devin Bush, Robert Spillane and Marcus Allen the only players under contract for next season. Exact terms of the deal were not immediately known.
Williams, 31, has played his entire career with the Steelers. A sixth-round pick in 2013, Williams has played in 121 games with 69 starts, including 14 last season. He is the best run defender among the inside linebackers, but is often subbed out for a better pass defender when the Steelers play in sub packages.
Williams recorded 70 tackles last season, including 14 for loss, and added three sacks.
Inside linebacker was a glaring need without Williams, but this move reduces the likelihood the Steelers will use a high draft pick on one later this month. The most glaring needs on defense entering the draft now are at outside linebacker and the secondary.
The Steelers need a reserve outside linebacker to play behind starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. They also need to add at least one corner with Steven Nelson and Mike Hilton departing. Hilton signed with the Bengals and Nelson was released in another cost-savings move.
The Steelers also agreed to terms with quarterback Josh Dobbs, giving them three quarterbacks on their roster whose contracts are set to expire after the 2021 season.
Dobbs served as the third-string quarterback last season and figures to compete for that role again next season.
Ben Roethlisberger will return as the starter after he agreed to a $5 million pay cut earlier this spring. Mason Rudolph is the backup and Dobbs and Dwayne Haskins will battle for the final roster spot among quarterbacks.
Haskins, a first-round pick of the Washington Football Team in 2019, signed a futures contract with the Steelers in January.
Dobbs was a fourthround pick of the Steelers in 2017. He played in five games in 2018 when he earned the backup job during training camp. He played in one game last season, serving as the backup in the regular season finale against the Browns when Roethlisberger rested.
Dobbs returned to the Steelers last season after he was traded to Jacksonville in 2019, when Rudolph beat him out for the backup job.
Dobbs is 10 for 17 for 45 yards and one interceptions in his NFL career.