It’s that time of year again. The Steelers are about to hit the free agent signing period, a period when the black and gold typically concentrate on retaining their own players before they ever look to bring anyone in from outside the organization.
It’s also the time of year where the Steelers have found themselves strapped for cash and scrambling to make space under the cap to enable them to keep the players they want. So far the team has restructured the contracts of Marcus Gilbert, Mike Mitchell and Maurkice Pouncey, all in an effort to clear space to not only retain some key guys but also extend the contract of Big Ben for the long term.
The Steelers don’t find themselves with a lot of key free agents this off season but enough that will leave them with some decisions to make.
The primary free agents come from the Steelers linebacking corps, where they have three key guys. Jason Worilds, Arthur Moats and James Harrison are all set to hit the open market. The black and gold transition tagged Worilds last off season but won’t hit him with any kind of tag this year. Moats was brought in on a one year deal and Harrison was pulled out of retirement to help out when Jarvis Jones went down. I don’t see a way for the Steelers to keep all three of these players.
Many believe they will not bring Worilds back, I think that’s a mistake. Worilds has been their best OLB over the past two seasons and despite being the most expensive of the three players, he’s the most valuable. The Steelers desperately need the edge pass rusher and Worilds is that, recording 7.5 sacks last season. He’s still only 26 and continues to develop. It seems to me Worilds should be a priority though all indications are he’ll be allowed to walk.
Moats should also be brought back for depth purposes, but there’s a real chance the Steelers think he can replace Worilds as a starter and will bring him back to do so, since he’s cheaper. I’d like him back, but not to start.
Harrison, the fan favorite, has announced he will hold off on retirement. He really won’t have other options, it’s Pittsburgh or nothing for him. Harrison was productive last season, but I think it’s time to move on without him, for a second time.
Now, should the team not bring back both Worilds and Moats, then I think a case can be made for Harrison to return. To me, it’s senseless to bring back the aging veteran who’s playing time would detract from the development of young talent. The Steelers must develop the young guys, so Harrison should only be brought back if the two 26 year olds, Moats and Worilds leave. That said, I think Harrison will be allowed to return, and at the veteran minimum, which is the biggest upside of the deal.
Also on the defensive side of the ball, there are five defensive backs who are free agents and a decision on Troy Polamalu looms as well. The secondary was the weakest link on the team last year and they desperately need an upgrade on that unit. Honestly, if none of the following five come back, it’s not the end of the world. Also, should the Steelers cut Troy Polamalu, it’s not going to hurt them either. Unfortunately he’s not what he once was and is probably not worth the money he’s owed. He hasn’t said he’d retire, so the black and gold face a very difficult decision.
Ike Taylor is a free agent and should not and will not be brought back. Ike had several great years as the teams’ top CB but it’s time to move on.
Brice McCain and Antwon Black both filled in nicely last season due to injuries and horrible play by the guys in front of them and they did more than their share. Now they’re both free to walk and to expect them to repeat what they did last year is unrealistic but to give one or both of these guys a 2 year deal to come back and give it a chance, makes sense to me. I’d sign only one, but won’t be concerned if both return. I expect the Steelers will keep one, they are interchangeable so it doesn’t matter which.
The safety position will see Will Allen and Robert Golden become free agents as well. I believe Allen played pretty well when filling in for Troy Polamalu and is actually a better pass defender than Polamalu is. I believe the team should and will bring Allen back for at least one more season and perhaps two. Golden was a special teams captain and while he doesn’t do much when the defense is out there, he’s certainly worth bringing back, on the cheap, to play on special teams again.
The offense also has a few free agents, none of whom are extremely important or necessarily bring a lot of value to the team. They include WR Darrius Heyward Bey, TE Matt Spaeth, TE Michael Palmer and FB Will Johnson.
Of these guys, I’m an advocate of bringing Johnson back, he’s a good full back and has some blocking value, he won’t carry the ball, but for blocking it’s worth his return. That said, he’s easily replaceable if the team and player can’t come to terms. I do think the team will bring Johnson back.
I’d probably let the other three go. Heyward Bey did nothing last year and is not worth a dime, Spaeth isn’t worth the one million he was paid and doesn’t catch the ball and Palmer is replaceable as he’s only used to block. Of these three, I think the Steelers will bring Palmer back and let the other two walk.
All in all, the team is fortunate enough to not have many big name free agents this off season but they still have tough decisions to make. As we get closer to the March 10th start of free agency, the picture will be a little bit clearer on which direction the Steelers plan to take.
Mike Pelaia hosts the website Steel Nation Association www.steelnationassociation.com- Covering the Steelers and helping Children’s Hospital All Day Everyday. You can e-mail him at mike@steelnationassociation.com.
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