Analyzing What Steelers Should Do With Their Own Free Agents

Story by Yinzer Crazy Steelers Expert Adam Lovelace. Follow him on Twitter @98_lovelace

As they head into the 2023 offseason the Pittsburgh Steelers sit at just over $1 Million in cap space, with holes on their roster that cannot be filled through the draft alone. They also have several key free agents they are going to have to make tough decisions on in order to stay under the cap, and build the best roster possible.

Terrell Edmunds is the first of the free agents, and there should be no debate. When it comes to re-signing Edmunds, the Steelers should do whatever they can to keep in Pittsburgh. He has shown incredible improvement in coverage and the work he did in the run game was better than any linebacker on the team. Re-sign Edmunds, end of story.

Now, to get to the obvious, Devin Bush will not be a Pittsburgh Steeler come free agency period in March. He made just over $4 Million dollars last year, and his projected market value sits around $3 Million, and he doesn't feel worth that investment. With only 44 solo tackles and 0 forced fumbles, sacks, or interceptions its time the Steelers to admit their mistake in the former #10 overall pick. 

For another oblivious decision, Cam Sutton will undoubtedly resign in 2023. His versatility as both a slot and outside corner make him the most valuable free agent for the Steelers considering their struggles at that spot in recent heres. He was the bright spot for the corner group and needs to remain in the black and gold. His calculated marking value sits at over $7 million a year, but I would certainly be okay with the Steelers paying a little over the market price to secure their cornerback group.

After these three easy choices, the Steelers get to a more precarious portion of their roster. Larry Ogunjobi, Derek Watt, Tyson Alualu, Marcus Allen, Robert Spillane, Malik Reed, Chris Wormley, Demontae Kazee, Steven Sims Jr,  Benny Snell Jr, James Pierre, and Zach Gentry are all free agents this offseason.  In my mind, here is how I believe things should play out, from the easiest calls, to the hardest.

Lack of production on the part of Reed and Quincy Roche coming on as a futures contract makes it easy to see how the Steelers let Malik Reed walk in free agency. As for a guy like Benny Snell Jr, the emergence of Jaylen Warren makes it hard to justify signing Snell to another contract despite his contributions on special teams. Snell, while not the most talented back on the roster, is solid, and would probably want to explore the possibility of being a top 2 back on a team.

Tyson Alualu feels like another player that it would make too much sense for the Steelers to part ways with.. Alualu was a solid member of the Steelers interior defensive line for many years, but after coming off an injury and being 35 years old, there is really no reason that Alualu gets another contract unfortunately.

Chris Wormley is personally the hardest choice on this list. Wormley has become a fan favorite and one of my personal favorite players. His production in Pittsburgh was much needed, but due to his recent ACL injury his being almost 30, makes it hard to see what the Steelers do. Personally, I hope he remains a Steeler even if he starts the season on IR. Only time will tell how he recovers from his knee injury, but unfortunately I could see Wormley not returning to the team in 2023.

The players I feel fall into the same category are Spillane, Watt, Pierre, Sims, and Gentry. They have all had productive moments as a part of the Steelrs, but are far from key pieces. Watt (Derek to be specific) feels like the easiest cut out of the group. Fullbacks should not command a ton of salary cap hit, but it feels much easier to draft one or find a cheap one in March. He feels aging and expensive, and it often feels like the Steelers forget he is on their roster.

Gentry, although a fan favorite and a close friend of Friermuth, feels like another piece the Steelers shouldn’t have too hard a time to let walk. He does have skill as a pass catcher and a blocker, but it feels like they could again find his replacement in the draft or free agency. On a team friendly deal I don’t mind bringing him back, but he can’t be a hill the Steelers or their fans should die on.

Pierre, Sims and Spillane are all a bit harder. Pierre has had some great performances as a corner in the past two years, but has had equally frustrating performances. The Steelers need reliability at the corner spot and it often feels as though you never know what to expect with Pierre. He falls into the category of “only on a team friendly deal” as well. 

Sims speed in the patented Canada jet-sweeps does feel like a nice guy to keep on board, but he was only active because Calvin Austin III was not healthy. So it could go either way. Spillane is the toughest of the bunch. He seems to feel as though he could be a starting linebacker in the NFL, and oftentimes the Steelers don’t feel the same. I could see Spillane returning to his back up role, but would not be surprised if he made the choice to go try and be the starter somewhere else.

Larry Ogunjobi and Deomate Kazee feel like the two hardest choices the Steelers will have to make. Larry O fills the biggest need at the interior defensive line spot, and should not be too expensive. While Kaboly believes Larry O moves on, I think he is going to be a priority for the Steelers this offseason. I wouldn’t overpay for him, but I would try and work with whatever he asks for. As it comes to Kazee, he seems to want to be a Steeler, and gives the Steelers the chance to have 3 safeties on the field at once. If he is willing to take a little less than some other teams, I want him back on the squad. He makes the secondary much better.

These moves would allow to clear up a little cap space for a bigger swing in free agency this year, which I will handle in a different article, but this is just how I see the situation playing out. I do think the Steelers need to make the hard choices. They are going to have to part ways with guys they have typically been loyal too in order to make the best roster possible.