Deal or No Deal: Steelers Free Agent Edition

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Jayson Erwin. Follow him on Twitter @JaysonErwin2002

Deal or No Deal: Steelers Edition

The Steelers have a total of 22 players on expiring contracts and may or may not be joining the fray unless they get signed before the March 16th deadline. Some aren't a big deal and some may be important to keep around for a bit longer. While the bigger players for the Steelers have been re-signed like T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Diontae Johnson, there remains a few players the Steelers should at least attempt to get their name signed on the bottom of contracts. But there are also some the Steelers should just let walk. Let's call up Howie Mandel and countdown the players the Steelers should say "deal" to and the players the Steelers should say "no deal!"

Deal: CB Cameron Sutton

Cameron Sutton continues to be an underrated part of the Steelers defense. But to be fair, he's surrounded by Watt, Fitzpatrick, and Cam Heyward. But credit to the former Tennessee Volunteer, he had a great season and shows to be getting better with a career-high three interceptions this season and 15 defended passes, sixth highest in the league! With the rumors going around the Steelers would likely be targeting defensive backs in the draft, wouldn't it be smart to keep around the corner who has been with the system since being drafted in 2017 and only getting better each year? Well, I think so!

No Deal: LB Devin Bush

I was praying Bush was going to show he is still a great linebacker and the torn ACL was the reason he underperformed last year. But unfortunately, that's not the case. While he's had a few good games, it's not at the play level the Steelers need him to be. The run defense hasn't been the best from him and with a league of more elite running backs coming out, especially in the AFC North, that needs to be essential with play. And the Steelers organization has taken notice with them declining his 5th-year option last year and right now, Devin Bush jerseys are on sale at the Steelers official pro shop. If the Steelers do want to re-sign Bush, I wouldn't expect a big payday. It's unfortunate too, especially since the Steelers traded up for him and the Steelers rarely do big trades like that so it may dismay them from taking risks like that again that could be good for the team. 

Deal: FB Derek Watt

Fullbacks don't get a lot of credit in today's NFL but when they're needed, they got to be able to execute. And Watt has done just that! Blocking, running, receiving. He's been there. Including being one of the few fullbacks who has caught a touchdown and ran in for a touchdown. Plus a little family love never hurt anybody with T.J. Watt being there too. And with the run game picking up, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Keep Watt around and incorporate him more in the offense, Matt Canada!

No Deal: DL Tyson Alualu

Alualu has been on the decline and just isn't as good as he was for the Steelers in 2019-2020. Despite playing 291 snaps, he's only generated 11 total tackles and 1 sack and he is aging at 35 years old. While he is a 13-year veteran, he's still not worth the money to keep around. Hate to say it considering he is a nice guy, but with a lot of talented defensive linemen contracts expiring around the league, like Fletcher Cox, Yannick Ngakoue, and former Steeler Javon Hargrave, it's not worth keeping Alualu around. 

Deal: S Terrell Edmunds

Edmunds has been a split decision for a lot of fans. However, I believe he deserves a deal. Edmunds has been good when it comes to blitzing which allows Minkah to play centerfield. The duo of Edmunds and Fitzpatrick has proven to be dangerous. If Edmunds can pick up the slack on coverage, the duo will only get stronger. And Edmunds is getting better so why wouldn't we resign him? I wouldn't expect a big contract but something that can service Edmunds for the time being as his bigger days are on the up and up.

No Deal: QB Mason Rudolph

Honestly, if the Steelers even offered Rudolph a deal, he wouldn't even want it. Rudolph has made it clear he doesn't want to return to Pittsburgh and to be fair, the Steelers did do him a little dirty the past season. With Roethlisberger retiring, Rudolph looked to finally take the starting job. That was until the Steelers signed Mitch Trubisky in free agency and drafted Kenny Pickett. Even then Rudolph still looked the best in training camp and still didn't start once in the regular season. The Steelers have major trust issues with Rudolph. He went 5-4-1 as a starter and has a touchdown-interception ratio of 13:10. Which is his career in a nutshell in Pittsburgh, honestly. Some highlights, but inconsistent play which is likely where the trust issues came from. It's at this point that both parties will be better off going their separate ways. The Steelers can develop Kenny Pickett, and Mason Rudolph can try to become a starter elsewhere - and honestly this is the season to do it as a lot of teams have needs for a quarterback. 

Whether the Steelers decide to re-sign the players listed or not, we wish good luck to all players listed and the ones who also have expiring contracts and a thank you for being with the black and gold and further good luck wherever your career goes from here.