Steelers 2021 Free Agents list

[Born2Steel]

Probably already started but I didn't find it.



https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/pittsburgh-steelers/

There is your list.

[Mojouw]

McCloud, Sutton, Banner, Alualu, Hawkins, Spillane, and Marcus Allen all likely make it back on affordable deals. Berry too. Maybe Wormley and Davis? No idea what the team truly thinks of those two. Same with Ola.

The rest, as good as gone. Either due to lack of cap space or because, surely, there is someone better.

Dupree, Hilton, and Juju are going to hurt. But the rest? They can live without them.

It does give them a pretty well defined draft shopping list. QB, RB, OT, OC, OLB, CB, and ILB.

[Shoes]

McCloud, Sutton, Banner, Alualu, Hawkins, Spillane, and Marcus Allen all likely make it back on affordable deals. Berry too. Maybe Wormley and Davis? No idea what the team truly thinks of those two. Same with Ola.

The rest, as good as gone. Either due to lack of cap space or because, surely, there is someone better.

Dupree, Hilton, and Juju are going to hurt. But the rest? They can live without them.

It does give them a pretty well defined draft shopping list. QB, RB, OT, OC, OLB, CB, and ILB.

I would try very hard to keep Hilton. I hope the FO doesn't have a short memory on how bad our secondary was a few years ago.

[Mojouw]

I would try very hard to keep Hilton. I hope the FO doesn't have a short memory on how bad our secondary was a few years ago.

I think everyone involved would love to keep him. I just don't see how they afford him. They are OVER the cap without even signing anyone. Hilton is gonna get PAID. I'm thinking like 8-10 million per year. That ain't happening in Pittsburgh.

Even change the numbers around a bit. Say Hilton comes in around 6 million per year. I suspect Sutton comes in at like 4 million per year. That 2 million is going to matter a great deal in 2021 cap calculations.

[Shoes]

I think everyone involved would love to keep him. I just don't see how they afford him. They are OVER the cap without even signing anyone. Hilton is gonna get PAID. I'm thinking like 8-10 million per year. That ain't happening in Pittsburgh.

Even change the numbers around a bit. Say Hilton comes in around 6 million per year. I suspect Sutton comes in at like 4 million per year. That 2 million is going to matter a great deal in 2021 cap calculations.

Time for Ben to give a big hometown discount. :chuckle:

[Mojouw]

Time for Ben to give a big hometown discount. :chuckle:

That’s really the only way out. Ben signs an “extension” for no real new money. Let’s the team spread out his cap hit over years.

It would be shady and unprecedented BUT would be the best for the team and the “guys”.

Wanna bet that happens?

[86WARD]

That’s really the only way out. Ben signs an “extension” for no real new money. Let’s the team spread out his cap hit over years.

It would be shady and unprecedented BUT would be the best for the team and the “guys”.

Wanna bet that happens?

I think it’s safe to say that’s not happening.

I mean I guess they could offer him a three year deal to spread the hit over that period of time and make it fully guaranteed. In essence they’d be throwing dead money onto the 2022 & 2023 seasons when they’d hopefully have a QB on a rookie deal at something like $14M per season and free up $28M for 2021? Not even sure that’s possible?

[Mojouw]

I think it’s safe to say that’s not happening.

I mean I guess they could offer him a three year deal to spread the hit over that period of time and make it fully guaranteed. In essence they’d be throwing dead money onto the 2022 & 2023 seasons when they’d hopefully have a QB on a rookie deal at something like $14M per season and free up $28M for 2021? Not even sure that’s possible?

Something like that. I don’t know the numbers and am too lazy to look anything up.

But that’s what I was thinking.

[86WARD]

Something like that. I don’t know the numbers and am too lazy to look anything up.

But that’s what I was thinking.

I think his contract is at $42M or so for 2021. His dead money is around $23M for 2021. If he were open to it, I would just spread it out and use him for 2021 and maybe 2022 while a younger guy maybe works into the games in 2022.

[Born2Steel]

One thought that keeps coming back to me... JuJu is a SoCal native. He went to USC. His family still lives there. Justin Herbert makes returning there pretty appealing, IMO. I think JuJu will end up playing for the chargers moving forward. I don't think he dislikes being a Steeler but home is home. Just a random thought on our FAs.

IF JuJu does leave via FA, that would maybe move Washington to the slot. DJ plays X, and Claypool the Z. Leaves McCloud(RFA) as the main backup and ST return man. WR would be a draft priority once again, IMO.

Same thinking is how I currently view Conner moving forward. I believe Conner truly wants to stay in Pittsburgh.

Tackle and Slot CB will be the first moves made I think. Whether FA or draft.

- - - Updated - - -


McCloud, Sutton, Banner, Alualu, Hawkins, Spillane, and Marcus Allen all likely make it back on affordable deals. Berry too. Maybe Wormley and Davis? No idea what the team truly thinks of those two. Same with Ola.

The rest, as good as gone. Either due to lack of cap space or because, surely, there is someone better.

Dupree, Hilton, and Juju are going to hurt. But the rest? They can live without them.

It does give them a pretty well defined draft shopping list. QB, RB, OT, OC, OLB, CB, and ILB.

The shopping list also includes Hassenauer, Spillane, and Marcus Allen are ERFA. I expect OT, Slot CB, then depth at other spots.

[Mojouw]

One thought that keeps coming back to me... JuJu is a SoCal native. He went to USC. His family still lives there. Justin Herbert makes returning there pretty appealing, IMO. I think JuJu will end up playing for the chargers moving forward. I don't think he dislikes being a Steeler but home is home. Just a random thought on our FAs.

IF JuJu does leave via FA, that would maybe move Washington to the slot. DJ plays X, and Claypool the Z. Leaves McCloud(RFA) as the main backup and ST return man. WR would be a draft priority once again, IMO.

Same thinking is how I currently view Conner moving forward. I believe Conner truly wants to stay in Pittsburgh.

Tackle and Slot CB will be the first moves made I think. Whether FA or draft.

- - - Updated - - -



The shopping list also includes Hassenauer, Spillane, and Marcus Allen are ERFA. I expect OT, Slot CB, then depth at other spots.

I figured all ERFA and RFA come back to the team if the team wants them. Those categories of players have almost no ability to negotiate or leverage FA into movement to another team. The Steelers will determine how they value each of those guys and then tell them to take it or leave it.

When Juju leaves you likely nailed the WR pecking order. One addition is Cain. I think he is still floating around the PS.

[Born2Steel]

I figured all ERFA and RFA come back to the team if the team wants them. Those categories of players have almost no ability to negotiate or leverage FA into movement to another team. The Steelers will determine how they value each of those guys and then tell them to take it or leave it.

When Juju leaves you likely nailed the WR pecking order. One addition is Cain. I think he is still floating around the PS.

Cain is a UFA also. Maybe he gets brought back for another tryout? I think he will need to beat somebody(likely rookie draftpick) for a spot on the 53.

Just on the offensive side view of things as they stand today....
JuJu is probably gone. Conner probably comes back. Just my feeling on those 2.
OL is interesting because AV(UFA), Banner(UFA), Feiler(UFA), and Hawkins(RFA) are all FAs. OL must be the priority this offseason, specifically OT but I have know idea how it shakes out.
IF Ben surprises me and retires at the end of this season, I think the plan is to go into next season with MR as the starter. I don't think it will be a 'high priority' this year. Thing is I don't think Ben retires and next season will be the same QB room as this year.
McDonald is another pivotal decision for me. If allowed to walk TE becomes a higher priority at draft time.

But usually I'm way off on everything.

[Mojouw]

Cain is a UFA also. Maybe he gets brought back for another tryout? I think he will need to beat somebody(likely rookie draftpick) for a spot on the 53.

Just on the offensive side view of things as they stand today....
JuJu is probably gone. Conner probably comes back. Just my feeling on those 2.
OL is interesting because AV(UFA), Banner(UFA), Feiler(UFA), and Hawkins(RFA) are all FAs. OL must be the priority this offseason, specifically OT but I have know idea how it shakes out.
IF Ben surprises me and retires at the end of this season, I think the plan is to go into next season with MR as the starter. I don't think it will be a 'high priority' this year. Thing is I don't think Ben retires and next season will be the same QB room as this year.
McDonald is another pivotal decision for me. If allowed to walk TE becomes a higher priority at draft time.

But usually I'm way off on everything.

I am also always wrong on this stuff. I think they bring Cain back IF Juju leaves. Just to have another guy in the WR room that knows the plays and how the team practices, etc. It will be a minimum deal and what leverage does Cain have?

I don't see how they resign AV. He just won't be worth the cash he will command. I love they guy, but you are paying for past performance at this point. I give his money to a combination of Banner and Hawkins. With those two and Chuks....I think you can cobble a functional set of OTs together. Not great, but passable.

I see no reason to resign McDonald. If Ebron is on the roster, then McDonald is basically here to block. I think Radar can do that at a fraction of the cost. Still need to draft a couple. Plus, maybe Gentry has something to say in 2021?

MR as a the 2021 post Ben starter is the most likely outcome. The only concern is that he ends up being good enough to mire the team in 9-7/8-8 Wildcard land for a year or two...

[Six Rings]

The Steelers can not win a bidding war on ANY UFA. No less than 3 of our starting OL players are UFA's.

I can see 8 of the top 10 listed player GONE. We have negative cap space, meaning we will have to cut some players and restructure deals before having any room to sign the rookies.

2021 is going to be very tough.

[86WARD]

People say this EVERY YEAR. Every year, they are just fine.

[Rotorhead]

I see us drafting heavy OL

We are ok at LB, just don’t see all the injuries again this year. Hopefully we can keep Williamson for the depth.

May need another DL if Heyward retires, otherwise we are good there.

Mostlly solid with the DBs, but would love to keep Hilton.

We will be fine with the WRs if we lose Juju, wish we could keep him, but just don’t see it.

We will probably draft a RB.

Biggest question is QB. I am all for riding MR for a year of we are in rebuild mode next year, then drafting a QB the next year.