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Steelers Free Agency: Backs and Receivers

By Kim Myers

Dec 20, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) celebrates with wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (88) after Brown caught a twenty-three yard touchdown pass against the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) celebrates with wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (88) after Brown caught a twenty-three yard touchdown pass against the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Will Johnson, FB

Dec 6, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fullback Will Johnson (46) reacts after a successful two point conversion against the Indianapolis Colts during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fullback Will Johnson (46) reacts after a successful two point conversion against the Indianapolis Colts during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Will Johnson is listed as a fullback on the Steelers’ roster but he has been just about everything from tight end to running back for the offense since getting picked up as an undrafted free agent out of West Virginia in 2012.

Last offseason Johnson signed a one-year restricted free agent tender. He has the third-longest active streak among NFL fullbacks. Last season he got his first career rushing touchdown and the Steelers’ first touchdown of the season in New England in the season opener.

Johnson has truly been a jack-of-all-trades with the Steelers and prior to the retirement of Heath Miller I might have said that the Steelers would probably be leaning away from Johnson with the re-signing of fullback Roosevelt Nix right at the beginning of the offseason.

Without knowing how the blocking situation will be impacted without a player like Miller on the field I wouldn’t be surprised if the Steelers kept Johnson another year to let Nix develop more on special teams before he eventually takes over Johnson’s role as offensive utility player.

Johnson would be relatively cheap to re-sign to a one-year deal as fullbacks aren’t exactly high priority on the free agent market. This would be a low-risk, high-reward signing for the Steelers to keep continuity in the run and pass blocking game on the offense while allowing a young player like Nix continue to develop by contributing on special teams.

Next: Jordan Todman

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