Dumpster diving for realistic Steelers free agent options
By Andrew Falce
Al Woods, NT, Seattle Seahawks
2019 Stats: 32 tackles, 1 sack
If Al Woods’ name is familiar, it would be due to his earlier stint playing for the Steelers on both their 2012 and 2013 teams before signing a deal with the Tennessee Titans. An uninspiring option, Woods is what he is, and that is a capable run plugger. He’s a throwback to a Casey Hampton style of play (take up as much space in the middle) and his stats show it.
The biggest drawback would be his age and the fact he likely is worth more than the minimum in this market. While the fact he is 32 years old is a bad sign in terms of Steelers tendencies in free agency (they like their signings younger), Woods’s history with the team overrides that. Plaxico Burress returned to the team when he was in his thirties, and it makes sense on paper that Woods could do the same.
In terms of a contract, he is coming off of four successive years where he earned a base salary between 1-1.5 million. Depending on the length of the contract and the signing bonus they would offer, his first-year cap hit would likely be sitting around 1.5-2 million.