2021 NFL free agency: 3 bold predictions before the frenzy begins
The Steelers will struggle to bring back any of their free agents
It is going to be a daunting task for the Pittsburgh Steelers to bring back any of their current expiring deals. Those free agents could command some decent markets once the legal tampering period begins for NFL negotiations. Names like JuJu Smith-Schuster, Al Villanueva, Bud Dupree, Mike Hilton, and many more will be free agents if this current stalemate in contract talks continues further.
After Ben Roethlisberger signed his new deal, that helped the black and gold’s cap woes right now but that only got them under the cap. They will now need to find new and creative ways to lower that cap number even more, so they can re-sign some of their own or bring in outside free agents.
Smith-Schuster seems like he will be a top wide receiver option when free agency begins and that is a major cause for concern. Dupree will not be franchised tagged and will be leaving for big money elsewhere even though he is coming off an ACL injury. Hilton and Cam Sutton seem like priorities to bring back for Pittsburgh but their price range just might be too much for the team to handle. This next week will decide where the Steelers sit in the NFL realm of competition for years to come because these free agents have meant a lot to this franchise. Losing all of these players will be a huge loss for any team and it will be even larger for a team that seems to be falling out of relevancy.
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It should be an interesting free agency as many players want their well-deserved cash. Many NFL teams will be looking to spend little money on the pandemic’s effect on their club.