With the NFL season over halfway done, here are some early projections of which of the team’s 2021 signings stay with the team or leave.
The Steelers have had quite the roller coaster of a season so far, but they have seen quite a bit of play from their free agency class. That said, this team has a history of making a lot of their signings one and done. In this post, I will look at the seven primary free agents the team signed in free agency (Zach Banner and Cameron Sutton won’t be included since they were re-signed before free agency actually started) and make the prediction if they will return for 2022 or not.
Steelers B.J. Finney
The Steelers were quick to sign veteran center B.J. Finney after the Bengals released him in the offseason due to his experience with the team. The expectation was that he would compete for the center job in camp with Kendrick Green, but he quickly fell out of that competition. Now, he is buried on the depth chart behind a struggling Green and has failed to get a helmet over J.C. Hassenauer.
Given his struggles to make an impact even as a reserve despite the line struggling as it has made Finney’s odds of seeing another contract with the team unlikely. He could get another minimum qualifying deal and be carried into camp, but it seems more than likely he enters free agency with no new contract. Considering his struggles this season, there is a real chance Finney is out of the NFL sooner rather than later.
Prediction: Finney goes unsigned into free agency
Steelers Miles Killebrew
The Steelers went brought in veteran safety Miles Killebrew for one reason: to play special teams. While he has seen some defensive snaps, that was out of necessity and not by choice. The veteran is an accomplished special team’s ace but offers little elsewhere on the roster. That said, he has certainly made an impact as a special team’s defender, as evident by his punt block against the Chargers.
Now the benefit of Killebrew is that despite being a good special teams’ player, he only signed for the league minimum last season. That was during a free agency period with a cap decrease due to Covid, so teams didn’t have the resources to pay valuable special teamers. That will likely change in 2022, and Killebrew will certainly be trying to earn more money than he did this season.
If he is good to sign for the minimum, then the Steelers can and should be all over him. That said, he will likely get a minimum offer from the team and be allowed to test free agency. He may have a market, but I’m not convinced he can get a deal much more than the minimum. I’ll predict that he is brought back, but this one is honestly a coin flip.
Prediction: Killebrew re-signs on a veteran minimum deal
Steelers Trai Turner
The Steelers were quick to add veteran Trai Turner after David DeCastro was released with an injury after the draft. While he hasn’t been perfect, Turner has had a bit of a career resurgence with the team and has been the best lineman that the team has fielded. He will certainly be getting paid more than three million dollars next season no matter who he is playing for.
My guess is the Steelers would like to have the veteran back, but he will want more money than the Steelers are willing to pay. He likely signs another one-year deal for six or so million in hopes of another solid year to parlay into one last good-sized contract. The team rarely gives out one-year deals unless they have to, so Turner may be out the door.
Even if he is brought back, expect the Steelers to draft an interior lineman early in the 2022 draft. My guess is the team will over him a moderate two-year deal but Turner will test free agency and find a higher paying deal. This will hurt the team on paper, but they will add a cheaper veteran and find their next starting lineman in the draft.
Prediction: Turner leaves in free agency
Steelers Chris Wormley
I recall being extremely surprised to see Chris Wormley earn the deal he was given when the team brought him back as a free agent. While a decent backup, the team gave him a moderate-sized contract for just ok play in 2020. It seemed like the team was trying to maintain some consistency on their line once Tyson Alualu initially signed with the Jaguars.
With Stephon Tuitt likely missing the rest of this season, Wormley will continue to see a starter’s share of the snaps. He has been surprisingly stout as a lineman, and while his stats aren’t incredible for a starter, Wormley is consistently giving the team some of his best snaps on every play. Even with Tuitt hopefully returning next season, Wormley should still be around.
The only concern I have with Wormley being back next year is the emergence of Isaiahh Loudermilk. The rookie has played surprisingly well so far this season, and they may want him to take on Wormley’s role next season. Given his contract and the depth issues the Steelers have had on their defensive line though, I fully expect Wormley to hang around for at least one more season.
Prediction: Wormley sticks around and plays out his contract in 2022
Steelers Joe Haeg
Another contract that was puzzling at the time, Joe Haeg was a fine reserve offensive lineman for the Buccaneers, but his play wasn’t deserving of a multi-year deal worth more than the minimum. The Steelers were confident enough in the veteran though, and they control the rights to Haeg through the next season.
While he has in no way been a star, Haeg has proven valuable from every offensive lien spot minus the center position. He has been a capable left and right tackle so far when needed and has kicked inside to guard in a pinch. Again, his play hasn’t been incredible by any means, but he has been a valuable depth lineman.
While he may not make the final roster a year from now, I would fully expect Haeg to be carried through at least training camp. If his role is taken on by someone else, he can be cut during the final cuts before the regular season. Until then, Haeg has earned the opportunity to stay on this roster even though his salary will be a little higher. He has been far too valuable this season not to bring to camp next year.
Prediction: Haeg remains on the roster and plays out his contract
Steelers Tyson Alualu
In what became one of the strangest offseason storylines, Tyson Alualu initially signed with the Jaguars before coming down with Covid. While in quarantine, the veteran decided he wanted to stay with the Steelers, so he signed with them instead. Alualu has enjoyed quite the career resurgence with the team, and despite his age, he has been a valuable nose tackle.
All that said, I think this season will be his last in Pittsburgh. The veteran is owed a decent chunk of money next year and hasn’t been able to play much due to an early-season injury that ended his season. The team also has gotten quite a bit of lay from Isaiah Buggs and Carlos Davis is looking to make an impact when he returns. With the Steelers set to rebuild next year, keeping Alualu around makes little sense.
There is a real chance that the veteran decides to retire, but based on his strong play, it seems more than likely he will still try and play. If that’s the case, the Steelers will probably release him and he will have the chance to play for a competitor. Alualu has been a great Steelers addition, but it seems like his time with the team is coming to a close.
Prediction: Alualu is cut and signs elsewhere
Steelers JuJu Smith-Schuster
If there is one player that has to regret signing with the Steelers this offseason, it’s JuJu Smith-Schuster. The veteran signed a rare one-year year deal to return to the team in hopes of improving his value, but that never happened. His injury was unfortunate, but that isn’t the reason he likely regrets signing the deal. The team still refused to play him on the outside or deep on offense.
At this point, anyone that is signing him is still banking on him returning to his earlier form. He has proven to be a fine safety blanket and short option, but he hasn’t been a regular deep threat in almost three years. His limitations mixed in with his injury will likely mean another one-year deal for the veteran. Given the Steelers quarterback questions, that new deal will almost certainly be with a new team.
While returning to the team was exciting at first, it became clear early on that the Steelers were set to continue to misuse the veteran each week. As a result, it makes it almost a certainty that Smith-Schuster opts to play elsewhere next season. With the rebuild and quarterback questions set to plague this team, a new home for Smith-Schuster is the likely outcome.
The Steelers had a mix of old and new faces join them in free agency last. While almost every name on this list has seen playing time, not all are locked to be back. While there is still plenty of games to be played, here is an early look as to which 2021 free agents will be back in 2022.