The Steelers will have some notable names that could hit the free agency market in 2023, time to predict who will stay or go.
The Steelers still have the entire pre-season process and regular-season schedule in front of them. There will be a lot of time for this team to dissect where they sit as a unit both currently and in the future. It will be interesting to see where this club goes in a new direction for football in the Steel City.
There will be player turnover as this team looks to become younger and faster to compete in today’s NFL. This group is not the oldest in its current state but there are different positions that need to get younger. Other spots will also be the main targets to upgrade if different players are let go in free agency.
The offseason is always a crazy and exciting time for everyone involved or paying attention. These players are currently scheduled to hit the market and their situations will be projected based on where they are now. A lot of football is still in front of them, and their circumstances could always change between now and then.
Tyson Alualu will retire or find his way off the Steelers roster after this year
Tyson Alualu is an interesting player heading into the 2022 calendar. He is coming off a tough ankle injury that sidelined him for all last season and that could hinder his career moving forward. He is getting older, but a bigger role will be on his plate this year, and the way he handles that will determine how the Steelers feel about giving him an extension or not.
As the way things sit now, the defensive line is trying to get younger and give those players ample time to develop behind veterans. Alualu could prove everyone wrong and take this bigger role by the horns, but that is not likely. He will probably either retire or sign somewhere else like the Jacksonville Jaguars like he almost did last time in free agency.
Cam Sutton could play his way into a big contract with the Steelers
Cam Sutton is a player that does not get a lot of attention from many in Pittsburgh. He has been a hard worker since getting to the franchise after being drafted in the third round in 2017. It took a while, but this cornerback eventually started to get some starting snaps after being a role player for this team.
Mike Hilton departed the club to the Cincinnati Bengals and the Steelers seemed to prioritize Sutton with the cap relief that they would get between the two. He has been a reliable starter on the inside corner spot for this defense thus far. He deserves another contract, even if that means that he gets a hefty raise.
Right now, this corner is making a reasonable rate that is team-friendly. He accepted that deal with the idea of showing he is a reliable starter and can produce at a high level. That way, when his next deal came around, he can cash in and get a long contract to reward his hard work.
That seems like it will happen again, and the Steelers would be foolish to let this player walk. They spent a lot of time and effort helping develop him and it would be a shame to see him leave like Hilton did just a few years prior. If his 2022 campaign goes well, Pittsburgh needs to re-sign him.
Devin Bush will not show enough to gain another contract from the Steelers
Devin Bush seems to make most of these lists of wondering what the future holds for different players. He is someone that frustrates many evaluators as they thought he would be the next big thing at linebacker. His career has been disappointing thus far and it could lead to a short career if he is not careful.
Not only is this a contract year for him, but there are larger implications for him at play that could affect others. He could make a ton of money and cement his draft pedigree with a high-level performance in 2022. That could lead to the Steelers re-signing him or another team could shell out money on the open market.
If he fails, then that would mean his career could start to fall into jeopardy. Another club would take a cheap flyer on him, but he would need to start over again. Pittsburgh would then be left hunting for a linebacker that they have been searching for before they even selected Bush in the draft.
This is the biggest implication out of anyone on the list when it comes to potentially judging too early. He has all the skills to become a top linebacker in the league if he is healthy. The worry is that Bush might have lost some of his speed and that could spell disaster.
This will be Terrell Edmunds final season in Pittsburgh
Terrell Edmunds was a player that many expected to be entering his last season with the Steelers in 2021, not 2022. He has developed nicely ever since being over-drafted by the black in gold a handful of years ago. Now he is one of the top strong safeties in the NFL, despite what some fans might argue.
His game really picked up once Minkah Fitzpatrick came along to Pittsburgh via trade from the Miami Dolphins. A player with that kind of skillset will help elevate players’ abilities around him and that was the case with Edmunds as well. It seemed like this strong safety finally had a shot at getting rewarded with a big contract this past offseason but that did not happen.
The Steelers brought him back on a cheap one-year deal that will make him prove his worth to them and the NFL again. He played well in 2022 and has been on a steady trajectory upwards since his rookie season. It was a little shocking to see the lack of market for him during negotiations with other clubs.
Free agency in 2023 could be a situation where this player either sinks or swims again. Edmunds will need to have a similar season to last year or better to command a good market. He is not going to wow you with turnovers, but he does what the strong safety position calls for.
Diontae Johnson will have a great season and get a long-term contract elsewhere
Diontae Johnson is currently an unknown situation right now for the Steelers and their future together. The receiver market has been leaning towards the player when it comes to contract demands recently. That could spell disaster when it comes to these two agreeing to a new deal.
The club has been adding some youth to the position and has a lot of depth there right now. There are some quiet rumblings that maybe a trade could occur if Pittsburgh got an offer that they could not refuse. That still seems unlikely, and Johnson has not shown any signs of holding out for a new contract.
He is a hard worker and has been the best receiver for this offense over the last couple of seasons. He does deserve a contract, but the Steelers will not budge in their negotiations. They will need to see a full year of consistent production from this player as a true number one target before they even consider shelling out the money he wants.
Another possibility that could happen if Johnson has a great 2022 season, is the black and gold could tag him. He would be the top receiver on the market, and they could always franchise tag him to keep him for another year if they are not comfortable going forward with someone else. It does seem like no matter if he gets tagged or not, his long-term future will be with another franchise at some point.
The Steelers will have some big decisions to make when the offseason rolls around. They will have a lot of cap space with many of their own free agents needing new deals.