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With the NFL offseason formally underway, it’s time for main media shops to begin placing out their lists. For some, it’s simply rating the place gamers land on their “Prime 100”, however for Professional Soccer Focus (PFF), you recognize they couldn’t simply cease with a listing.
The tremendous of us at PFF simply put collectively their Prime 150 free agent listing, however they didn’t simply listing the highest free brokers set to hit the open market in March, however the place they suppose they’ll find yourself.
With that stated, try the Pittsburgh Steelers players who made the PFF Top 150 free agent list, and the place they see them touchdown for the 2021 season, and for a way a lot:
23. WR JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER
JuJu Smith-Schuster goes to hit free company having simply turned 24 years outdated due to how younger he was when he entered the NFL earlier than the 2017 season. His precise function and ceiling continues to be one thing of an open query. His finest season — an 81.8 total grade in 2018 — got here working predominantly inside and when Antonio Brown was the first menace for the Steelers. Harm robbed us of the prospect to see if he might step into Brown’s function and exchange that manufacturing earlier than the staff determined — aided by the emergence of Diontae Johnson, amongst others — to maneuver him again to the slot for many of his snaps.
There’s a lot to love about his recreation. He’s clearly good, understands coverages and might exploit each man and zone defenses from the slot, in addition to having good dimension, however his projection as a full-time perimeter receiver concerned extra guesswork, and that’s his greatest battle heading to the negotiating desk.
Contract Evaluation: Even earlier than the 2020 season started, pundits predicted that Smith-Schuster could be enjoying his remaining season in Pittsburgh. With the emergence of Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool, that’s now much more of a protected guess.
Prediction: Jets signal Smith-Schuster for 4 years, $68 million ($17M APY): $35M complete assured, $22M absolutely assured at signing.
26. CB MIKE HILTON
Hilton epitomizes the do-it-all slot nook who can cowl in each man and zone, play the run and blitz successfully. The Steelers’ scheme permits him to indicate off all of these expertise, and he’s quietly been one of the crucial priceless corners within the league since 2017. The one concern is his 26 missed tackles during the last two seasons.
Hilton has solely performed a handful of snaps on the surface since getting into the league, so count on him to play within the slot irrespective of the place he lands. Nonetheless, given the tough nature of that place, he needs to be coveted on the open market. Even at simply 184 kilos, Hilton is yearly among the many high corners in defensive stops, highlighting his willingness to stay his nostril in in opposition to the run in addition to his proficiency as a blitzer.
Contract Evaluation: Hilton scrapped his manner into vital enjoying time with the Steelers after beginning his profession by bouncing round observe squads. He’s grow to be a top quality cowl nook within the slot with the flexibility to have an effect on the passer on the occasional pass-rush snap. As evidenced by the predictions for all slot cornerbacks, the market didn’t materialize in 2020, and it’s exhausting to think about it is going to in 2021.
Prediction: Steelers signal Hilton for 3 years, $12M ($4M APY): $4M complete assured/absolutely assured at signing (signing bonus, Steelers don’t assure in any other case).
33. T ALEJANDRO VILLANUEVA
There’s immense worth in stable, mid-tier offensive linemen, and that’s precisely what Villanueva has been all through his profession. He’s graded between 74.0 and 82.0 in every of his final 5 seasons; he ranks within the 54th percentile in PFF pass-blocking grade and the forty sixth percentile in pass-blocking grade on true cross units throughout that point.
There’s an analogous stage of dependability to Villanueva’s recreation as a run-blocker. He ranks within the 74th percentile at avoiding negatively graded performs however simply the twenty third percentile in positively graded performs. NFL groups should keep away from having disastrous choices at offensive sort out, and Villanueva’s profile makes him a priceless asset.
Contract Evaluation: Villanueva has had a outstanding NFL profession after serving within the U.S. army, going undrafted after which working his approach to turning into one of many league’s finest left tackles. However, the Steelers may have a really powerful time retaining Villanueva after pushing all their chips in on 2020. We wouldn’t be shocked if Villanueva, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Bud Dupree are all enjoying elsewhere in 2021, purely for wage cap causes.
Prediction: Chargers signal Villanueva for 3 years, $45 million ($15M APY): $30M complete assured, $20M absolutely assured at signing.
55. EDGE BUD DUPREE
Dupree broke out with a 77.7 total grade in 2019, good for twenty third amongst edge rushers. That marked trampled his earlier performances, which ranged from 44.4 (2015) to 62.6 (2016) total, and he got here again all the way down to Earth right here in 2020 with a 60.2 total grade previous to a season-ending damage.
The important thing with Dupree is to not get caught up within the sack totals, significantly this season, as most of his sacks have come all the way down to quarterbacks holding the ball for manner too lengthy. Dupree does play exhausting, and his excessive motor permits him to get in a number of hustle performs and clean-up sacks, however high-end pass-rushers needs to be successful one-on-one in opposition to offensive tackles way more typically than Dupree has proven over his profession.
Given Pittsburgh’s blitz-happy scheme and supporting expertise mixed with Dupree’s mediocre profession grades and subsequent damage, he’s a buyer-beware candidate on the open market.
Contract Evaluation: Pittsburgh selected to let Bud Dupree stroll in free company the minute they prolonged defensive lineman Cameron Heyward earlier than the 2020 season. Quickly sufficient, T.J. Watt may very well be in search of the primary $30M APY contract for a defensive participant in NFL historical past, and the percentages are that he’ll be value it. Sadly for Dupree, a torn ACL in Week 12 could restrict his choices to one-year prove-it offers.
Prediction: Colts signal Dupree for one 12 months, $10 million ($10M APY): $7.5M complete assured/absolutely assured at signing.
81. RB JAMES CONNER
Conner is a productive participant with an unbelievable story, and after defeating most cancers and graduating from Pittsburgh, he was in a position to proceed his profession within the Metal Metropolis. Nonetheless, with the Steelers drafting Anthony McFarland Jr. and Benny Snell Jr. within the fourth spherical in back-to-back years, they might have already jump-started the method of transferring on.
Contract Evaluation: Conner’s manufacturing has stalled after a powerful begin to his Steelers profession, however the lack of dominance additionally coincides with the staff’s run blocking getting worse. Conner has stable PFF grades in all 4 seasons of his profession.
Prediction: Jets signal Conner for 3 years, $20 million ($6.66M APY): $10 million complete assured, $8 million absolutely assured at signing.
91. CB CAMERON SUTTON
Sutton had performed simply 621 profession snaps coming into 2020 however posted a stable 68.6 total grade throughout 552 regular-season snaps in 2020. He was pressured to play on the surface down the stretch after primarily lining up within the slot, so there’s some versatility to his recreation. He’s a high-upside play on a small pattern dimension. Sutton has been above-average within the slot and in single protection, two locations that convey nice worth to any protection.
Contract Evaluation: Sutton didn’t see a lot of the sector over his first three seasons since being drafted within the third spherical in 2017, however he was stable in 2020 with an expanded function. He may very well be an fascinating chess piece for a staff to take a flier on, as he logged snaps at slot nook, out large and down within the field as a powerful security.
Prediction: Steelers signal Sutton for one 12 months, $2.75 million: $1.5 million complete assured/absolutely assured at signing.
92. T MATT FEILER
Feiler needs to be a participant in demand this offseason, given the state of offensive line play in some areas of the NFL, and particularly as a result of he gained’t be among the many marquee names.
Feiler has in depth beginning expertise with the Steelers at each proper sort out and inside at left guard, and he has graded properly at each positions. In 4 seasons, he has by no means earned an total PFF grade decrease than 65.0 and hits free company nonetheless properly wanting 30 years outdated.
Feiler’s finest season from a grading standpoint got here whereas beginning at proper sort out, the extra priceless place. And on the naked minimal, he would symbolize among the best “sixth linemen” within the recreation. Usually the very best worth signings occur within the second wave of free company, and Feiler would improve loads of offensive strains.
Contract Evaluation: Feiler’s capacity to play on either side of the offensive line, in addition to outdoors at sort out and inside at guard, makes him a really intriguing free agent. At no place is it extra priceless to excel in a number of roles, and if Feiler might function the swing sort out and the primary inside offensive lineman off the bench, that may very well be tremendously priceless to any membership.
Prediction: Jets signal Feiler for 2 years, $12 million ($6M APY): $8 million complete assured, $5 million absolutely assured at signing.
102. DI TYSON ALUALU
After 9 years of common to below-average grades and a career-high grade of 66.5, Alualu turned issues round with an 80.1 grade in 2019 and an 86.6 mark in 2020. He grew to become sound within the run recreation and an affordable pass-rusher who can present a superb 400-500 snaps as a part of a line of defense rotation.
Contract Evaluation: We don’t typically see a profession 12 months for a participant in his age-33 season, however that’s simply what Alualu did. The blueprint for an inside defensive lineman who was a 2010 top-10 decide has been set by Ndamukong Suh, so thankfully we’ve got some stable precedent to work off of right here.
Prediction: Jaguars signal Alualu for one 12 months, $6 million absolutely assured.
What do you concentrate on the above predictions? Tell us within the remark part and make sure to keep tuned to BTSC for the newest information and notes surrounding the Steelers as they put together for the brand new league 12 months, NFL Free Company and the 2021 NFL Draft.
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