Making the tough decisions between the Steelers’ Free Agents

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a ridiculous variety of free brokers this offseason. So many you need to marvel who, if any, the Steelers will be capable of retain. With that mentioned, once I was submitting questions for the readers for our Friday Evening Six Pack final week, I made a decision to ask followers who they’d take if they only had to decide on between two pending Steelers free brokers.

I made a decision to maintain it easy by solely utilizing Unrestricted Free Brokers (UFAs), and you’ll full the beneath train in one in every of two methods. You may check out the 2 free brokers and say what you suppose will occur, or you may take the method of who you suppose the Steelers will preserve.

As an illustration, you may wish to the Steelers to maintain Mike Hilton over Cam Sutton, however you may additionally consider Sutton would be the one the Steelers can afford/will preserve. The way you method this train is totally as much as you. After all, if you wish to head all the way down to the remark part to elucidate your self, be at liberty!

Let’s get this social gathering began…

Mike Hilton / Cam Sutton

The Hilton vs. Sutton debate has been raging for nearly the whole season. Followers knew each can be free brokers and a call must be made. The Steelers can be silly to not wish to signal each, however the actuality of this taking place is slim. Hilton has performed effectively sufficient, and the slot cornerback is effective sufficient, I don’t see the Steelers retaining Hilton. I do suppose there’s a great quantity of worth in Sutton, particularly if the Steelers lower Joe Haden as a consequence of wage cap points.

My Prediction: Steelers re-sign Sutton, Hilton goes elsewhere

James Conner / JuJu Smith-Schuster

This may be an unpopular opinion, however I want the Steelers would be capable of discover a technique to preserve Smith-Schuster. Whereas I really feel Conner is expendable, Smith-Schuster nonetheless gives a ton of worth to the Steelers’ offense, even together with his pre-game antics and Tik Tok dances. I want the Steelers may preserve Smith-Schuster, however I don’t see it taking place.

My Prediction: Steelers lose each gamers to Free Company.

Tyson Alualu / Avery Williamson

Alualu is 33, and within the closing years of his profession. Williamson is 28, and a big majority of the Steelers’ fan base wasn’t impressed with the commerce acquisition from the Jets. Alualu is coming off an amazing season filling in for Javon Hargrave, however Williamson underwhelmed by most accounts. Nevertheless, if the Steelers had been to chop ties with Vince Williams, I really feel Williamson may very well be an affordable possibility for the crew, and will fill Williams’ position throughout the protection subsequent to the extra athletic Devin Bush. May Alualu signal yet another contract with the Steelers to finish his profession within the Pittsburgh? Completely, and I believe they just do that.

My Prediction: Steelers signal Alualu, Williamson hits the open market.

Zach Banner / Alejandro Villanueva

Banners has been very vocal about his plan, and the Steelers’ plan, for him in 2021. It appears as if he’s a big a part of the crew, however is there any probability the Steelers retain Villanueva? At this level, it seems like Villanueva will both retire or hit the open market. In the meantime, Banner appears to be prepping for the 2021 season in Pittsburgh.

My Prediction: Steelers retain Banner, Villanueva both retires or hits the open market.

Zach Banner / Matt Feiler

See the earlier paragraph regarding the Steelers’ plan with Banner, however may Matt Feiler throw a wrench in these plans? Feiler performs each guard and deal with, and may very well be a really worthwhile, and versatile, a part of any offensive line within the NFL. Will that be with the Steelers? Except it as a backup, I count on Feiler to receives a commission to the purpose the place the Steelers can’t match the supply.

My Prediction: Steelers retain Banner and Feiler finds a brand new house in Free Company.

Jordan Dangerfield / Sean Davis

You may be questioning why that is even a speaking level. Dangerfield and Davis had been each strictly particular groups gamers in 2020, and there’s worth in these kind of gamers. Davis, though not given a lot of an opportunity final season, does present extra from a defensive perspective, however Dangerfield was the crew’s particular groups captain final season.

My Prediction: Steelers retain Dangerfield, let Davis check the open market however may signal him later.

For a extra in-depth dialogue/clarification of those free agent selections, take a look at my “Let’s Journey” podcast from Monday within the second half of the present.