The new NFL league year officially begins on March 17, but the legal tampering begins on Monday, March 15. That means the news this week will be crazy as teams try to put together a roster with the salary cap up to $ 182.5 million.
For teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, who spend almost every season, it will be difficult to move, and so will their own free agents remain internally as well. With the league year set to begin this week, ESPN’s team of insiders has compiled news and notes on some of the biggest free agents on the verge of reaching the open market. There are undoubtedly enough Steelers in the article.
Below are some news and notes to digest before the Free Agent nutrition frenzy begins.
One of the biggest freebacks Steelers fans have watched is Mike Hilton. The versatile, and dynamic, lock angle will be a free agent for the first time in his career, except when he jumped around in the league in his first year, and he wants to take the opportunity.
The early feedback indicates that Mike Hilton, a cornerback from Steelers, placed himself at the top of the lock or nickel corner market. His ability to cover and flash (9.5 pockets since 2017) makes him a seamless pass for a defense that plays heavy zone and puts pressure (think Bears, Packers, Chargers, Falcons or Eagles).
Hilton is not the only news around the Steelers, but JuJu Smith-Schuster, a wide receiver, always keeps up. The quotes below are more about what is not being said about Smith-Schuster than what is being said. In other words, Smith-Schuster, despite all the headlines saying he wants to stay, will test the free agency and look for a home outside of Pittsburgh.
We hear most of the best receivers – Kenny Golladay, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Corey Davis – will test the free agency, but a few have the chance to sign again with their respective teams: Nelson Agholor with Las Vegas and Curtis Samuel with Carolina.
We expect the Jets to investigate receiving help from the receivers, and they have evaluated Will Fuller, Smith-Schuster and Kendrick Bourne, a favorite of the new offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur of their time in San Francisco.
What could have been the most shocking news in the article regarding Alejandro Villanueva. Despite rumors that Villanueva is deciding to retire, he has made it clear he still wants to play. It was assumed that the Steelers could not afford it or did not want to bring it back, but this indicates that the Steelers were in talks with Villanueva about a possible return. Can Villanueva return at a discount in his hometown to play left before calling it a career?
After receiving a pay cut from Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers try to put together an offensive line in front of him while they want to get below the salary cap. They signed BJ Finney, who could possibly play as center or guard, and they talked to Alejandro Villanueva, left tackle, about a return, although they have not yet figured out the contract numbers.
Matt Feiler and Zach Banner are also free agencies that need to be replaced if the Steelers cannot bring them back. It is believed that they basically have no chance of re-signing wide receiver Smith-Schuster or Dupree.
The news about Hilton and Smith-Schuster was expected, but the potential return of Villanueva mud certainly waters the waters of free agencies, where we all once thought it was crystal clear. If Villanueva does return, what does that mean for Zach Banner, or Matt Feiler?
More questions than answers around the Steelers this giant week. With that said, stay tuned to BTSC for the latest black and gold news and notes as they prepare for the new league year, the NFL Free Agency and the 2021 Draft NFL Draft.