Steelers Free Agents: 9 Players Stay, 5 Go
PITTSBURGH -- Free agency is underway for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and before they dive into the open market, they'll work with their own players to try and keep some pieces together.
The Steelers have 24 free agents heading into the negotiation window, but chances are they'll only consider bringing back around 14. Of those 14, you could expect eight to return to Pittsburgh in 2023, and that doesn't include a surprising name in the secondary.
And it's not who you think it is. We'll actually start there.
Cam Sutton - Stays
The Steelers and Cam Sutton aren't parting ways this offseason. The cornerback is set to get a pay raise in free agency, and is most certainly going to have a market for himself, but when it's all said and done, Pittsburgh is going to get their guy to stay.
Expect the Steelers to pay a little over the initial value of Sutton but nothing too high. This should end up being a fair deal in the neighborhood of $8-9 million per season.
Larry Ogunjobi - Stays
Larry Ogunjobi is the Steelers' easiest way to keep their defensive line in tact, and after an unimpressive 2022 year, it should be able to be done on a cheap deal.
Ogunjobi has health concerns and didn't really do anything too impressive with his first season in Pittsburgh. The Steelers signed him to an $8 million deal last summer, and you could expect that number to be lower this time around.
Either way, Ogunjobi and Cam Heyward make it easy for the Steelers to look for one missing piece to their defensive line instead of panicking and throwing a bunch of new pieces and rookies in there.
Mason Rudolph - Goes
This one is easy. Rudolph doesn't want to stay in Pittsburgh and the Steelers have clearly wanted him out for the last two years. At this point, it would be more shocking than any move they made this offseason if Rudolph returned to the Steelers.
Devin Bush - Goes
The only player that would be more shocking is Devin Bush. Bush and the Steelers never worked out, and the 10th overall pick should be considered a bust in Pittsburgh.
He's still got plenty of career left, but the Steelers are looking for a new starter at inside linebacker and Bush isn't on their option list.
Robert Spillane - Stays
They will bring back Robert Spillane, though. The Steelers very much so like Spillane in their defense, and after playing 100% of the snaps the final four games of the year, it's hard to imagine they don't re-sign him to be in their linebacker rotation again this upcoming season.
It's hard to imagine what the market for Spillane would be outside of Pittsburgh, but he could probably get an offer if he stuck it out in free agency. He likely won't, and the Steelers should get him back early.
Damontae Kazee - Stays
The Steelers and Kazee reportedly have mutual interest in getting a deal done, and after an impressive first season in Pittsburgh, that should land him back for at least another year.
At 30 years old, Kazee is entering the back half of his career, but the Steelers like the splash play and are dying to keep a three-man rotation at safety alive. So, they'll find a deal with Kazee, who brings starter-quality play with him and an instant connection with the defense.
Terrell Edmunds - Goes
This is where things get interesting. Everyone believes Edmunds is coming back to Pittsburgh, but the last time the safety was on the market, he was looking for his big payday. That isn't going to change this time around, and after an impressive season, chances are higher that another team will offer him a deal.
All it takes is one, and that one team is going to come out of the woodwork and put a hefty bet on Edmunds that the Steelers will not want to match. And after a strong run in Pittsburgh, the former first-round pick will head elsewhere in free agency.
Derrek Watt - Stays
Watt finally had a purpose on offense last season and the Steelers aren't going to let that walk away. Plus, he's a quality special teams player and his brother is still the most dominant man in Pittsburgh.
Watt's contract won't be very big, but he'll get an all-right deal to return to Pittsburgh, where he'll look to finish off his career alongside T.J.
Chris Wormley - Goes
Wormley has been a quality depth piece for the Steelers defensive line the last three seasons, but after an ACL injury shut down his 2022 campaign, it's unknown what the future holds for this defensive end.
Wormley likely isn't going to be ready for the start of OTAs and minicamp, meaning the Steelers and the rest of the league probably won't make a move on him until he's ready to return to the field.
At that point, Pittsburgh will have their pieces in place along the defensive front, and Wormley will look for a new home whenever he's ready to play again.
Miles Boykin - Stays
Miles Boykin didn't do anything in the receiving game for the Steelers last season, but he was arguably their best special teamer and blocking wide receiver.
The Steelers will look to bring him back for those two roles again in 2023 and shouldn't have much competition to get a deal done.
Look for a name like Gunner Olszewski to be on the cap cut list if they do bing back Boykin, as they both served a lot of the same purpose last season.
Steven Sims - Stays
Sims isn't going to have an easy time making the roster again in 2023 due to the return of Calvin Austin, but the return man and slot receiver certainly did enough for Kenny Pickett to want him around for another year.
Until proven otherwise, Sims is the Steelers' returner heading into the summer. Austin will have an opportunity to earn that role and should be the odds-on favorite. Pittsburgh doesn't hand out anything, though, and Sims will get his fair shot at keeping his job.
Benny Snell Jr. - Goes
Benny Snell Jr. went out with a bang as he leaves Pittsburgh, and now, it's his time to find a home where he can contribute to a backfield.
Snell isn't a bad short-yardage running back, has great pass protection skills and is a very good special teamer. If Najee Harris wasn't the running back in front of him, he would've gotten a much better shot in Pittsburgh, but now he gets to look for that perfect fit elsewhere.
Snell will sign somewhere with opportunity, even if it's for the cheap.
Zach Gentry - Stays
The Steelers will simply not get a cheaper option with as much consistency as Gentry. They could look in the NFL Draft, but wasting a pick on a tight end seems useless. They could look on the market, but they won't find anyone less risky and more affordable than who they already had.
Gentry has grown the last two seasons, and in the tight end game, being 26 years old means, there is a lot of time before you're maxed out on potential.
Gentry's ceiling might not be very high, but it's high enough to be a role player, and could easily still grow.
William Jackson III - Goes
The Steelers never gave William Jackson III a chance due to a lingering back injury, and after cutting him to save $12 million, the team now has a decision to make on whether or not they'll bring him back on a cheaper deal.
The answer is no.
The Steelers will look at the NFL Draft for depth at cornerback, and they still have Ahkello Witherspoon under contract. If they trusted Witherspoon to be their top corner before the hamstring injury, there's no reason for them to get rid of him to take a chance on Jackson.
Marcus Allen - Stays
And finally, Marcus Allen. While there isn't much outside of special teams, and a bicep tear at the end of the season puts things more in question, the Steelers love their special teams ace.
Allen doesn't cost much and is Danny Smith's right hand man. The two sides won't leave each other this year.
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