PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Looking at the Steelers free agents, almost all of those that impacted the season are on the defensive side. Here are the names with a brief rundown of their season and their 2022 salary.
Offense-start here, shorter list
TE-Zach Gentry ($1.051 million) – has come a long way and was their best blocking tight end.
The 6'8" 26-year-old caught 19 passes on 23 targets for 132 yards, six of the catches for first downs.
FB Derek Watt ($4.75 million) – the end of his three-year contract, made the most impact this year scoring the final touchdown of the season. He had nine rushes for 21 yards and eight resulted in first downs. He also caught five passes for 11 yards and a score.
RB Benny Snell, Jr ($1.14 million) – once thought maybe to be a lead back, Snell is a good special teams player but had only 20 rushes for 90 yards and a touchdown in 2022.
QB Mason Rudolph ($4.04 million) – dressed for only one game this year, did not see one snap. The 27-year-old former third-round pick finished with a 5-4-1 record as a starter completing 61.5% of his passes for 2,366 yards, 16 TD, 11 INT
C JC Hassenauer ($895,000) – a solid backup at center or potentially guard, played 42 offensive snaps with center Mason Cole battling through a foot injury and mostly staying on the field
WR Miles Boykin ($2.754 million) - good special teams player and while he played some offensive snaps only finished with two catches for 11 yards in 132 offensive snaps.
OL Jesse Davis ($3 million) – brought over at the end of training camp for insurance in a trade with Minnesota. The 6'6", 31-year-old didn't play one offensive snap, but 16% of the special teams snaps. He started five years as a guard, then tackle with Miami.
Defense-several starters on the list
DL Larry Ogunjobi ($8 million) – the run defense was much better with him on the field. He finished with 48 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He was on the injury list almost every week with various injuries-back, knee, toe and foot.
LB Devin Bush ($6 million) - listed because he was the starting middle linebacker and finished with 81 tackles, two TFL and two passes defended. He played five snaps each the last two games.
CB Cameron Sutton ($5.2 million) – losing Joe Haden to retirement and Ahkello Witherspoon on injury, Sutton was THE rock of the corner position. He played 100% of the snaps in 12 games and even battling injury played over 50% in two games. The 27-year-old had three picks in a defense that led the NFL in interceptions and finished with 43 tackles (35 solo) and 15 passes defended.
S Damontae Kazee ($870,000) – injured and suspended (PED) for the first half of the season, Kazee had a key interception against Cleveland. Almost 30, Kazee filled in for Minkah Fitzpatrick against the Raiders and finished with 20 tackles and two picks on the season.
S Terrell Edmunds ($1.187 million) – maybe the biggest bargain on the team, the 25-year-old played at least 93% of the snaps in every game but two and those were due to injury. He played in 15 games with 70 tackles, three TFL, two sacks and five passes defended.
LB Robert Spillane ($2.43 million) – the steadiest middle linebacker playing 100% of the snaps each of the last four games, combining for 36 tackles (2 TFL). The 27-year-old finished with a career-high 79 tackles, four TFL, four passes defended starting five games.
DL Chris Wormley ($2.9 million) – finished the season on injured reserve after a knee injury against the Ravens. The 29-year-old was more rotational than last season finishing with 29 tackles, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble making one start in 13 games.
OLB Malik Reed ($1.5 million) – Steelers traded with Denver looking for him to add depth, had an opportunity to play after the injury to TJ Watt but finished with one sack in 14 games, started a pair but was a healthy scratch the last three games of the year.
DL Tyson Alualu ($3.462 million) – talked back by teammates to rejoin the Steelers after missing most of 2021 with a knee injury, the 36-year-old played in all 17 games, starting two (27% of the snaps). He finished with 13 tackles, two quarterback hits and a pass defended.
There are several players the team would like to have back, a few that want to explore free agency, a few (Bush and Rudolph) that have no chance of returning and a potential retiree (Alualu).
