Contracts that expire on defense for 2017

[Coach]

Contracts that expire on defense for 2017

http://overthecap.com/free-agency/pittsburgh-steelers/


DL:

Ricardo Matthews. 50% Odds likely to leave. In his case, he might be cut. Matthews is more of a 4th DE type of player on most teams. A very replacable player.



LB:

Lawerence Timmons. Odds 90% likely to leave. A no-brainer unless he accepts a well below market value deal to stay here.

Jarvis Jones. 80% likely to leave. A first round disappointment finally relegated to bench duty when healthy.

James Harrison. 60% likely to leave via retirement ( Forced or voluntary ). He's still playing at a high level, but he'll be 39 year old next season. No one beats father time.

Anthony Chickillo - 40% likely to leave. Now starting and doing a decent job, Chickillo could get some offers from other teams.


DB:

Shamarko Thomas. 80% likely to leave. Often injured and last on the depth cart.

Ross Cockrell. 30% likely to leave. With 2 years of solid play, given his age and position, Cockrell could be a hard man to keep in in free agency. Gay will be 32 next season, so the Steelers if challenged to keep Cockrell might have to over pay a bit. The good news is Cockrell is a restricted free agent, the other on the list are unrestricted free agents.


Quick thoughts: The defense will need to be a priority in the off- season and the draft. OLB is very thin, and DB and DL need depth. An edge rusher, and a big DT to play the 4 man line that is a factor vs the run or pass is needed.

 

[Hines57]

I'd bring back Chickillo for depth but I would not overpay for him.

Timmons is going to be a tough decision. He's still effective but he's aging and will only regress as time goes on.

Cockrell I'd let walk, if Golson can get healthy we have him for depth and Justin Gilbert can eventually work his way up to starting with Burns.

Shamarko has no business being in the league, let him walk.

Debo is going to retire.

Ricardo who? Let him walk

Jarvis, he's a walk free agent. We will be drafting an OLB in round 1 again.

 

[Coach]

I'd bring back Chickillo for depth but I would not overpay for him.

Timmons is going to be a tough decision. He's still effective but he's aging and will only regress as time goes on.

Cockrell I'd let walk, if Golson can get healthy we have him for depth and Justin Gilbert can eventually work his way up to starting with Burns.

Shamarko has no business being in the league, let him walk.

Debo is going to retire.

Ricardo who? Let him walk

Jarvis, he's a walk free agent. We will be drafting an OLB in round 1 again.

Chickillo is an Exclusive rights, free agent. He's going nowhere unless the Steelers cut him.

Let Cockrell walk? Not a chance

Harrison is playing at a high level. He might have enough left for one more season. A player can increase his chances of making the hall of fame with great longevity.

 

[Djfan]

I agree with Coach.

 

[POP]

Jarvis, he's a walk free agent. We will be drafting an OLB in round 1 again.

It's insane how many first round picks have been used on the front 7.

Jones
Dupree
Heyward
Timmons
Shazier
Tuitt - 2
Hargrave - 3

And yet, our D is STILL soft.

And yet, we used to put much better Ds on the field not needing so many high picks. The 2005 D. Colbert should stop spending so much time reading his press clippings and spend more time on trying to find talent.

DE Aaron Smith 29 6 16 Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 109th pick / 1999
DE Kimo von Oelhoffen 34 11 16 Cincinnati Bengals / 6th / 162nd pick / 1994
NT Casey Hampton* 28 4 15 Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 19th pick / 2001
LOLB Clark Haggans 28 5 13 9.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 137th pick / 2000
LILB James Farrior 30 8 14 2.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered New York Jets / 1st / 8th pick / 1997
RILB Larry Foote 25 3 16 3.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 128th pick / 2002
ROLB Joey Porter* 28 6 16 10.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered Pittsburgh Steelers / 3rd / 73rd pick / 1999
LCB Ike Taylor 25 2 15 0.0 sacks, 1 interception, 2 fumbles recovered Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 125th pick / 2003
RCB Deshea Townsend 30 7 15 3.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 117th pick / 1998
SS Troy Polamalu*+ 24 2 16 3.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 16th pick / 2003
FS Chris Hope 25 3 16 0.0 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered Pittsburgh Steelers / 3rd / 94th pick / 2002

 

[Drink IRON City]

Cockrell need resigned but NOT for to big of a deal. Kind of designers to in years 3 & 4 the steelers can cut without to much comittment. Timmons, a 2 year deal but friendly is a must. DEBO I want back another year but it looks like retirement it's in his mind. Pay him what it takes for a 1 yr deal. Uncle Jarvis needs to pursue his life's work, just NOT here. AS said, our "D" needs offseason attention and MORE that just through the draft.



Salute the nation

 

[Djfan]

Don't we have a larger than normal amount of cap space next year?

 

[Coryea]

It's insane how many first round picks have been used on the front 7.

Jones
Dupree
Heyward
Timmons
Shazier
Tuitt - 2
Hargrave - 3

And yet, our D is STILL soft.

And yet, we used to put much better Ds on the field not needing so many high picks. The 2005 D. Colbert should stop spending so much time reading his press clippings and spend more time on trying to find talent.

DE Aaron Smith 29 6 16 Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 109th pick / 1999
DE Kimo von Oelhoffen 34 11 16 Cincinnati Bengals / 6th / 162nd pick / 1994
NT Casey Hampton* 28 4 15 Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 19th pick / 2001
LOLB Clark Haggans 28 5 13 9.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 137th pick / 2000
LILB James Farrior 30 8 14 2.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered New York Jets / 1st / 8th pick / 1997
RILB Larry Foote 25 3 16 3.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 128th pick / 2002
ROLB Joey Porter* 28 6 16 10.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered Pittsburgh Steelers / 3rd / 73rd pick / 1999
LCB Ike Taylor 25 2 15 0.0 sacks, 1 interception, 2 fumbles recovered Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 125th pick / 2003
RCB Deshea Townsend 30 7 15 3.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 117th pick / 1998
SS Troy Polamalu*+ 24 2 16 3.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 16th pick / 2003
FS Chris Hope 25 3 16 0.0 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered Pittsburgh Steelers / 3rd / 94th pick / 2002

So you think Colbert suddenly forgot how to draft after Tomlin got here?

 

[Coach]

Don't we have a larger than normal amount of cap space next year?

Yes, about 20 million. Bell, if re-signed, would gobble up a large portion of it, and the Steelers might opt to extend Tuitt now if he closes the year strong.

My plan would be to get the best edge rusher and DB not franchised in the 2017 free agency and let Bell walk. Then draft DB high, Edge high, and maybe RB high.

 

[Coach]

So you think Colbert suddenly forgot how to draft after Tomlin got here?

Colbert has been playing with house money since Ben was drafted. Without him, this team is .500 or below....

 

[Coryea]

Colbert has been playing with house money since Ben was drafted. Without him, this team is .500 or below....

I think Tomlin has the most say in the draft, not Colbert, as did Cowher post Donahue.

 

[Hines57]

Yes, about 20 million. Bell, if re-signed, would gobble up a large portion of it, and the Steelers might opt to extend Tuitt now if he closes the year strong.

My plan would be to get the best edge rusher and DB not franchised in the 2017 free agency and let Bell walk. Then draft DB high, Edge high, and maybe RB high.

Bell and Brown are going to gobble up that 20 million.

 

[Djfan]

Let Bell walk? I think that is just nuts.

 

[Coryea]

When is the last time the best RB or best WR in football won the super bowl?
The problem with Bell is you give him big money, then he gets suspended what 10 games?

 

[Litos]

chickillo and cockrell will be RFA so there's no chance of them leaving. The first is a rotational player with some upside and the latter has been the best DB on the team this season.

getting a top OLB/DE would be ideal but deljzic already posted some good info showing how thin the FA pool will be so probably any help there must come through the draft. Overpaying the top FA will only hurt the team down the road

 

[Hines57]

Chickillo is an Exclusive rights, free agent. He's going nowhere unless the Steelers cut him.

Let Cockrell walk? Not a chance

Harrison is playing at a high level. He might have enough left for one more season. A player can increase his chances of making the hall of fame with great longevity.

Yes I let Cockrell walk. Golson needs to get healthy and be on the field. Next year has to be that year. Justin Gilbert should also be able to rise up and take that starting spot. Burns and Gilbert would give us two big corners and with Golson/Gay inside we have a fairly solid secondary.

From there its all about getting some OLBs who can hit the QB.

 

[FordFairLane]

Matthews comes back if the Steelers like what they see while Heyward is out this year.

LT probably depends on contract demands and if the Steelers get long term deals done with Bell and Brown. If Bell leaves we'd have extra money so that could be a factor. Personally, I feel LT signs a reasonable 3 year deal and he stays for 1-2 more seasons.

JJ gone.

Harrison it is all up to him. If he wants to come back we will take him for a 1 year deal in a heartbeat but does he want to come back? He has the Steelers record and he has plenty of money. I feel he will hang them up.

Chickillo likely comes back. Unless someone overpays I feel the Steelers will lock him up before free agency starts,

Shark is gone unless he signs for the vet min as he is just a special teams player and not even a depth guy at this point.

Cockrell for me depends on Gilbert. If Gilbert shows enough in practice and can get on the field I feel they might let Cockrell test free agency. If Gilbert can't show us anything I feel the Steelers make enough of an offer to sign him before free agency.

 

[Litos]

Yes I let Cockrell walk. Golson needs to get healthy and be on the field. Next year has to be that year. Justin Gilbert should also be able to rise up and take that starting spot. Burns and Gilbert would give us two big corners and with Golson/Gay inside we have a fairly solid secondary.

From there its all about getting some OLBs who can hit the QB.

Gilbert hasn't even had decent snaps, on the other side #31 has been defending the #1 WR of the opposing team every week and has been at least adequate in coverage. He will be a RFA so you stamp him with a 2nd round tender that will cost about 3M for one season (cheap for a starting CB) and if someone else signs him we get his 2nd pick. Any way is a win situation for the Steelers.

If Gilbert is kept consider him insurance against injury

 

[ark steel]

I think Tomlin has the most say in the draft, not Colbert, as did Cowher post Donahue.

I would agree that it is, reasonably, equal at this point. I doubt that, Year 1 or Year 2 it was anything close to equal.

 

[POP]

So you think Colbert suddenly forgot how to draft after Tomlin got here?

You tell me. How are their draft picks working out in the last 7 years?

 

[Stryker]

This cap is going to be over $30M. Brown's raise will actually drop, since he's on the books to count $13.6M against. Bell will be a hit, and a well spent hit.

I'd bring back Harrison, but the decision is his, not Pittsburgh's. He'd be cheap, and he'd provide leadership and hopefully make some plays. Dude didn't play much his first 5 years in the league, so there's a reason why his body is holding up.

Cockrell may resign if the price is right. He may be the result of a numbers game. There is a lot of talent behind him (if healthy), and the Steelers will probably draft another CB next season.

Shamarko's value is no longer as a safety, but on ST. This team prides special teams players. I think the 80% gone is accurate if you only think of him as a safety. His main concern is his health. He may be a cheap option to resign as a ST player with potential to see some on field action, if he ever "gets it".

 

[POP]

Gilbert hasn't even had decent snaps, on the other side #31 has been defending the #1 WR of the opposing team every week and has been at least adequate in coverage. He will be a RFA so you stamp him with a 2nd round tender that will cost about 3M for one season (cheap for a starting CB) and if someone else signs him we get his 2nd pick. Any way is a win situation for the Steelers.

If Gilbert is kept consider him insurance against injury

I don't know how a player who's play is horrible provides any insurance whatsoever.

 

[Coryea]

You tell me. How are their draft picks working out in the last 7 years?

Not my point, my point is that I think the coach has alot to do with lack of drafting well

 

[Litos]

I don't know how a player who's play is horrible provides any insurance whatsoever.

Gilbert you mean? some here want him starting next season, right now he's our #4 CB and I expect him to be that next season too, fighting a spot with Golson

 

[Steelerfan]

Shamarko's value is no longer as a safety, but on ST. This team prides special teams players. I think the 80% gone is accurate if you only think of him as a safety. His main concern is his health. He may be a cheap option to resign as a ST player with potential to see some on field action, if he ever "gets it".

Please tell me this is sarcasm. He's good for a ST penalty or two every time he steps on the field. Good riddins to him.

Not sure how Bell got in the defense conversation, but any contract should have language about recovering $$$ if he ***** up again.