LATROBE, Pa. -- It's funny how one year can change perceptions.
It wasn't that long ago -- after the 2017 season to be exact -- many fans felt the Steelers needed to find a new nose tackle, one that would help the team avoid embarrassing losses, such as the one to the Jaguars in the playoffs in which Jacksonville ran the ball very well.
Some felt Javon Hargrave wasn't an effective enough player to be the Steelers' long-term answer at nose tackle.
Now, many are wondering how the Steelers could not sign Hargrave to a contract extension following his breakout season in 2018.
How effective was Hargrave last season? He finished with 49 tackles, including 32 solos, 6.5 sacks and eight additional pressures, seeing his numbers improve across the board in all of those areas.
Now consider that he played just 455 snaps or 43.6 percent of the team's defensive plays. That means Hargrave made or assisted on a tackle or sacked the quarterback every 8.2 snaps he was on the field.
"That’s what I do. I like to get off blocks and go make the tackle," Hargrave told me Friday, as the Steelers held their first practice of training camp for the 2019 season.
"I do hold down double teams and stuff like that, but I try to get off those double teams and go make it happen."
Hargrave, 26, made it happen quite a bit in 2018, teaming with defensive ends Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt to help form the most effective unit on the Steelers defense.
But with Hargrave entering the final year of his rookie deal, will that group be together beyond 2019?
Hargrave told me the team has not yet approached him about a contract extension, but that could be because it doesn't currently have the cap space with which to make an extension work. Extending cornerback Joe Haden could help eliminate that issue.
And if that happens, as expected, Hargrave could be the beneficiary.
The problem, however, is that both Heyward and Tuitt count upwards of $10 million against the salary cap. Can the Steelers afford to have another high-paid defensive lineman, especially one who isn't a full-time player?
"I don’t know what they can afford. I’m not checking anybody’s pockets," Hargrave told me. "I’m just bringing what I got and whatever happens, happens. I’m not really looking into that and seeing what they can do. Whenever that time comes, it will come."
Hargrave is certain of one thing: He's going to get a raise.
A third-round pick out of South Carolina State in 2016, Hargrave's base salary jumps to just over $2 million this season. But even with that increase, by season's end, he will have made just $3.7 million in his first four years in the league.
That's hardly chump change, but it also isn't much considering he's been the Steelers' starting nose tackle since Day 1. And it also isn't much considering his production.
The going rate for a good nose tackle is somewhere around $7 to $10 million per year, with the Ravens' Brandon Williams making the most money at around $14 million per year.
But, the Steelers could look at Hargrave as a part-time player and not want to pay him anywhere close to that kind of money.
"Of course you see. I see it all. It’s hard not to see it," Hargrave said of some of the other big money contracts signed by defensive tackles. "I’m not really worrying about any of that. I’m worrying about what I’m going to do this year. It’s a big year for me either way, whatever happens. It’s going to be a big year, so I’m preparing for it."
He knows all he can do is take care of his business on the football field. The rest will sort itself out.
"I think I progressed last year, got better last year," Hargrave told me. "I’m a lot better than I was my first two years. And I think I’m a lot better than I was last year. It’s about continuing to get better.
"There’s always going to be a little more that I can do, as far as playing football. I find the little things that can help me do that."
LOLLEY'S VIEW
Signing Hargrave to an extension could be task No. 1 once the Steelers get Haden extended and free up some additional cap space.
He's gotten better each season and is effective as both a run stopper and pass rusher, a rare combination for a nose tackle.
MATT SUNDAY GALLERY
Steelers training camp, Latrobe, Pa., July 26, 2019 -- MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
