One of the cruelest parts of the offseason is free agency, especially in Pittsburgh.
Seldom are there many comings, with goings being the much more common theme.
But the Steelers also prepare for that through the draft, something they did last season, for example, with the selections of Chase Claypool and Alex Highsmith to set themselves up for the likely losses of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Bud Dupree.
Smith-Schuster and Dupree have likely priced themselves out of Pittsburgh. But what about some of the other Steelers potential free agents?
Who else will be leaving? Who would the Steelers like to have back?
It's beginning to look more and more like the cap won't be the disaster that many predicted, something of which regular readers here have been aware. But it also won't be going up, so the Steelers aren't going to have a lot of money to spend.
Free agency begins March 17, a month from now. Let's put some odds on who will be back and who won't.
Zach Banner, OT (3/2) -- Banner signed a one-year, $1.75-million contract with the Steelers last year rather than test free agency. He bet on himself. And he won the starting right tackle job in training camp, then tore his ACL in the regular season opener. The Steelers like him. He likes it here. Here's betting he signs another one-year deal to come back and be in the mix to start again in 2021.
Tyson Alualu, DT (2/1) -- Alualu played well in 2020. In fact, he's played well no matter what his role has been with the Steelers in his four seasons with the team. He'll be 34 for the 2021 season, but he's still quite valuable. Another two-year deal would probably get it done, though the Steelers need to continue to draft help up front.
Sean Davis, S (3/1) -- Davis left as a free agent last season, signing with Washington but was released at the end of training camp. He played just 14 defensive snaps, but his ability to be the backup at both free and strong safety is valuable to the Steelers. He's not likely to command a big offer elsewhere and he now understands that having a role here is better than simply going somewhere else. And Davis is still just 27.
Jordan Berry, P (3/1) -- The Steelers released Berry at the end of training camp last year, signing veteran Dustin Colquitt instead. That didn't work out and they re-signed Berry five games into the season. He wound up having his best season -- at least in terms of punting average at 45.8 yards per kick. If he's willing to accept another veteran minimum deal and small signing bonus, he could be brought back again to compete with Corliss Waitman for the job. Waitman spent the season on the practice squad.
Cam Sutton, CB (4/1) -- Sutton might want to test the open market for a potential starting job. And at 26, he could get one somewhere, along with a nice chunk of cash. Spotrac.com lists his market value at $7.2 million per season. But he can play inside, outside or even safety. A three-year, $21-million deal and the starting nickel corner job would do it. That could be worked out at a veteran minimum salary in the first year with a, say, $9 million signing bonus. That would put his 2021 cap hit right around $4 million, which is doable.
Mike Hilton, CB (7/1) -- If Sutton can't be signed, the Steelers could turn their attention to Hilton. But he's a year older and not as good in coverage. He is, however, a better blitzer and better against the run. He's also got more experience. Would he accept the three-year, $21-million deal? Spotrac lists his value as slightly higher than that of Sutton.
Matt Feiler, OT (10/1) -- Feiler was a good soldier last season and kicked inside to guard to replace Ramon Foster. But he was better at right tackle the previous two seasons. Of course, other teams know that, as well. And given the lack of viable offensive linemen around the NFL, Feiler should get an offer of $6 to $7-million per season to be a starting right tackle somewhere. That might be more than the Steelers are willing or able to pay.
Avery Williamson, LB (12/1) -- Williamson came over in a trade with the Jets along with a 2022 seventh-round pick for a 2022 fifth-round pick. So he was basically a rental. But the Steelers might have to release 32-year-old Vince Williams in a cost-cutting move -- at $4 million in savings. If that happens, the could run things back with Williamson, who is still just 28. But Spotrac lists his value at $7 million per season. It's doubtful he gets that much on the open market, but you never know. He would only come back if he can start. But the Steelers also can't afford to pay him $7 million per season.
Chris Wormley, DL (15/1) -- Rented for a fifth-round pick last year, Wormley underwhelmed when he wasn't injured. But he is an NFL defensive lineman. And he'll play somewhere in 2021. Would he come back on a veteran minimum deal? Maybe. Would the Steelers want him back? That might be the bigger question.
James Conner, RB (25-1) -- Art Rooney II spoke of Conner in the past tense when he addressed the media last month. So, the Steelers won't be making him an offer to stay before free agency hits. But he also might not see many offers on the open market. If he could be brought back for around $2 million per year to serve as the No. 2 back, that would make sense. But he would have to swallow his pride to do so.
Alejandro Villanueva, LT (30-1) -- Even though he's 33, someone will make Villanueva an offer on the open market that he can't refuse. And with his skills in decline, the Steelers are ready to move on from Villanueva, as well. But for a team that is in dire need of a left tackle, Villanueva can fill that role for a year or two.
Jayron Elliott, LB; Cassius Marsh, LB; Danny Isidora, G; Jordan Dangerfield, S; Jerald Hawkins, OT; Josh Dobbs, QB (50-1) -- I could see one or two of these guys coming back, but not all for sure. All would be depth pieces. And they would be depth pieces that now cost more money than before because of their experience. The Steelers could go with younger, cheaper options.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR (100-1) -- Ben Roethlisberger can want this one as much as he likes, but Smith-Schuster's value on the open market is as much as $17 million per season. That's just too much. Yes, he's only 24, but he's also 24 with four grinding NFL seasons on his body. It's highly doubtful he's back.
Bud Dupree, OLB (100-1) -- If the Steelers had the cap space, bringing Dupree back would be the best move. But they don't, at least not without cutting players and creating holes elsewhere. The idea that he'll sign a one-year deal coming off a knee injury also seems like a true long shot. The franchise tag is a negotiations killer. The Steelers paid him more than $15 million this season. He's not going to want to take a pay cut to run it back. And there's likely a team out there in serious need of a pass rusher that will pay him. The Titans, after, all paid Jadeveon Clowney and Vic Beasley, for example, last season because they were chasing a pass rush.