Alualu going back to Jaguars; Hilton to Bengals taken on the South Side (Steelers)

KARL ROSER / STEELERS

Tyson Alualu

The Steelers aren't the only team that is sometimes interested in bringing back former players.

The Jaguars have signed Tyson Alualu to a two-year deal to return to Jacksonville, which selected the defensive tackle 10th overall in the 2010 draft. Alualu received a two-year deal worth a reported $6 million.

The move came just before it was announced the Bengals are raiding their division rivals to sign cornerback Mike Hilton. Hilton received a four-year contract. Terms have not been disclosed, but Hilton was expected to command between $7 and $ 8 million per year on the open market. 

Alualu, 34, joined the Steelers in 2017 after spending the first portion of his career with Jacksonville. He became an integral part of the Steelers defense, appearing in 62 games with 22 starts in four seasons.

In 2020, Alualu moved to nose tackle to offset the loss of Javon Hargrave in free agency and had 38 tackles and two sacks in 15 games.

The loss of Alualu is a big one for the Steelers, who don't have a veteran player capable of replacing him. Chris Wormley, acquired along with a seventh-round pick for a fifth-round pick last season from the Ravens, also is a free agent.

His departure leaves the team with Isaiah Buggs, Henry Mondeaux and Carlos Davis backing up starters Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt -- and a big hole at nose tackle.

The Steelers had made an effort to retain Alualu. Alualu is the second defensive starter to leave the Steelers in the past two days. Monday, outside linebacker Bud Dupree agreed to a deal to join the Titans.

The Steelers did, however, retain nickel cornerback Cam Sutton.

The signing of Sutton mitigated the loss of Hilton. The Steelers feel Sutton can be their nickel corner, a role he shared with Hilton at times in the past, anyway.

But Hilton was a success story as a reclamation project by the team. Signed as an undrafted rookie in 2016 by the Jaguars, Hilton was released by Jacksonville and signed by the Patriots. After spending just a few weeks with the Patriots on their practice squad, Hilton was again released.

The Steelers signed the Mississippi product at the end of that season and in 2017, he won the starting nickel corner spot.

Hilton appeared in 59 games for the Steelers -- 20 of which were starts -- making 237 tackles, seven interceptions and recording 9.5 sacks.

Loading...
Loading...