A couple of days after losing nose tackle Tyson Alualu to the Jaguars in free agency, the Steelers brought back another of their defensive linemen, signing Chris Wormley to a two-year deal.
Wormley's total deal is worth $4.5 million and he counts $1.6 million against the Steelers salary cap in 2021.
Wormley, a five-year veteran, was acquired by the Steelers along with a seventh-round pick in this year's draft from the Ravens for a fifth-round pick this year.
But he made a negligible impact in his first season with the Steelers, appearing in 13 games, including one start, while making eight tackles, one sack and recording three quarterback hits. The Steelers, however, are hoping for more from Wormley, a former starter with the Ravens, to help offset the loss of Alualu.
Wormley, 28, played just 148 snaps for the Steelers in 2020, down from the 448 he played the previous season with the Ravens.
— Chris Wormley (@Chris_Wormley43) March 18, 2021
His signing does not take acquiring additional defensive line help either in free agency or in the draft. In addition to starters Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt, the Steelers return Isaiah Buggs, Henry Mondeaux and Carlos Davis on their defensive line. Wormley, who has made 15 career starts, adds another veteran presence to that group.
Meanwhile, another of the Steelers' free agents, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is drawing interest from the Jets. Though there have been reports that the Steelers remain in the mix for Smith-Schuster, that's simply a procedural courtesy. The Steelers typically remain in contact with all of their free agents.
The leaking that the Steelers are still in the mix is likely a ploy by Smith-Schuster's agent to keep the Jets from low balling their offer.