2020 Free Agents

Digest Correspondent

TYSON ALUALU

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

AGE/BIRTHDATE: 33/May 12, 1987

ROLE IN 2020: Alualu was Pittsburgh’s starting nose tackle in their 3-4 scheme, but he also saw plenty of action when the Steelers only had two defensive linemen on the field. Alualu played 44 percent of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps last year in several different interior defensive line alignments and only missed one game. Alualu finished his 11th NFL season with 18 tackles and two sacks.

VALUE ON THE OPEN MARKET: This former first-round pick has proven to be scheme versatile and could help any team in the NFL. But Alualu’s age drops his value significantly as does his only moderate pass-rush production.

POTENTIAL IN-HOUSE REPLACEMENTS: The Steelers drafted Carlos Davis in the seventh round this past year and Isaiah Buggs in the sixth round in 2019. Is either of these young players ready to step up and handle the workload that Alualu has handled over the past two seasons? That’s a real stretch. Plus, neither Davis nor Buggs is a traditional hold-the-point nose tackle type.

STATUS FORECAST FOR 2021: If Alualu decides to test the waters of free agency, he shouldn’t have a difficult time finding a suitor. But such a fit might not come right away and Alualu looks more like another team’s consolation prize if they lost out on a younger option in the middle of their defensive front.

BOTTOM LINE: This looks like a free agent who has an excellent chance of returning to Pittsburgh, quite possibly on a one-year contract.

ZACH BANNER

TACKLE

AGE/BIRTHDATE: 27/Dec. 25, 1993

ROLE IN 2020: Banner won the starting right tackle job coming out of training camp but didn’t get the opportunity to show the world what he could do. Banner’s 2020 season unfortunately lasted just 59 snaps because of a season-ending knee injury.

VALUE ON THE OPEN MARKET: Offensive tackles with Banner’s skill-set are always going to attract attention on the open market. However, Banner’s knee injury and lack of starting experience certainly will work against him.

POTENTIAL IN-HOUSE REPLACEMENTS: None. The only offensive tackle of note under contract right now is Chuks Okorafor.

STATUS FORECAST FOR 2021: It would be difficult for Banner to get what he deserves on the open market considering where he is right now. If he were to leave Pittsburgh, it would probably be for a one year prove-it type of deal.

With the Steelers having the most information on this player