Steelers Place Transition Tag On OLB Jason Worilds

Update

We have designated @WorildsGreatest as the @steelers transition player.

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) March 3, 2014

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The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Monday that are using the transition tag on free agent OLB Jason Worilds.

The transition tag will cost the Steelers $9.754 million as opposed to the franchise tag total of $11.654 million. This designation will give the Steelers the ability to match any offer he receives on the open market within the first five days.

Worilds would have been one of the hottest commodities in this year’s free agent class, especially now that the Redskins franchised OLB Brian Orakpo before today’s deadline.

The Steelers will need to make some roster moves in the coming days in order to get into a better financial position as they head into free agency.

• Jason La Canfora mentions that the Steelers could part ways with CB Ike Taylor at some point in the near future.

Worilds, 25, produced 63 tackles, eight sacks and two forced fumbles this season and was rated by Pro Football Focus as the No. 12 3-4 outside linebacker in the league.

We had Worilds listed as the No. 8 player in our Top 50 Free Agents list.