Steelers free agent OLB Jason Worilds mentioned that he open to re-signing with the team this offseason, but only if the “circumstances are right.”
“If the circumstances are right, for sure,” Worilds in a phone interview Scott Brown of ESPN.com. “They haven’t been right for me in the past. I wouldn’t want to fall back into (not starting) again.”
Worilds, 25, figures to be at the top of the Steelers priorities list this offseason now that he’s coming off of a breakout year for their defense. Worilds concerns regarding playing time are warranted given that he had only started 10 games in his first three years in the league.
Worilds 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.
Brown writes that the Steelers could be facing a decision between either losing Worilds during free agency, or releasing veteran OLB LaMarr Woodley. The Steelers haveWoodley under contract for $8 million next season and his cap hit will be $13.59 million.
As we’ve mentioned numerous times in the past few months, the Steelers are currently projected to be over the cap, so they will once again need to make numerous moves in order to be cap compliant.
Given that the Steelers already spent a first-round pick on Jarvis Jones last year, it might make sense to part ways with Woodley and re-sign Worilds.
We have Worilds listed as the No. 16 player in our Top 50 Free Agents list.
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