Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph headlines the group from the Steel City that are scheduled to hit the open market during the 2024 offseason, along with special teams All-Pro Miles Killebrew. Other Steelers that will be hitting free agency include Levi Wallace, Kwon Alexander, James Pierre, and more.
Is Steelers' Levi Wallace Worth Bringing Back in 2024?
Steelers insider for The Athletic, Mark Kaboly, published an article Tuesday ranking the organization's top 10 players that are scheduled to hit free agency in 2024. To no one's surprise, Rudolph was at the top of the list. He finished the 2023 season on a high note, and is likely the Steelers' first choice when it comes to competition for Kenny Pickett at the quarterback position. A surprising name was listed as the second most important free agent for Pittsburgh, as Kaboly spoke about the team's desire to bring back Wallace for 2024.
"The Steelers would love to have Wallace back, but surely he’s not at the top of their free agent priority list, even after a season in which he started nine games and played in 16, logging 69 percent of the defensive snaps. With the emergence of Joey Porter Jr. as the clear No. 1 cornerback, the Steelers have the luxury to experiment with their No. 2 guy."
Oftentimes throughout the 2023 season, Wallace seemed like a liability whenever he was on the field. He made some splash plays by forcing pass break ups and intercepting the opposing quarterback, but more often than not, he was getting beat. He had two interceptions and 11 passes defensed during the 2023 season, but he also allowed six touchdowns and nearly 600 yards receiving.
The Steelers are in no position to make any splashes in free agency by bringing in a top-tier cornerback, as they currently sit over the cap before making any cuts or restructuring any contracts to make cap space. Expect that to change by April's NFL Draft, however. Currently, they already have their clear number one cornerback in Defensive Rookie Of The Year finalist, Joey Porter Jr., but need to find a reliable corner to play opposite of him. Kaboly spoke about how the Steelers are limited when it comes to signing a corner in free agency, and claims that if they want Wallace back, they will have no trouble re-signing him.
"Wallace shouldn’t be in high demand, which would allow the Steelers to snoop around free agency for somebody younger with more upside. They were linked to now free agent cornerback Jaylon Johnson at the trade deadline, but nothing progressed to the point of making a deal. Johnson’s price tag — if the Bears let him get that far — would likely be too hefty for the Steelers to be a legitimate player."
Jaylon Johnson is the best cornerback in free agency in 2024, and will certainly be too expensive for the Steelers, barring any drastic roster changes. Teams around the NFL won't be racing to sign Wallace, so if Pittsburgh wants to keep him, they should be able to. However, he has proven himself to be a hindrance to the defense at times, and the team might be better off with Patrick Peterson or by finding their second cornerback through the 2024 NFL Draft.
There are a lot of quality corners in the upcoming NFL Draft, including players like Kool-Aid McKinstry, Cooper DeJean, and Terrion Arnold. They are all slated to be first round picks in the range of where the Steelers will be picking at 20th overall. The Steelers have other needs along the offensive line, so there is no guarantee they select a corner with that high of a pick.
According to Kaboly, there is a serious chance the Steelers may view Wallace or Peterson as their best options to compliment Porter Jr. at the cornerback position. Wallace is by no means a fan favorite in Pittsburgh, but he may be suiting up in the black and gold once again in 2024.
How would you feel if the Steelers re-signed Wallace?
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