OLB'ers

[TABLE="class: datatable tablesorter tablesorter-default"]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Brian Orakpo[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]28[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]WAS[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$11,455,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Jason Worilds[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]26[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]PIT[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$9,754,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Lance Briggs[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]34[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]CHI[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$6,500,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Osi Umenyiora[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]33[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]ATL[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$4,750,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Sean Weatherspoon[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]27[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]ATL[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$4,132,500[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Kroy Biermann[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]29[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]ATL[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$4,083,334[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Dwight Freeney[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]34[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]SD[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$4,078,125[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]John Abraham[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]36[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]ARI[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$3,925,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Brandon Graham[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]26[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]PHI[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$3,378,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Geno Hayes[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]27[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]JAC[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$1,712,500[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Dan Skuta[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]28[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]SF[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$1,650,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Jabaal Sheard[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]25[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]CLE[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$1,619,625[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Justin Houston[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]25[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]KC[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$1,598,812[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Ashlee Palmer[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]28[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]DET[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$1,583,334[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Sam Acho[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]26[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]ARI[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$1,549,607[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Bruce Carter[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]26[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]DAL[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$1,544,645[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Brooks Reed[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]27[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]HOU[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$1,496,015[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Jacquian Williams[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]26[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]NYG[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$1,450,670[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Justin Durant[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]29[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]DAL[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$1,450,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Spencer Paysinger[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]26[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]NYG[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$1,431,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Chase Blackburn[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]31[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]CAR[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$1,050,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Andy Studebaker[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]29[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]IND[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$730,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Pernell McPhee[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]26[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]BAL[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$681,140[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Malcolm Smith[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]25[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]SEA[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$656,475[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]J.T. Thomas[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]26[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]JAC[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$645,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Arthur Moats[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]26[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]PIT[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$635,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Parys Haralson[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]30[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]NO[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$635,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Akeem Ayers[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]25[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]NE[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$615,762[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Jonathan Casillas[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]27[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]NE[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$582,352[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Darryl Tapp[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]30[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]DET[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$570,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]O'Brien Schofield[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]27[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]SEA[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$570,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Quentin Groves[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]30[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TEN[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$570,000[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Larry Dean[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]26[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]BUF[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$569,118[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Larry English[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]28[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$536,471[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]James Harrison[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]36[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]PIT[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$534,412[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Marcus Benard[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]29[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]ARI[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$402,352[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Jason Williams[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]28[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$100,588[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Scott Solomon[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]DE[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]26[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]CLE[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$67,058[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Lawrence Sidbury[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]28[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$67,058[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Desmond Bishop[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]30[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]SF[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$67,058[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]Josh Kaddu[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]24[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]MIN[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$33,529[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: player"]James Anderson[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]OLB[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]31[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]DAL[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]TBD[/TD]
[TD="class: right"]$33,529[/TD]
[TD="class: center"]UFA[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

these are just the unrestricted free agents.

 

Justin Houston is probably the best on that list.

 

we see what we paid worilds last year. we are also losing moats and harrisons money, but adding woodleys 8 mil.. I think there is some talent coming back in hojo,Jarvis and zumwalt, so getting one decent pass rusher that is a good all around guy and possibly moats or james back and we could afford someone from the 10 spot or lower on here. well hopefully.

 

Sheard or McPhee might be good options. Probably would like to see us keep Moats around too.

 

Worilds sack ratio to amount of pay is horrible. What 7 sacks for over $9 million!

 

With respect to Worlilds he was in coverage a LOT. Justin Houston will get close to JJ Watt type money from the Chiefs. This will push out Tamba Hali. I said in an earlier thread I would take a look see if he is released. He commands respect and still has years left.

This team is in need of more then a decent pass rusher. Could be an early pick.

 

Even if we pick up a free agent we still need to draft at least one. If we don't, then we need to draft two OLBs. I'm still not sold on Jarvis Jones.

 

keep moats first. draft a guy and then maybe get one of the low end free agents. I am fine going into season with jones and moats starting. maybe james comes back who knows

 

I actually think Moats can get to the qb as well. I don't know if I'd be comfortable with having him as a starting lb but I think for depth we should keep him. Also use him more on passing downs because he was able to get some penetration when he was in there this year. I don't know that he's a world beater but he seems like a pretty good value for what he can bring to the table.

 

Anybody remember Howard Jones in camp and preseason or how about Soto?

 

I agree. I'd like to see Howard Jones make a step up, but that may be a long shot. Sheard would be a good pick up.

I'm intrigued to see how the rest of the league views Worilds, and whether he'll be getting many calls...

 

We currently have 1 OLB on the roster....1. Bringing back Moats still leaves us with at LEAST 2 open spots at OLB. I have a couple of thoughts when it comes to Linebacker.

First, we need to make a decision about who all is staying at ILB. Timmons, Shazier, Williams, Spence, Garvin, and Zumwalt. All guys they liked and think could play. That being said, we need at most 5 of those guys on the roster, IMO we would be better off with only 3.

Second, I like Moats well enough for him to be a backup on both sides of our OLB position, but nonetheless Jones is the other guy and I'm not sure he should even start. Moats contributed, but shouldn't be more than a substitute for us.

Third, Worilds may be surprised at his lack of interest in a long-term contract. He is a middling player at the position IMO. He can be a starter for someone, but isn't going to have a huge impact worthy of huge numbers at the position.

Fourth, getting the OLB position fixed is THE priority IMO this offseason. If we don't get pressure under the new CB coverage rules you might as well forget any CB looking good. It isn't going to happen. Even the best CB needs some help from the Dline and LBs to generate pressure. It wasn't that long ago that both of our OLBs had double digit sacks, this year we didn't have ANYONE with double digit sacks.

 

Typically, the Steelers do not like to go into the draft with big holes that would make them reach. They will sign some free agents of mediocre (adequate) ability at least. I would expect signings of this type at OLB, S and CB.

 

Half a million for James Harrison is pretty solid. I mean, even if he did half of what he did this year, its still a lot for half a million. Especially when there are guys on the team like Cortez Allen making over 6 million for doing literally nothing.

Assuming, that is, Harrison would be willing to come back next year at a reduced role. But hey, if he out performs the other OLBs, why not play him like we did this year?

Just plugging in Jarvis Jones and hoping that he gets better over time is starting to get old, in my opinion.

 

Woodley's contract is still on the books, I don't see us breaking the bank on some of those guys. And the guys worth breaking the bank on will be resigned by their respective teams no doubt. Justin Houston is not going anywhere.

McPhee would be a sweet signing though.

Just a thought, but if Woodely gets cut, what if we bring him back for depth, I'm sure if we did that we could rip up his contract and tweak it so it is easier on our cap... right?

 

woodley is done .. his 8 milion are writing on the stone anyway

 

He didn't earn his money the first time he was here! So NO!

 

Woodley may be out of football if he does not get himself into shape. If he were to get serious, and have a transforming offseason, he still wont demand a big payday. The previous contract is dead money. But, should he get into shape, and be signed for near the minimum (I would expect a 2 year deal, just a bit above minimum) you could bring him into camp and see where he is at. If he proves to not be in shape, then cut him at the end of camp and move on. I'd rather have him in camp, then reach out to him after the 3rd or 4th week of the season like we did with Harrison. I see him as a backup at this point anyway.

 

My positions exactly.