Exclusive; Steelers ‘Would Love’ to Bring Back Veteran Defensive Starter
The Pittsburgh Steelers have announced that they want to re-sign Mason Rudolph. However, Mark Caboli of The Athletic suggested on February 6 that in a perfect world, the Steelers would also sign cornerback Levi Wallace. Kaboli named Wallace the No. 1 free agent. 2 that the Steelers would like to re-sign. Rudolph was the first. “Steelers want Wallace back,” Kaboli wrote.
That statement echoed what ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote about Wallace and the Steelers in January. “The Steelers’ free agent class isn’t great, but Wallace was a solid two-year starter in Pittsburgh and has six interceptions and 12 interceptions since 2022,” Fowler wrote. “I see him sitting there for another two years before he becomes a free agent.”
According to Fowler, Wallace is Pittsburgh’s only offseason free agent to start at least nine games in 2023. Spotrac estimates Wallace’s market value at $11.88 million based on a two-year contract. Those deals will pay veterans an average annual salary of $5.9 million. Can the Pittsburgh Steelers bring back CB Levi Wallace?
Kaboli said the Steelers would like to have Wallace on their 2024 roster. But Kaboli didn’t expect general manager Omar Khan to prioritize the veteran cornerback.
“Wallace is not at the top of the priority list as a free agent, even after a season in which he started nine games and played in 16 games, playing 69 percent of the defensive snaps,” Kaboli wrote. “With the emergence of Joey Porter Jr. as the clear-cut No. 1 cornerback, the Steelers have the luxury of experimenting with a No. 2 cornerback.”
Instead of signing Wallace right away, Kaboli expects the Steelers to look for better options “for younger options around free agency.”
The pundits picked Jaylon Johnson and L’Jarius Snead of the Steelers. Both could become free agents this offseason.
But even if he were available, the Steelers wouldn’t have much cap space to work with until 2024. If the Steelers find no other option, they could go back and re-sign Wallace.
Why should the Steelers re-sign Wallace?
The public decision the Steelers make with Wallace could hinge on Patrick Peterson’s future. The 33-year-old is under contract until the 2024 season but there are rumors he could take over the captaincy this season.
Peterson said it is possible to get to a safe place. If the Steelers lose Peterson at cornerback, they will have no depth at the position entering free agency. Along with Wallace, James Pierre, Chandon Sullivan and Elijah Riley await free agency in Pittsburgh.
At No. 7, Sullivan was the next highest-rated cornerback the Steelers should re-sign on Kaboli’s list. However, Kaboli suggested that if the Steelers re-sign Wallace, Peterson could use more nickel to fill the void left by Sullivan.
In addition to Peterson, the Steelers return junior Joey Porter. Among the 2024 starting lineup. Porter, the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 class, is expected to be the franchise’s next shutdown corner. The Steelers also have Darius Rush, Corey Treece, Josiah Scott, Luke Barku, Kalon Barnes and Thomas Graham Jr. Nate Meadors is under contract through 2024.
