When linebacker Jason Worilds signed his transition tag with the Steelers, he was guaranteed a one-year contract at $9.754 million if he can’t reach agreement on a long-term deal with the Steelers.
He also appears to have guaranteed the end of linebacker LaMarr Woodley’s run in Pittsburgh. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Steelers will release Woodley when the league year begins on Tuesday. PFT has confirmed that Woodley will be let go.
It’s a move that most saw coming as Woodley’s $13.6 million cap hit and recent injury history made him vulnerable even before Worilds got tagged. Woodley has missed 14 games over the last three seasons and drew criticism last year for his approach to offseason workouts while recording just five sacks off the edge for Pittsburgh.
Now he’ll need to go elsewhere in hopes of a bounce-back season as Pittsburgh sticks with Worilds and Jarvis Jones at outside linebacker. There will be plenty of teams looking for help in the pass rush, although Woodley will likely be settling for a deal that better fits his current circumstances than the one that’s coming to an end with the Steelers.
Woodley’s release will be designated a June 1 cut, allowing the Steelers to spread out the remaining cap hit. Doing so clears over $10 million from the cap this season.
