(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
The Steelers lose another player that they reportedly wanted to re-sign in nose tackle Tyson Alualu. According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Alualu signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Jaguars.
It will be Alualu's second stint with the Jaguars, as he was the 10th overall pick by the Jaguars in the 2010 NFL Draft. Alualu played in Jacksonville from 2010-2016 before signing with the Steelers in 2017.
Alualu, 33, had an impressive year with the Steelers in 2020, but with the Steelers cash-strapped and currently only having $2.7 million in cap space, $3 million per year was probably a little too much for what they were willing to pay.
In his four years with the Steelers, Alualu played 62 games and started 22. He compiled 140 total tackles, 75 of them being solos, seven sacks, 16 quarterback hits, 16 tackles for losses, two forced fumbles and eight passes defended.
Cam Heyward on Twitter expressed his disappointment in losing another teammate via free agency. Alualu is the third Steelers player (second on defense) that is departing Pittsburgh due to being free agents. Bud Dupree is signing with the Titans on a five-year, $85 million deal with $35 million guaranteed and Matt Feiler agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal with the Chargers.