PITTSBURGH -- As Tyson Alualu addressed the media after signing a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, his 11-year-old son Tyree, wearing a Steelers hat, waited in the background.
"It's great that I was able to bring my son," Alualu said about his free-agency visit to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
New Steeler Tyson Alualu feeling the family love on his visit to Pittsburgh with his son, Tyree, 11. (H/t @RyanScarpino) pic.twitter.com/BK972VZxFx
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 21, 2017
Alualu, the No. 10 overall pick in 2010, recorded 376 tackles and 17.5 sacks during his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He had other visits scheduled, but the Steelers locked him up.
Terms: Not immediately available
Grade: A-minus. Assuming the money is reasonable, the Steelers just upgraded their defensive line with a versatile player behind Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt. As ESPN Jaguars reporter Mike DiRocco put it, Alualu doesn't dominate like a top-10 pick should, but he's reliable, dependable and doesn't miss games. Plus, he can play any spot on the defensive line, giving coordinator Keith Butler more personnel options with his 3-4 scheme.
What it means: The Alualu signing doesn't bode well for free agent Ricardo Mathews, who provided valuable snaps on a one-year deal in 2016. The defensive line rotation appears set with starters Heyward, Tuitt and Javon Hargrave, with Alualu as the key swing lineman and Dan McCullers, L.T. Walton and possibly Johnny Maxey in reserve roles. The Steelers can feel comfortable rolling into camp with this bunch, freeing the team to target defensive backs and linebackers in the draft.
What's the risk? The only risk is spending money on a lineman and not a thinner position, such as outside linebacker. Clearly, though, the Steelers felt Alualu was a value pick after two weeks of free agency and that the draft is deep enough at outside linebacker. So, minimal risk, especially with all four of the Steelers' free-agency signings coming in the second (and more inexpensive) wave.
