Steelers Use Transition Tag On Jason Worilds

The Steelers became the second NFL team to use the transition tag today, designating linebacker Jason Worilds as their transition player, the team announced in a press release.

Unless Pittsburgh can work out a long-term deal with Worilds, the transition tag will lock the prospective free agent in for a $9.754MM cap hit for 2014, meaning the team will have to continue clearing cap room. The Steelers started that process today by restructuring Heath Miller‘s contract to reduce his $9.47MM cap hit for 2014.

Had the Steelers franchised Worilds, the one-year price tag would’ve been $11.455MM, so the club saves a little money by using the transition tag instead. However, if Worilds explores the open market and signs an offer sheet with a rival club, the Steelers will have to match the offer or let the standout linebacker walk without receiving any compensatory first-round picks.

Worilds, 25, set career-highs with 63 tackles and eight sacks in 2013. He also ranked as the 12th-best 3-4 outside linebacker, out of 42 qualified players, according to Pro Football Focus.

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