Anthony Chickillo is sticking around Pittsburgh. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the Steelers are re-signing the linebacker. It’s a two-year deal worth $8MM. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets that the Patriots were also in on Chickillo, and extended him a similar offer, but Chickillo wanted to win with Pittsburgh. He said, “it’s funny everybody’s counting us out. You still have to play the games.”
The 26-year-old has spent his entire four-year career with the Steelers. After being selected in the sixth-round of the 2015 draft, the Miami product has developed into a reliable backup linebacker.
In 2018, Chickillo appeared in 16 games for a second-straight season, compiling 24 tackles and two passes defended. Pro Football Focus ranked him 40th among 103 eligible edge defenders.
With Chickillo back on board, the Steelers will have the ability to turn to him or Olasunkanmi Adeniyi to back up starters Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt. Fellow linebacker L.J. Fort is also a free agent, and there have been some rumblings that Pittsburgh could look to bring him back.
Checkmate Cleveland
Sad, Pitt is going to be significantly worse without brown, the pats ehh they haven’t lost any true play makers on offense besides brown and Wynn will step in n start there, bennet will easily put up as good of numbers as flowers this year for significantly less money, patterson left which sucks bc he was so versatile but isn’t a devastating loss. To go back to Pitt thinking you have a better chance in now a division Cleveland has basically taken over instead of joining the pats which while other teams in the afc east have gotten better, still can’t compete on paper yet alone on the field with the goat is just a joke. I love seeing loyalty but embrace it as loyalty not the fact you actually think Pitt will make the playoffs this year bc they won’t plain and simple.
They still have Ben and a good oline. Conner and juju will need to step up big and they need to do well in the draft to fill holes on defense Nd wr. And Cleveland is playing with expectation. I’m not giving it to Cleveland just yet
Sadly, Brown is going to be significantly worse without Ben throwing his way and having to try and share the ball with Tyrell. Of course, Carr is going to get an earful with overthrows and not wanting to try and get to Brown in double coverage. Brown going to make Steelers look like bandits on that trade when Brown’s production slips this coming season.
What a waste of $8 million. Should have let New England sign him, cut Dupree & used the money from both to bring in a better free agent.