If nothing else good came of the COVID-19 pandemic, the re-singing of Tyson Alualu by the Pittsburgh Steelers is one of them. It was assumed Alualu was planning to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars this season and the Steelers would have to figure out how to replace him.
But Alualu is back and this is big for the Steelers. Here are the three big things the return of Alualu means for Pittsburgh.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The injury bug hit the middle of the Steelers defense hard last season. Inside linebacker Devin Bush along with Alualu both missed time and the entire defense suffered. If the Steelers are going to count on Robert Spillane in the middle all season, Alualu in front of him makes me much more comfortable.
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The Steelers have significant draft needs on both sides of the football. Getting Alualu to sign with Pittsburgh could have a serious ripple effect in terms of the draft and give the Steelers more leverage to focus on the offensive side of the ball early.
(AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Alualu is now the second Steelers starter facing free agency to decide to come back to Pittsburgh with more money on the table elsewhere. This is the type of culture winning franchises have.