A report over the weekend suggested that linebacker Jason Worilds had rejected a long-term extension offer from the Steelers, which remained on the table and was unlikely to be improved by the club. However, a source tells Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that’s not the case, and that Worilds has not received a multiyear offer from the Steelers. According to Kaboly, there have been no real contract talks between the two sides since Worilds signed the club’s transition tag offer several months ago.
As Kaboly points out, it’s not unusual for there to be multiple different accounts on the status of contract negotiations while they’re in progress, and whether or not the Steelers have extended a formal offer, it’s clear that talks remain at an impasse. When Worilds first signed the one-year offer, which is worth nearly $10MM, it appeared as if the Steelers would want to reduce that cap number with a longer-term extension. Since then, however, the cap increased more than had been expected, and the club created additional savings by parting ways with LaMarr Woodley, reducing the need to get something done with Worilds.
As I pointed out back in May when we first heard that no progress was being made in negotiations between Worilds and the Steelers, the team may want to see more than one productive season as a starter out of the linebacker before committing significant years and money to him.
In 792 defensive snaps last season, his first as a regular starter, Worilds recorded eight sacks and 50 overall quarterback pressures. He graded well as both a pass rusher and a run stopper, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics, which placed him 12th overall among 3-4 outside linebackers (subscription required).