It's basically been a foregone conclusion that the Steelers would be moving on from safety JJ Wilcox this off-season..but pump the brakes.
Yesterday ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that the Steelers are interested in retaining Wilcox for the 2018 season.
Steelers recently expressed interest to J.J. Wilcox about returning in 2018, per source. Team must make decisions at safety b/c of large cap # for Mike Mitchell ($5 M)/Wilcox ($3.125 M), and though nothing finalized, Wilcox a candidate to return, possibly under reworked figure
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 1, 2018
The Steelers will almost certainly move on from Wilcox or veteran Mike Mitchell, but this news could show that they are seriously considering cutting Mitchell.
Mitchell's tenure with the Steelers has been rocky at best. His first season he secretly battled a groin injury that seriously hampered his speed. After having two semi-good seasons in 15, and 16, he struggled last year. A combination of injury and potentially losing his once 4.3 speed could have been the result of the drastic decline.
Wilcox came over via trade from the Buccaneers after they signed TJ Ward before the beginning of the season. He found the field quite often through the beginning of the season with Mitchell and Sean Davis dealing with injuries, but was eventually reduced to just special teams through the later part of the season. Special teams penalties eventually led to him being inactive.
Even if Wilcox is retained the Steelers should and still will look outside the organization to find someone to play next to Davis.
