The deed has been done and now linebacker LaMarr Woodley will no longer be a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers come the start of the new league on Tuesday. While the Steelers will not reap the benefit of more cap space until after June 1, Woodley is now free to shop his services as soon as the release becomes official.
Now that Jason Worilds and Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo both won’t free agency this year, Woodley, injury history and all, will now become the top-rated 3-4 outside linebacker on the market and there ought to be quite a few suitors for his services with the most obvious being the Tennessee Titans.
Should the Titans sign Woodley, he would be reunited with former Steelers defensive backs coach Ray Horton, who was hired by new head coach Ken Whisenhunt to be the new defensive coordinator in Tennessee. While Woodley certainly won’t earn the $8 million he was scheduled to make in 2014 with the Steelers, there’s a chance he could sign a one-year deal that would pay him half of that.
In addition to the Titans, you have to wonder if the Green Bay Packers might have interest in Woodley as well. If indeed Woodley were to land with the Packers, they would have to figure out what to do with former first-round draft pick Nick Perry. There’s been some talk that Perry could play an elephant defensive end position in 2014, however.
Other teams that might have interest in Woodley include the Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles, to name a few. Regardless of his ultimate landing spot, the Steelers former second-round draft pick shouldn’t be unemployed long.
