The Pittsburgh Steelers added a couple of players to the secondary for this upcoming season including former Buffalo Bills cornerback, Levi Wallace, to a two-year deal early in the free agency period. The Steelers got the corner on a bargain for a total of $8 million and his cap hit will only be around $2.5 million in 2022. Wallace has a chance to come in and take one of the two starting corner spots right away, but he has also been playing the nickel spot during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and minicamp.
Pittsburgh Steelers CB Levi Wallace participates in 2022 off-season team training at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Karl Roser/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
The Steelers love versatile defenders, especially one's that can play aggressively and fearlessly. Wallace is one of those guys, and he's vying to take one of the corner spots left open from the departure of CB Joe Haden.
Wallace, in an article released by CBS Sports on Friday, was listed as one of four cornerbacks playing on a bargain deal in the NFL. Writer, Cody Benjamin states:
Levi Wallace (Steelers)
Average annual earnings: $4M per year | 2022 cost: $2.5M
"He might not be Pro Bowl material, but he's certainly starting material, and moving over from Buffalo, he'll be surrounded by a rock-solid supporting cast in Pittsburgh. 47 other CBs make more per year."
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
47 cornerbacks in the NFL in 2022 are getting paid more than Wallace?! Talk about a "team-friendly" deal! Wallace has shown the tangibles to be a very solid starting cornerback in the league and I have a feeling that this may be one of his lasts team-friendly contracts that he plays on in his career if he can put it all together! Other NFL analysts have shown some love to the Steelers newcomer at the cornerback position a time before this off-season.
NFL.com writer, Nick Shook used NextGenStats metrics to identify the top 10 best coverage players in the NFL in 2021 and stated:
“Wallace’s 10 passes defensed should come as no surprise, then, and he might have landed higher on this list had he finished with more than two interceptions (on 81 targets).”“Wallace might not have racked up the gaudiest numbers, but he’s frequently in the right position to make a play. He’ll end up with a better ranking if he makes more of those plays in Pittsburgh.”
With head coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin always preaching about creating splash plays and turnovers, Wallace is sure to capitalize on more opportunities to grab more interceptions in the black and gold.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback, Levi Wallace(#29) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2022 minicamp on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. (Karl Roser/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Wallace is ready to take whatever role comes his way and aide this defense in putting the team in the best position to win ball games in 2022. So, if it's from the slot cornerback spot or one of the outside spots, Wallace will be more than ready!
“Football’s football. You’re still covering receivers. I played some inside back in Buffalo too so it’s nothing that is new to me and I accept the challenge.”
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace (29) participates in Organized Team Activities(OTAs), Tuesday May 24, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers)
What do yinz think about Steelers CB Wallace being listed as a top bargain player in the NFL for 2022? Sound off in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
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