Tag: Mike Hilton

Steelers lock up 2 priority RFA for 2020 season

The Steelers continue to do business int he unusual circumstances of the NFL this offseason.

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The unusual circumstances have made it all-but-impossible for teams to do business as usual in the NFL. This includes contracts. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, they typically like to take a top player or two heading into their final season and work out extensions but no such luck this year. The same could go for the team’s priority restricted free agents.

Pittsburgh announced on Friday that both offensive tackle Matt Feiler and cornerback Mike Hilton had both signed their restricted free agent tenders. This means each player will earn $3.259 million for the 2019 season.

This would also be the time when the team would begin negotiations with Feiler and Hilton’s representatives to get them new contracts. Unfortunately, the uncertainty in the league could de-rail negotiations and leave Feiler and Hilton waiting until the end of the season.

Feiler is entering his third season as the starting right tackle for the Steelers. He took over for an injured Marcus Gilbert in 2018 and has held the position down ever since.

Hilton is the team’s primary slot cornerback and one of the best in the NFL. the former UDFA is ferocious as a run defender and blitzer which only adds to his value.

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Steelers defensive players getting their work in

With team facilities still closed to players, Steelers defensemen have been getting together to workout.

With players not yet permitted at team facilities, several have been getting together to get some work in.

What better trio than Terrell Edmunds, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Mike Hilton? According to this social media post, the three have been working out with a number of Steelers defensive players.

Apparently, Edmunds is pretty confident he’ll be offered a fifth-year option from the Steelers in 2021. He’ll need it to pay off this new Rolls Royce.

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Report: Steelers OT Matt Feiler expected to sign RFA tender

It’s been reported that Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle, Matt Feiler, will sign the RFA contract locking him in for the 2020 season.

On the heels of cornerback Mike Hilton signing his restricted free-agent contract on Thursday, it appears offensive tackle Matt Feiler will be following suit.

Feiler will earn $3.259 million with the second-year tender he was offered in March.

It’s expected that Feiler will sign within the upcoming days — according to the collective bargaining agreement, the Steelers have the option to rescind the offer if not signed by Monday. Instead, Pittsburgh could retain his 2020 rights by offering him a contract at 110% of his previous season’s salary. He made $645,000 in 2019.

The 6-foot-6, 330-pound right tackle has started 25 of the Steelers’ past 26 games.

Last season, Feiler was rated as the NFL’s 15th highest-rated tackle, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Steelers have the option to keep Feiler at tackle or move him to the position freed up by guard Ramon Foster’s retirement in March. A versatile lineman, Feiler played at guard for five games (74 snaps) in 2017.

To me, it doesn’t make much sense to move Feiler from tackle since he’s pretty darn good at it. Pittsburgh signed veteran guard Stefan Wisniewski and drafted Kevin Dotson this offseason to help replace Foster.

Feiler will become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the 2021 NFL league year unless the Steelers sign him to a long-term contract between now and then.

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Steelers CB Mike Hilton signs his 2nd-round tender

The Steelers get super slot corner Mike Hilton for at least one more season.

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With all the craziness of the offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers still have to stick to the business of running an NFL team. NFL reporter Adam Schefter has reported that Steelers cornerback Mike Hilton has signed his second-round tender per his agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Hilton is perhaps the best slot cornerback in the league. He joined the Steelers back in 2017 as an undrafted free agent and has proven to be invaluable to this defense.

Pittsburgh asks a lot of Hilton and he always delivers. He often hovers around the line of scrimmage and is fearless in run support and is relentless as a blitzer. But his coverage skills are on par with any insider cornerback in the NFL.

The hope is the two sides can come to an agreement this offseason on a long-term contract to supplant the $3.259 million tender for the 2020 season.

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Steelers players, past and present, keeping occupied during pandemic

Pittsburgh Steelers players are showing the world, via social media, just how they’re spending their time these days.

JuJu Smith-Schuster likes to pass his time with a combo of Madden NFL and weights. Ryan Shazier hangs with the fam. James Conner is staying in shape to get back to 2018 form. Devlin Hodges shows off his weight room while Mike Hilton shows off his baby daughter. And James Harrison does push-ups Deebo style — with a little extra weight.

How are you spending your self-isolation time?

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Steelers place second-round tender on CB Mike Hilton

Pittsburgh is confident in the skills of cornerback Mike Hilton.

One of the most underrated players on the Pittsburgh Steelers defense is cornerback Mike Hilton. Pittsburgh recognizes that despite being a former undrafted free agent, his talent transcends draft status. According to ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter, the Steelers have placed a second-round tender on the restricted free agent.

What this means is if another team makes a contract offer to Hilton, the Steelers have the opportunity to match it. If they choose not to, the team who signs Hilton must give Pittsburgh a second-round pick. The tender would pay Hilton $3.259 million in 2020.

Hilton is one of the best slot cornerbacks in the league. He’s physical, aggressive and fearless. The Steelers are as confident locking Hilton up on a slot receiver as they are asking him to blitz the quarterback.

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How will the new CBA effect the Steelers in free agency?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are over the salary cap heading into free agency, but the new CBA gives the team some breathing room.

General manager Kevin Colbert and his staff have been working through various scenarios with the Pittsburgh Steelers fragile salary cap position for months. The ratification of the Collective Bargaining Agreement – which is slated to take effect Wednesday – brings clarity to what is still a complicated situation.

Here’s the good news: The passage of the CBA eliminated the 30 percent rule, one that would’ve limited the amount of contract restructuring teams could do.

Here’s the bad news: The salary cap figure, $198.2 million, is significantly less than the $200 million-plus that was initially projected, and puts the Steelers $2.4 million in the red – according to OverTheCap.com.

Throughout the offseason, only the players with the 51 largest cap hits for the season will be counted toward the salary cap. The Steelers’ total cap number for their top 51 is roughly $204 million. This figure does not include any pending free agents (i.e., Mike Hilton, Matt Feiler, Zach Banner), nor does it cover the $16.26 million franchise tag that is likely to be placed on Bud Dupree.

There is plenty more that the total cap number for the top 51 does not incorporate, such as the rise in minimum salaries and rookie minimum wages. The cost of the expansion of rosters to 55 and practice squad to 12 players also adds to the cap number.

Colbert will need to get creative with the avenues toward cap-saving measures. Among the options will be to cut 2021 free agents Ramon Foster, Mark Barron, and Anthony Chickillo, and restructure contracts of key players like those of Ben Roethlisberger, Vance McDonald, Stephon Tuitt, and Joe Haden.

All clubs must be under the salary cap before the start of the 2020 league year and free agency, which begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. eastern.

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5 interesting stats from Jets’ Week 11 win over Redskins

The Jets won their second consecutive game of the season, beating the Redskins 34-17 in a rather convincing fashion.

The Jets played their most complete game of the season on Sunday, beating the Redskins, 34-17.

After turning in a 34-27 win over their roommates to halt a three-game losing streak last week, the Jets delivered their first road win of the season in Washington, improving to 3-1 against the NFC East this season. Sam Darnold and Jamal Adams both had career days, while Adam Gase and Gregg Williams executed flawless gameplans despite deficiencies.

Let’s take a look at some interesting stats from Gang Green’s third win of the season.

Career Day for Griffin

(Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports)

Ryan Griffin had a career day, as he’s done an excellent job filling in for Chris Herndon, who is out for the season with broken ribs.

Griffin entered the day with a single-game career-high of 85 receiving yards. He recorded the first 100-yard receiving game of his career, catching five passes for 109 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s win.

Per Michael Nania, Griffin’s 109 receiving yards were the most by a Jets tight end since Dustin Keller posted 115 in Week 2 of 2010 against New England. Griffin’s 100-yard game is the first since Keller had 101 in Week 2 of 2011 against Jacksonville.

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