With their 2019 season officially over, it is time for the Pittsburgh Steelers to focus on the draft and 2020 season. They have already started the process, as the team announced that they have signed outside linebacker Tuzar Skipper to a two-year extension. Though not a big name, the extension of Skipper gives some insight to what the team plans on doing at outside backer this offseason. The details of Skipper’s contract with Pittsburgh have not yet been revealed.
Tuzar Skipper Signs Extension with Steelers
Tuzar Skipper was a fan favorite in the 2019 preseason, as he absolutely dominated opposing offensive linemen. He earned himself a roster spot originally but ended up being waived before the season started. Skipper then made his way to the New York Giants, where he recorded a half sack and fumble recovery in just 40 snaps across six games. After being waived by the Giants, Skipper was brought back to the Steelers practice squad before being promoted to the 53-man roster. Despite that, he was a gameday inactive in every game and didn’t make any appearances for the team.
The biggest takeaway from this extension is the expectation that Anthony Chickillo will be cut by the Steelers. Pittsburgh isn’t in a good situation with the salary cap, and they need all the money they can get if they want to re-sign key players like Bud Dupree and Javon Hargrave. Chickillo is set to make 4.5 million dollars in base salary, an amount that is way too high for his lack of production. Not only will Tuzar Skipper be substantially cheaper than Chickillo, but he also has way more potential as a pass-rusher. He can be a rotational player and contribute to the pass rush. If he can also develop into a key special teams player like Chickillo has, Skipper will prove to be a very valuable player for Pittsburgh over the next two seasons.
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