Report: Steelers ILB Marcus Allen Signs RFA Tender

Linebacker Marcus Allen has signed his restricted free agent tender to stay with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2022 season, his agent told Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network.

The one-year deal is worth $2.54 million. The Steelers offed Allen an original-round tender, which means another team would have had to give the Steelers a fifth-round pick in order to sign him away. 

Allen, 25, has played mostly special teams since joining the Steelers in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Penn State. He has seen an increase in playing time since moving to inside linebacker in 2020.

He played in two games in 2018 and one in 2019, but suited up 14 times in 2020, including two starts. Last season, he played in 16 games and made one start. In his career, Allen has 45 tackles, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hits.

In his time at Penn State, Allen became the sixth Lions player to ever record 300 tackles in his college career, finishing fifth on the program’s all-time tackles list. The highlight of his PSU career came on Oct. 22, 2016, when he blocked an Ohio State field goal attempt that was returned for a touchdown by Grant Haley as the Lions upset No. 2 Ohio State.

Allen will join Robert Spillane, Ulysees Gilbert III and Buddy Johnson as depth behind starters Devin Bush and Myles Jack at inside linebacker.

The Steelers now have signed both of their restricted free agents, which included Allen and Spillane.