Steelers DL Tyson Alualu to Sign Two-Year Contract with Jacksonville Jaguars

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Tyson Alualu has agreed a two-year free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, his agent announced on Twitter on Tuesday.

Alualu’s contract with the Jaguars is worth $6 million over the 2021 and 2022 seasons, according to a report by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

That represents a slight per-year raise over his last contract with the Steelers, which paid him $5.75 million over two seasons.

In total, Alualu spent four years in Pittsburgh. He started 12 games over his first three seasons as a rotational defensive end before moving to a starting role at nose tackle in 2020, when he started 10 games.

In four seasons with the Steelers, Alualu had 75 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits, eight passes defended, seven sacks and two forced fumbles in 62 games.

The move to Jacksonville is a return to familiar territory for the 33-year-old. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft and spent the first seven years of his pro career in Jacksonville.

The Steelers are not expected to be able to re-sign many of their free agents due to salary cap constraints, but Alualu was one of the few targeted by the team, according to a report by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on the eve of free agency.

Chris Wormley, the Steelers’ backup nose tackle in 2020 is also a free agent. Third-year player Isaiah Buggs has played both end and tackle, while 2020 rookie nose tackle Carlos Davis got about 50 snaps in his first season.

Alualu is the third Steelers free agent to depart the team this spring, along with outside linebacker Bud Dupree and offensive lineman Matt Feiler.

Stay up to date with all of the Steelers’ free agency moves with our 2021 Steelers Free Agency Tracker.