The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to replace one of their top special teams players and their top backup interior offensive lineman for the 2020 season.
Linebacker Tyler Matakevich signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday. The deal reportedly is worth up to $9 million. Then, guard/center B.J. Finney agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks, according to an NFL Network report.
The contract was too good to pass up for Matakevich, who made a combined $2.4 million over his four years with the Steelers.
In that span, Matakevich emerged as one of the top special teams players in the NFL.
Matakevich led the Steelers with 14 special teams tackles in 2019. In four seasons, he played in 63 games and had 61 tackles.
The loss of Matakevich is the third at the linebacker position in two days. The Steelers released inside linebacker Mark Barron and outside linebacker Anthony Chickillo on Monday.
Matakevich was a seventh-round pick in the 2016 draft. His departure means the Steelers will have no remaining members from that draft class. Artie Burns and Sean Davis also are entering free agency, and the Steelers aren’t expected to make an attempt to sign either player.
At inside linebacker, the Steelers have only Devin Bush, Vince Williams and Ulysees Gilbert III on the roster.
Finney started four games last season, including two at center when Maurkice Pouncey served his two-game suspension for fighting. Finney made 13 starts and appeared in 59 games with the Steelers.
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