With a projected $40+ million in salary cap space to work with in the offseason, the Pittsburgh Steeler are in a great spot to get this rebuild off to a fast start. The team also has 15 unrestricted free agents to consider as well. Let’s make some early predictions about who stays and who goes.
QB Ben Roethlisberger-Go
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Roethlisberger has made it clear he’s riding off into the sunset and moving onto retired life.
CB Joe Haden-Go
Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
Haden wants to get paid a premium and with all the young defensive backs on the roster, it’s doubtful Pittsburgh is going to pay him what he wants.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster-Stay
It’s hard not to root for Smith-Schuster to return to the team after his performance on Sunday. The team should be able to get him back at a fair price and it would make perfect sense.
OT Chuks Okorafor-Stay
(AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Pittsburgh should re-sign Okorafor on a moderate deal as a holdover and hope he can continue to improve.
CB Ahkello Witherspoon-Stay
(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Witherspoon came into his own once the Steelers got him on the field and he has a bright future as a starter on this team.
G Trai Turner-Go
Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
Turner served as a serviceable one-year replacement for David DeCastro but the team needs to improve the offensive line and that means Turner has to go.
S Terrell Edmunds-Stay
(AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Edmunds takes a lot of heat from fans but he quietly had a pretty strong season and has earned a second contract.
WR Ray-Ray McCloud-Go
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
I am probably wrong about this one but personally I’d like to see the Steelers move on from McCloud to make room for a return specialist and receiver with game-breaking speed.
DB Arthur Maulet-Stay
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Maulet is another addition who outperformed expectations and if he can be signed for a moderate deal should be back.
TE Eric Ebron-Go
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Despite my bias toward Ebron as one of my favorite guys on the team and my daughter’s favorite player, I don’t see him returning with Pat Freiermuth and Zach Gentry developing so quickly.
WR James Washington-Go
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Some team is going to give Washington a big raise but it isn’t going to be the Steelers. They’ve proven they don’t value his skills.
S Miles Killebrew-Stay
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Killebrew isn’t going to cost a lot to keep and his contributions on special teams is enough to keep him around rather than replace him with an unknown.
OL B.J. Finney-Go
(Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
Another guy who shouldn’t come back so the team can start to build up the offensive line is Finney.
RB Kalen Ballage-Go
Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
I like Ballage as a player but the Steelers need to go a different direction with the depth behind Najee Harris.
QB Joshua Dobbs-Stay
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Ultimately I’d like to see Dobbs assume a coaching role with the Steelers but with Roethlisberger retiring the Steelers need to bring Dobbs back.
1
1