Top Free Agents the Pittsburgh Steelers Must Re-Sign

Though there are still two games left to play in the regular season—and perhaps more than that, should the Pittsburgh Steelers reach the playoffs—it's not too early to start thinking about 2016. More specifically, it's not too early to think about free-agent spending for the upcoming year.

The Steelers aren't flush with cap space. They will carry over about $5.1 million from 2015 and are projected to have just over $4.4 million in cap room in 2016, assuming a $150 million salary cap. With $9 or $10 million to spend, the Steelers will have to spend their cash judiciously.

Currently, Pittsburgh has 28 players set to hit free agency in some form or fashion, with 22 of them being unrestricted free agents. Not all can be re-signed. But here are five players who should take the team's top priority in the offseason.

CB William Gay

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Steelers cornerback William Gay has been the team's most solid defensive back this year. He's the team's sixth-leading tackler, with 50 combined, and has one sack, six passes defensed and an interception returned for a touchdown to this point in the year.

Even better still is that Gay has yet to allow a passing touchdown, according to Pro Football Focus. With so many other members of Pittsburgh's secondary underperforming, keeping Gay around to improve its overall output will be necessary.

Gay will be 31 years old on New Year's Day, which is something the Steelers will have to keep in mind when determining what to pay him and for how long. But a one- or two-year deal would be wise as the team tries to get its younger corners like Senquez Golson and Doran Grant ready to take on bigger roles.

CB Brandon Boykin

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William Gay isn't the only Steelers cornerback set to hit free agency in 2016. Brandon Boykin and Antwon Blake are both unrestricted free agents in the upcoming year and, between the two of them, Boykin is the one more worthy of a new contract.

While Blake has given up numerous touchdowns this year and has seen his workload decrease as a result, Boykin's snaps are on the rise. Though he's played only 155 of them on the season so far, according to Pro Football Focus, he's gone from playing 11, two and 10 snaps, respectively, in Weeks 2, 3 and 7 to 51 in Week 15.

Boykin has totaled 13 combined tackles, four passes defensed and an interception this year, while allowing one touchdown on 11 receptions. He can serve as Pittsburgh's slot cornerback moving forward, or he can be moved to the outside as the down, distance and scheme dictates.

LT Kelvin Beachum

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Steelers left tackle Kelvin Beachum was a candidate for a contract extension over the summer, but the deal never worked out. And then Beachum suffered a season-ending ACL tear in October, which meant Alejandro Villanueva has been handling left tackle duties since.

The injury does lower Beachum's pricetag for any future deal, but it should not change the Steelers' stance about wanting to keep him around. Backup tackle Mike Adams, who has been injured himself with a back ailment, is also a free agent. 

Even if the Steelers want Villanueva to be their starting left tackle for the future, Beachum is still worthy of receiving a new deal. He can be a valuable veteran backup, or, as he was before he was injured, return to the starting lineup and regain his job.

Either way, Beachum remains a high priority free agent. His ACL tear shouldn't change much about how the Steelers' view his value to their offense.

S Robert Golden

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Both Will Allen and Robert Golden are set to be unrestricted free agents for the Steelers in the upcoming season. Allen turns 34 years old in June and was only named a starter for 2015 because Shamarko Thomas was not yet ready to take over for the retired Troy Polamalu.

Assuming that Thomas is a developed enough player to become a starter in 2016, Allen's services may no longer be needed. But that still leaves the Steelers thin at the safety position, which is why Golden is a good candidate to receive a new contract in the offseason.

Golden has played 357 snaps so far this year, according to Pro Football Focus, most notably at both the free and strong safety positions. He has 31 tackles on the year, four passes defensed and an interception on the season.

With his versatility, Golden can step in for Allen should Thomas not be ready, fill in for Mike Mitchell for whatever reason and at the very least provide valuable depth at the safety position. Golden is also a key special-teamer.

The deal won't likely be a big one, given the Steelers' lack of cap space. But between Allen and Golden, Golden is the safety they need to re-sign in spring.

LB Sean Spence

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Steelers linebacker Sean Spence's NFL career was nearly over before it ever got started. The 2012 third-round draft pick suffered a nasty, multiple-ligament knee injury in the preseason of his rookie year, one so severe it may have forced him into early retirement.

A finger injury in his second season also kept him off the field, which was a blessing in disguise: Spence was able to fully recover from his knee injury, both physically and mentally, and he became a major player on the defense in 2014, thanks to multiple injuries keeping Round 1 pick Ryan Shazier off the field for much of the season.

Spence is no longer a starter, but he does have a role to play as backup (and relief) for Shazier and Lawrence Timmons. He has 35 tackles and a sack, while playing 32.9 percent of the Steelers' defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. 

With Shazier's injury history, and again a lack of interior linebacking depth, Spence deserves a second contract. Given his playing time, it won't be a big one, but considering what Spence was staring down just a few years ago, he'd gladly return to Pittsburgh for practically any contract.