Cameron Sutton, Robert Spillane, Steelers Free Agents' Projected Contracts

The Pittsburgh Steelers head toward 2023 free agency with a fair bit of work to do. Pittsburgh missed the playoffs this past season, is projected to be just over the salary cap and has a few needs to address.

This past season, Pittsburgh went 9-7 but ranked just 28th in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.4), 16th in rushing and 26th in scoring.

Even if the Steelers can clear cap space, they're likely to do most of their reloading through the draft—where they hold the 17th overall pick and the first selection in Round 2.

However, none of this means that Pittsburgh shouldn't look to retain a few key players when free agency begins on March 15. Whether it can or not will depend largely on what other teams are willing to offer on the open market.

Here, we'll examine three impending free agents who are logical candidates for re-signing and what their next contracts could look like. Factors like past production, health, age, upside and positional value were all considered.

A complete list of Pittsburgh's 2023 free agents can be found at Spotrac.

Cameron Sutton

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Cameron Sutton

Pass defense was a problem area for Pittsburgh in 2022. The Steelers ranked 19th in yards allowed and 26th in yards per attempt allowed (7.0), though they did notch a league-leading 20 interceptions.

One of Pittsburgh's most reliable cornerbacks, Cameron Sutton, is slated to become a free agent. He appeared in 16 games this past season and allowed an opposing passer rating of just 65.3 in coverage.

Keeping Sutton would be logical, and the Steelers are interested.

"We think very highly of Cam and conversations have commenced," general manager Omar Khan said, per Curt Popejoy of Steelers Wire.

However, it could be costly. Sutton has a projected market value of $7.6 million annually, and at 28 years old, Sutton should be eager to maximize earnings on what could be his last big-money deal.

Could Pittsburgh convince Sutton to take a team-friendly? Perhaps, but a fair-market contract that is backloaded to aid the 2023 cap situation would be far more realistic.

Contract Projection: four years, $23.4 million with $13 million guaranteed

Robert Spillane

John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Steelers LB Robert Spillane

Pittsburgh has two contributing linebackers in Robert Spillane and Devin Bush headed to free agency. Of the two, Spillane is more likely to sign a true team-friendly deal.

Spillane played on a one-year, $2.4 million contract this past season. Bush, a 2019 first-round pick, is projected to land a deal worth $3.1 million annually. That might not seem like a huge difference, but every dollar Pittsburgh can save this offseason will be valuable.

Plus, Bush may be eager for a fresh start. He didn't live up to being the 10th overall pick, and the Steelers declined his fifth-year option. Spillane entered the league as an undrafted free agent and carved out a career in Pittsburgh after being waived by the Tennessee Titans.

"I've loved being here from the second I got here," Spillane said, per Chris Adamski of TribLive.

Spillane could be convinced to take a team-friendly deal, and re-signing him would make sense. Though he only started five games this past season, the 27-year-old logged 79 tackles, four passes defended and a sack.

Regardless of where he ultimately signs, Spillane is likely to warrant a deal in the $2-3 million-per-year range.

Contract Projection: two years, $4.5 million with $1.5 million guaranteed

Larry Ogunjobi

Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Steelers DT Larry Ogunjobi

The Steelers signed defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi to a one-year, $8 million contract last offseason. While Ogunjobi didn't replicate the 2021 success he had with the rival Cincinnati Bengals (49 tackles, seven sacks), he was still a solid addition to the defensive-line rotation.

Ogunjobi finished the 2022 season with 48 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 11 quarterback pressures.

Considering he has a projected market value of just $3.4 million annually, re-signing Ogunjobi would be logical. If Pittsburgh chases a clear-cut upgrade on the open market, it will be far less cap-friendly.

Denver Broncos defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones, for example, has a projected market value of $17.1 million annually.

It's also worth noting that Ogunjobi suffered a foot injury last January that required surgery. He initially signed with the Chicago Bears in 2022 free agency but failed his physical. A full year removed from the injury, Ogunjobi could return to being the disruptive interior defender he was during Cincinnati's Super Bowl run.

Ogunjobi isn't going to get paid for that possibility, though, so the Steelers could potentially get a steal by re-signing the 28-year-old at a fair market price.

Contract Projection: two years, $7 million with $4 million guaranteed

---

*Cap, contract and market information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.