Offseason Analysis: Pittsburgh Steelers

The champs are in good shape. 

They are fine with Big Ben at QB, but backup Byron Leftwich will likely test the free agent waters in search of a place to start. Detroit may be a good fit for him as a stopgap before Matthew Stafford is ready to take over. Charlie Batch is also a free agent, but he’ll likely return as the backup as the Steelers groom Dennis Dixon to take over that role. 

The Steelers should have a glut of RBs next year with Willie Parker, a healthy Rashard Mendenhall, Mewelde Moore, and Gary Russell. Hines Ward and Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes will be back to lead the wideouts. Nate Washington is a free agent and will likely move on for a chance to start. Limas Sweed will be given the opportunity to win that third receiver slot. 

Heath Miller was very impressive at TE down the stretch. He and Matt Spaeth form a solid TE team. 

The team needs to improve in the trenches. Tackles Marvel Smith, Max Starks, and Willie Colon and guards Chris Kemoeatu and Trai Essex all are free agents. They won’t be able to lock them all up so expect changes on that line. That may not be a bad thing as they allowed 49 sacks last year, which was good for 29th in the league.
 
On defense they are working to lock up Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison. CB Bryant McFadden is the only key free agent so the Steelers will make it a priority to get a deal done with him. No major changes necessary for this team. They can simply make a few tweaks and will still have a championship caliber club.

KFFL Free Agent Tracker:

Pos	Player Name	FA Status	Previous Team	Current Team
QB	Charlie Batch	UFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
QB	Byron Leftwich	UFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
RB	Justin Vincent	Re-signed	Pittsburgh Steelers	Pittsburgh Steelers
FB	Carey Davis	RFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
WR	Nate Washington	UFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
TE	Jon Dekker	RFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
TE	Sean McHugh	RFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
TE	Dezmond Sherrod	Re-signed	Pittsburgh Steelers	Pittsburgh Steelers
OG	Chris Kemoeatu	RFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
OT	Willie Colon	RFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
OT	Trai Essex	RFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
OT	Marvel Smith	UFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
OT	Max Starks	UFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
C	Doug Legursky	Re-signed	Pittsburgh Steelers	Pittsburgh Steelers
DL	Orpheus Roye	UFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
LB	Keyaron Fox	UFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
LB	Andre Frazier	UFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
CB	Roy Lewis	Re-signed	Pittsburgh Steelers	Pittsburgh Steelers
CB	Bryant McFadden	UFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
SS	Ryan Mundy	Re-signed	Pittsburgh Steelers	Pittsburgh Steelers
FS	Anthony Madison	RFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
FS	Anthony Smith	RFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent
ST	Jared Retkofsky	UFA	Pittsburgh Steelers	Free Agent