Pittsburgh Steelers: Which Players Will Be Affected Most by Free Agency?

The NFL's free-agency period begins in earnest on Tuesday afternoon and clearly the players most affected by it are those searching for new contracts.

However, free agency affects other players as well. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, any player they sign can alter the roster security and depth-chart positioning of other players, as could the departure of any of their own free agents.

With that in mind, here are five Steelers who aren't free agents in 2015 but who could be affected the most by the players the team adds and drops over the coming days and weeks.

CB Cortez Allen

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The 2014 season started out so promising for Steelers cornerback Cortez Allen. The day before the Steelers' first game, he received a five-year $26 million contract extension, making him a confirmed starter and a long-term fixture on defense. 

However, just six weeks later, he found himself benched for poor performance, pushed first from left cornerback to the slot and then off the field entirely. He then suffered thumb and knee injuries that resulted in him being placed on injured reserve in December.

Allen had 41 combined tackles, a fumble recovery, two interceptions and 11 passes defensed for the 2014 season. He also allowed five touchdowns, according to Pro Football Focus, and opposing quarterbacks had a 106.8 rating when throwing his way.

But the Steelers haven't given up on Allen yet, and free agency is a big part of that. Ike Taylor is an unrestricted free agent who is not expected back. Brice McCain, who took Allen's job on the outside, is also unrestricted, while Antwon Blake, who took over for Allen in the nickel, is a restricted free agent.

However, the Steelers could still target a cornerback in free agency, and that would impact Allen's position on the depth chart.

At the NFL Scouting Combine last month, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said, "We have to find out about Cortez [Allen] and if he can accept the challenge of being a starting NFL corner. He's showed signs of that in the past. He was productive in spurts with us in the past," which is not exactly a vote of great confidence.

The free-agent cornerback market has already thinned considerably in the NFL's "legal tampering" period which began on Saturday, making the position more expensive than ever. But the Steelers could easily add a younger, less experienced and thus less expensive veteran to challenge Allen. 

S Troy Polamalu

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When age and expensive contracts meet in the NFL, job security diminishes. Such is the case with safety Troy Polamalu, who turns 34 years old next month and has an $8.25 million cap hit for the 2015 season.

Polamalu is a eight time Pro Bowler, five time first-team All-Pro and an Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year. However, those past achievements don't matter when his current standard of play does not justify his cap hit, which includes a $6 million base salary. The question is which side will do what, and when.

There are two options: Polamalu can retire, or the Steelers can release him, likely with a post-June 1 designation, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Mark Kaboly. If it's the latter, the Steelers can recover all $6 million in salary, but it could not be used during the early, higher-spending portion of free agency.

If it's the latter, the Steelers could wait a while to hear word. Polamalu's agent, Marvin Demoff, said to Kaboly, "We will make a decision fairly soon, but (it is) not imminent." 

While free-agent signings may not have an effect on what the Steelers—or Polamalu—choose to do, the opening of the new league year adds an increased sense of urgency. Do the Steelers release him, or does the veteran retire? 

S Shamarko Thomas

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By extension, what happens between the Steelers and Troy Polamalu will have a significant impact on Shamarko Thomas' 2015 season. Thomas, a fourth-round pick in 2013, played just two snaps on defense as a safety in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus, spending most of his time on special teams.

If Polamalu is released or chooses to retire, the relatively green Thomas would be first in line to replace the strong safety. But Thomas would not be guaranteed anything—especially if the Steelers pick up an additional safety in free agency or re-sign Will Allen. (The draft, which is quite thin at the position, is another story entirely.)

So 2015 could be Thomas' year, or it could be another season where he plays an integral role on special teams and little else. Polamalu's fate is the first domino to fall toward Thomas being a starter in the Steelers' defensive backfield.

OLB Jarvis Jones

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To say that 2015 is a make-or-break year for outside linebacker Jarvis Jones would be an understatement. This year, more than ever, the Steelers need their 2013 first-round draft pick to start playing up to his pedigree.

Jones has totaled just 58 combined tackles in two years, along with just three sacks, a forced fumble and four passes defended. That's simply not enough production from an edge rusher first added to replace LaMarr Woodley and then James Harrison in the Steelers' front seven.

The sense of urgency is even higher this year, with Harrison, Jason Worilds and Arthur Moats all unrestricted free agents, potentially leaving the Steelers incredibly thin at outside linebacker once the free-agency dust clears. Whoever they bring in—whether it's a free agent or a draft pick—will have some catching up to do to master the Steelers' defensive system.

That's why Jones has to step up by gaining weight, studying more and working harder this year. The Steelers need him to be an every-down starting linebacker in 2015, thanks to their situation. If Jones cannot take advantage of this opportunity, he's in danger of being labeled a bust, and for a legitimate reason.

RB Le'Veon Bell

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There's nothing that the Steelers can do during free agency to affect Le'Veon Bell's standing atop their running back depth chart. Bell, who totaled 1,361 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 290 carries in 2014 along with another 83 receptions for 854 yards and three more scores, just may be the NFL's best running back heading into the 2015 season.

But that doesn't mean that Bell won't be affected by the Steelers' free-agency moves. The running back depth chart in Pittsburgh is thin and one thing it desperately needs is a veteran to back up and spell Bell.

The question is who will that player be. The style of back the Steelers sign in the coming weeks will indicate if he could cut into Bell's touches. Will it be someone with a similar playing style—three-down capable, strong blocking, rushing and receiving—or will it be a complementary back, like LeGarrette Blount last year?

Bell's job security is not in jeopardy in any way. But it will be interesting to see who the Steelers pair up with Bell for 2015.