Reassessing Steelers' Offseason Plan and Breaking Down What's Left to Address

The end of one NFL season is not the end of the working season. As soon as the last second ticks on a team's final game, the business begins in earnest to put an offseason plan in place and a path to executing it as closely as possible to that vision.

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, this means sticking to a formula that has worked, for the most part, for years. Their methodical approach is one that many other teams try to emulate, but few can execute it as well. Though the Steelers' offseason plans may not play out exactly as they hoped, sticking to them gives them a real vision to build on for the upcoming year.

Let's take a look back at what the Steelers' offseason plans looked like, how much they have done to accomplish their goals, what they still need to address and how the upcoming draft can help them get to where they want to be.

The Offseason Plan

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One of the Steelers' biggest offseason priorities was to make sure that Jarvis Jones wasn't the only outside linebacker on the roster in the spring.

The Steelers' offseason plan this year was much like any other—shore up the contracts of high-value in-house free agents, perhaps extend a contract or two to veterans and release others who are past their prime. They also had to address one particular position—veteran running back—by bringing in a street free agent.

One of the biggest problems the Steelers needed to solve this year was what to do at outside linebacker. Heading into the start of the league year, they had only one pass-rusher under contract, Jarvis Jones. James Harrison, Jason Worilds and Arthur Moats were all set for unrestricted free agency. Figuring out how to bring at least one of these veterans back was atop the Steelers' priority list.

Another problem for the Steelers involved what to do about aging safety Troy Polamalu. Though he is under contract through 2016, it was pretty much a given that the Steelers would release Polamalu, or he would retire from football. Even while waiting for the ultimate resolution to this situation, the Steelers at least needed to have the skeleton of a plan in place for how to replace him in the starting lineup.

The Steelers also had a decision to make at cornerback—whether to try to re-sign unrestricted free agent Brice McCain to a long-term deal or instead give a restricted free-agent tender to Antwon Blake.

This offseason also marked the point in which the Steelers needed to extend the contract of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. After years playing at a discounted price of around $12 million per season, Roethlisberger had the best year of his career in 2014 and seemed due to be rewarded for that, as well as compensated in advance for strong performances to come.

What They Did

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The Steelers checked off a major to-do item for the offseason by signing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a four-year contract extension.

The Steelers pretty much accomplished everything they set out to do as part of a typical offseason plan. They re-signed blocking tight end Matt Spaeth, extended restricted-free-agent tenders to cornerback Antwon Blake, safety and special teamer Robert Golden and fullback Will Johnson, and released veteran defensive end Brett Keisel.

They also took care of their most urgent issues, such as bringing back unrestricted free-agent pass-rushers Arthur Moats and James Harrison and giving quarterback Ben Roethlisberger a four-year, $87.4 million contract extension with an average per-year value reflective of his worth to the team—$21.85 million.

They even brought in an outside free agent to add veteran depth to the running back position, something the Steelers desperately needed. DeAngelo Williams doesn't just round out the roster but also provides insurance for Le'Veon Bell's DUI-related suspension, which was announced Thursday. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the suspension will span the first three games of the 2015 season.

The only area in which the Steelers have yet to get closure is the Troy Polamalu situation. The day before the start of free agency, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert released a statement on the situation: "At this time, we do not have an update on Troy Polamalu or his contract status. We will continue to communicate with Troy and his representatives regarding his future."

A few days later, Polamalu's agent Marvin Demoff had this to say: "The Steelers are giving Troy the space and time he needs to make a decision that is very respectful of his 12 years with the organization." The situation remained unchanged through late March's NFL owners meetings, when head coach Mike Tomlin refused to speak about it.

Polamalu announced his retirement from football Thursday night, in an interview with the Herald-Standard's Jim Wexell, citing an opportunity to spend more time with family as the main reason.

Given the way the Steelers approach free agency—carefully, measuredly and conservatively—and the only loose end was Polamalu, which has since been tied up, they have done what they set out to do. That's not to say that the Steelers don't have any roster needs, but they are a team that builds through the draft and not free agency. So, it's been a par-for-the-course offseason for Pittsburgh thus far.

What's Left to Do?

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The Steelers still need another cornerback to push Cortez Allen, who ended 2014 on the bench, for playing time.

The Steelers do have remaining—and glaring—roster holes, but they will plug the majority of them via the draft or in the days that follow, when they sign undrafted free agents.

Pass rush is one of these needs. Though the Steelers brought back James Harrison and Arthur Moats to team up with Jarvis Jones, just three starting-capable edge-rushers aren't enough for a team that is trying to rebuild its once-dominant pass rush. Harrison and Jones appear to be locked in a battle to start as the right outside linebacker this year, but that competition could become stiffer with a high-profile rookie added to the mix.

Cornerback is also a significant need this offseason. Ike Taylor is an unrestricted free agent, and he won't be back in Pittsburgh—or potentially in the NFL this year. Brice McCain left in free agency, joining the Miami Dolphins. That leaves the Steelers with William Gay, Cortez Allen and Antwon Blake as the starters at this time, but that trio is not good enough. Young blood must be infused into the secondary via the draft.

Though Troy Polamalu announced his retirement Thursday night, moving on from the veteran has been on the Steelers' minds for months. Now, it's just a matter of how to do that. They could promote Shamarko Thomas, a 2013 fourth-round draft pick, to strong safety alongside Mike Mitchell at free safety. They could also move Mitchell to strong safety. Still, that leaves a gap at the safety position they will need to fill by some means.

Defensive end is also another thin position, lest Pro Football Focus' last-ranked 3-4 end of 2014, Cam Thomas, see significant snaps for a second consecutive season. In fact, most of the Steelers' remaining puzzle pieces for their 2015 roster are on defense, which provides some pretty good insight into just what they may be thinking for the draft this year.

The Draft Plan

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This year's draft may present the Steelers with their best opportunity to find tight end Heath Miller's eventual replacement.

Given the Steelers' multiple roster needs on defense, it should come as no surprise that they address that side of the ball with the bulk of their eight draft picks this year. They have one pick in each of the draft's seven rounds plus an additional compensatory pick at the end of Round 6.

Their two biggest needs are cornerback and pass-rusher, and they likely represent the positions the Steelers will have to decide between in Round 1. There is a great deal of depth at both positions, but they are top-heavy in terms of talent.

The Steelers may be more comfortable taking a cornerback in Round 1 while waiting for a pass-rusher in Round 2. If they do so, it will be the first time since 2003 that the Steelers select a defensive back in the first round.

Safety, of course, is another priority, regardless of how they choose to use Shamarko Thomas and Mike Mitchell this year. It's a shallow position, though, with more players appearing capable of playing strong safety than free, which is something they will have to keep in mind as the rounds tick by.

Though the Steelers have many defensive needs to fill in the draft, there are offensive positions that also need help. One is tight end. Matt Spaeth is back, reprising his blocking role on a two-year contract that he should play out. However, fellow tight end Heath Miller might be heading into his last season in Pittsburgh. The Steelers need to find a player to replace him, and it would be smart to do so this year, allowing the rookie to hone his skills in limited on-field duty this year before starting in 2016.

The Steelers could also add a change-of-pace running back, especially with Le'Veon Bell suspended for the first three games of the season, as well as a slot receiver. Bell, Miller, Antonio Brown and Markus Wheaton made up most of the Steelers' slot production in 2014, with Lance Moore on the margins. That should still be the case this year, but with Moore gone, they would be smart to bring in another slot receiver to fill in, especially in four-receiver sets that feature Brown, Wheaton and Martavis Bryant.

Given the way the Steelers typically approach the offseason, they are not far away from where they want to be this time of year. They would never fill all of their needs via free agency, even if they were flush with salary-cap space.

Granted, this is a crucial draft considering their needs, particularly on defense, but as long as they can get rookie-year contributors out of half of their picks, the Steelers will have successfully executed their offseason plan.