Predicting Pittsburgh Steelers' 2017 Starters After 1st Wave of Free Agency

The majority of the Pittsburgh Steelers' free agency moves have been made. Though more signings are inevitable as the roster continues to evolve between now and the start of the regular season, the draft and the undrafted rookie pool will be the most likely sources of the Steelers making personnel additions moving forward.

Those draft picks will certainly have an effect on what Pittsburgh's depth chart and starting lineup looks like come Week 1. But it's important to take stock now to see how the Steelers' roster has been shaped by free agency.

Here is what Pittsburgh's starter situation at each position looks like post-free agency and before the rookies come aboard.

Quarterback

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Quarterback: Ben Roethlisberger

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger raised some eyebrows with comments made on 93.7 The Fan's The Cook and Poni Show after the Steelers' AFC Championship loss to the New England Patriots. He suggested he was considering hanging up his cleats and retiring before the start of the 2017 season, per NFL.com's Kevin Patra.

However, it was also hard to take him too seriously.

Granted, Roethlisberger has had a long career and an extensive injury history, but he's also playing better than he ever has—and he's made no indication since that retirement is imminent. 

Team president Art Rooney II told NFL Network's Steve Wyche on Up to the Minute Live that he expects Roethlisberger back, and at this point, there is no reason to assume the 14-year veteran won't be returning for 2017.

And there's certainly no one on the Steelers roster pushing him for his job. Though Roethlisberger may be mentally preparing himself to wind down his career, it doesn't seem like it will be coming to a close just yet.

Wide Receiver

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Wide Receiver: Antonio Brown, Justin Hunter, Eli Rogers

There's no question that Antonio Brown—the five-time Pro Bowler, two-time receptions leader and newly-minted $68 million man—is the Steelers' No. 1 receiver for 2017 and presumably for years to come. The other starters at wide receiver, though, are harder to pin down.

For now, Eli Rogers appears to have the slot receiver job locked down after a 2016 season that saw him catch 48 of 66 passes thrown his way for 594 yards and three scores. The big question, though, is who will serve as starter on the outside alongside Brown.

Ultimately, it may prove to be a rookie. But for now, one would not be remiss to pencil in free-agent signing Justin Hunter for the job.

Hunter, a big-play wideout who would be better served by more reliable hands, nonetheless has drawn the praise of Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who said: "He's big and fast. He's been a consistent big-play maker, not only since he's been in the league, but in college. ... Those type of attributes are attractive to us."

But it's possible the suspended Martavis Bryant could be reinstated and regain control of the starting job that once belonged to him.

According to Chris Bradford of the Beaver County Times, a league source said Bryant's reinstatement is "imminent."

While that would not guarantee the Steelers trust Bryant right away with the responsibility of starting—as was the case during his rookie year—it does make the No. 2 receiver job an up-for-grabs situation rather than one Hunter can comfortably make his own with little competition.

Running Back

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Running Back: Le'Veon Bell

Teams do not franchise tag running backs to the tune of $12.1 million if they don't consider them a starter. And for the Steelers and Le'Veon Bell, that $12.1 million is a jumping-off point to coming to terms on a long-term contract that could keep Bell in Pittsburgh for the majority of his career. 

Alongside Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger, Bell is a center point in Pittsburgh's explosive offense. His value doesn't come just as a runner, but also as a receiver. This has translated to 6,050 yards from scrimmage and 31 touchdowns in just four years (and 47 games).

There are few players at his position who are as versatile, as dangerous and as talented; indeed, there are no personnel moves the Steelers can make in the coming weeks and months that would dare unseat Bell from the top of the running back depth chart.

Tight End

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Tight End: Jesse James, Ladarius Green

For now, the Steelers' top two tight ends are Jesse James and Ladarius Green—the former a third-year player with 39 catches and three touchdowns last season and the latter a 2016 free-agency signing who appeared in six games, missing time with an ankle injury and later a concussion. 

But, when healthy, Green can be a playmaker, as evidenced by a four-game stretch with 274 receiving yards. Meanwhile, James is a relatively well-rounded tight end, working both as a blocker and a receiver, and should take another step forward as his comfort level with the game increases.

It cannot be ruled out that the Steelers select a tight end in this year's draft, given how much talent the class boasts at the position. Thus, the depth chart could certainly see a shakeup in a month's time. But for now, James and Green are the team's starters—Green as the "move" or pass-catching tight end, James as the "Y" or blocking tight end—until and unless something changes.

Offensive Line

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Offensive Line

Left Tackle: Alejandro Villanueva

Left Guard: Ramon Foster

Center: Maurkice Pouncey

Right Guard: David DeCastro

Right Tackle: Marcus Gilbert

The Pittsburgh Steelers boasted one of the very best offensive lines in the NFL in 2016. The Steelers' quarterbacks were sacked a total of just 21 times—17 for Ben Roethlisberger, four for Landry Jones—and helped lead the way on a run game that netted 1,760 yards.

Football Outsiders ranked the unit fourth in pass protection and second in run-blocking, and there's no reason to assume that should change in 2017, given the fact there has been and will be no change in the starting lineup.

This is a far cry from just a few years ago, when the Steelers' line could neither stay healthy nor play consistently enough to come close to being among the league's best.

Now, Pittsburgh's line boasts two Round 1 and one Round 2 draft picks, and only two players—Marcus Gilbert and Ramon Foster—missed a total of five games in 2016. It's easy to play at a consistently high level under those ideal conditions. The hope, of course, is that remains the case this year.

Regardless, the Steelers have found a formula that works, and there's no reason to mess with it now.

Defensive Line

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Defensive Line

Defensive Ends: Stephon Tuitt, Cameron Heyward

Defensive Tackle: Javon Hargrave

The Steelers' pair of defensive ends, Stephon Tuitt and Cameron Heyward, are among the best of the NFL's so-called 3-4 defenses. Both are accomplished run-stoppers who can also rush the passer, with Tuitt totalling four sacks in 2016 and Heyward, three, even though he missed most of the season with a torn pectoral muscle.

In Heyward's absence, Javon Hargrave and Ricardo Mathews took over the position alongside Tuitt, with Hargrave also serving as nose tackle.

Nose tackle is likely where Hargrave will land in 2017, though his versatility along the line as well as the Steelers' more frequent employment of sub packages will also see him line up at end. Mathews, meanwhile, could make a return to the roster to add depth to the defensive line depending on the makeup of the roster closer to training camp.

Though the Steelers could certainly add another end or tackle (or both) via this year's draft, it doesn't seem likely it would result in Tuitt, Hargrave or Heyward losing their standings on the depth chart. 

Linebacker

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Linebacker

Outside Linebackers: Bud Dupree, James Harrison, Arthur Moats

Inside Linebackers: Ryan Shazier, Vince Williams

As it stands now, the Steelers' outside linebacking corps in 2017 would be unchanged from 2016, with Bud Dupree, James Harrison and Arthur Moats all splitting time on the left and right sides, working as pass-rushers, run-stoppers and occasionally in coverage.

Last year, the trio combined for 13 sacks—4.5 for Dupree, five for Harrison and 3.5 for Moats. And though Harrison is about to turn 39 years old and Moats is in his final contract year, the two elder statesmen will have roles to play on defense again in 2017.

Those roles may prove to be diminished depending on the Steelers' draft strategy. It is expected Pittsburgh will target an edge rusher in Rounds 1 or 2 this year, given that they need to boost their depth and find future starting talent and that the class is so rife with quality players at the position.

This could change the makeup of the outside linebacking lineup come Week 1; but were the season to start today, this year's Big Three would be the same as the last.

At inside linebacker, Ryan Shazier will be joined by Vince Williams in the starting lineup, with Williams replacing Lawrence Timmons, who departed in free agency.

Williams, who has long been a reliable backup for the Steelers, had two sacks and 47 combined tackles last year and has proved he can hold his own at the interior of the defense. 

Cornerback

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Cornerback: Artie Burns, Ross Cockrell, Coty Sensabaugh

When it comes to projecting the Steelers' 2017 starters based on the way the roster looks now, cornerback may be the hardest to prognosticate. Beyond 2016 Round 1 draft pick Artie Burns, the entire position seems up for grabs.

Ross Cockrell, given a restricted free agent tender for 2017, seems likely to be the team's slot cornerback, but he could work on the outside, much as he did a season ago, if better options do not reveal themselves.

That would push William Gay back to the slot; otherwise, it appears free-agent signing Coty Sensabaugh could leapfrog Gay on the depth chart, though his lack of experience in Pittsburgh also makes his potential level of contribution a question mark.

Another question mark: Senquez Golson. The 2015 Round 2 draft pick has spent his first two seasons on injured reserve, and it's unknown how ready he will be to finally play in 2017 and what his role may be. His fate, and potentially also Gay's, could be called into question quickly should the Steelers use draft capital on one of the class' many promising cornerbacks.

What is known, though, is that Burns will be the centerpiece of the secondary moving forward after a rookie campaign with 65 combined tackles, three interceptions and 13 passes defensed. 

Safety

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Safety: Mike Mitchell, Sean Davis

Mike Mitchell has had the Steelers' free safety job locked down since he was a free agent signing in 2014, and that doesn't seem set to change in 2017. Though the Steelers may draft his eventual successor this spring, the operative word is "eventual" and not "immediate." 

He should remain joined on the field by Sean Davis, who took over for Robert Golden partway through the 2016 season and never relinquished the starting job. Davis had 70 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception as a rookie and should only improve with further experience. 

It's possible that a hypothetical draft pick at safety could supplant Mitchell in-season should he struggle (such as give up too many touchdowns or big plays or miss too many tackles), but based on the roster as it stands, it does not appear the Steelers' safety depth chart will be much altered from the end of last season.

Special Teams

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Special Teams

Kicker: Chris Boswell

Long Snapper: Greg Warren

Punter: Jordan Berry

Kicker Chris Boswell is the only member of the Steelers' special teams group who does not have on-roster competition at present, meaning that his starting job seems locked in place for 2017.

Boswell converted 21 of his 25 field goal attempts last year and made all of his 36 extra points before landing on injured reserve late in the year with an abdominal injury. The injury appears to be of little concern at this point, though, as the Steelers seem uninterested in bringing on someone to challenge him.

Meanwhile, longstanding long snapper Greg Warren may have to stave off a challenge from Kameron Canaday, but that shouldn't be an issue: The Steelers have repeatedly signed inexpensive challengers to Warren's throne and none have unseated him, and 2017 should prove no different.

Punter Jordan Berry also has a bit of pressure this year, with A.J. Hughes also on the Steelers' roster. But with Berry having the experience edge over Hughes, who has yet to punt in an NFL game, it seems safe to say that the incumbent will retain his job for the upcoming season.