Best Moves Pittsburgh Steelers Can Make in 2018 Offseason
The Pittsburgh Steelers are focused on the remainder of the 2017 regular season and the playoff games that may come after.
However, the 2018 offseason is rapidly approaching, and the Steelers will need to make moves that help maintain their position as one of the NFL's best and most consistent franchises.
Here are six moves Pittsburgh can make in 2018 to ensure continued success.
Franchise Tag Le'Veon Bell...Again
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The Steelers and Le'Veon Bell could not come to an agreement on a long-term contract before the summertime deadline for players offered franchise tags.
That deal, which would have paid the running back $30 million in guaranteed money over the first two years, was not to his liking. He sat out all of training camp and the preseason as a result, though he did eventually sign the tag and report to the team. Bell's earnings this year are thus $12.12 million.
Bell has proved he's worth a big payday. He's the league's leading rusher (and leader in rushing attempts), accounting for 891 of Pittsburgh's 1,145 rushing yards and all five of their rushing scores.
However, he's also set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2018, and the Steelers may not be able to meet his contract demands once more.
However, the Steelers can use the franchise tag for a second consecutive year, something CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reported in October seems most likely. The tag should be worth around $14.45 million, just under the $15 million they willingly offered Bell for the 2018 season as part of their summertime negotiations.
This keeps the mega-important Bell in Pittsburgh for one more year, allowing them to again get as much out of him as a rusher and receiver and to put off the decision on his long-term value until 2019.
At that point, Pittsburgh could get a discount rather than pay a premium, or they will have to let Bell walk; however, the trade-off to avoid life without him in 2018 is more than worth it.
Improve the Tight End Position
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The Steelers thought they had their ideal replacement for long-time starting tight end Heath Miller when they drafted Jesse James in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft.
However, once Miller retired following the 2015 season, it was clear the position would be more difficult to fill than anticipated.
In addition to James, the Steelers tried to supplement the position by picking up free agent Ladarius Green in the 2016 offseason. But Green's injury history saw him off the field more often than on it, and he lasted only one year.
The Steelers picked up free agent Vance McDonald earlier in 2017, adding him to a James-led group that also featured Xavier Grimble. However, the trio hasn't made much of an impact.
Though the three tight ends have combined for a not-insignificant five touchdowns, they aren't reliable targets for Ben Roethlisberger on a regular basis. The three have just 35 receptions for 338 yards and five scores between them; meanwhile, Antonio Brown has 80 catches of his own this year and Le'Veon Bell has 61.
A reliable, pass-catching tight end is perhaps the only thing Pittsburgh's otherwise talent-rich offense lacks. This should be a position of priority this year, both in free agency and the draft.
Hold on to Martavis Bryant
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With the emergence of rookie receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and the continued dominance of top wideout Antonio Brown, the Steelers seem secure at the position for years to come.
However, the depth behind the pair is questionable and needs improvement. While the Steelers can do this via the draft and free agency, they can also provide in-house insurance by resisting the urge to release or trade Martavis Bryant in the offseason.
Bryant, who spent all of the 2016 campaign suspended for repeated violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy, is not having his best season. He's caught only 27 passes on 51 targets for 346 yards and two scores, and he was suspended by head coach Mike Tomlin in Week 9 for combative social media posts.
However, his big-play ability still exists even if it's been held in check for much of the 2017 season, and there's always the possibility for a bounce-back in the weeks to come or in 2018.
The 2018 season is the final one in which Bryant is under contract with the Steelers, with a cap hit of just $705,000, per Spotrac.
Now, the Steelers could cut him and not pay any penalty—his salary is not guaranteed—but for such a bargain price versus what Bryant has proved capable of, it would be a wise move to keep him for one more season. The potential rewards remain greater than the risk.
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Beef Up the Defensive Line
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The Steelers have one of the more underrated defensive lines in the league this year; Football Outsiders rank it fourth against the run and second against the pass, but it took until this week for one of its members—end Cameron Heyward—to earn AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
That line, anchored by Heyward and Stephon Tuitt at end and Javon Hargrave at tackle, should work together as a unit for years to come.
However, the Steelers need to boost the depth behind them, especially given Heyward's and Tuitt's injury histories and the fact Hargrave's current backup, Daniel McCullers, will be an unrestricted free agent in 2018 and likely won't be re-signed.
The Steelers made some moves to boost the line in 2017, particularly by signing free agent Tyson Alualu, and he and L.T. Walton have proved their worth as both situational players and quality depth.
However, they are the only two defensive linemen on the 53-man roster (outside of the core three) who are set to be back next year.
The Steelers have done a good job in recent years shoring up their linebacker depth, and 2018 is the time they do the same on the defensive line.
Let James Harrison Go
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For the first time in many years, Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison is not a major player on his team's defense.
He's been active in only four games this year, with zero starts, and has one sack and just three tackles so far this year while also missing the previous three games with a back injury.
And the Steelers have built a depth chart at linebacker that has required his help less and less. Moving on from him in 2018 would be a difficult decision, but it's one Pittsburgh should.
Harrison is set to make $1.3 million in 2018, but will cost only $250,000 in dead money to release, per Spotrac.
With Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt as the Steelers' new long-term answers at outside linebacker and Anthony Chickillo proving to be a capable backup, a pair of linebackers on the practice squad and injured rookie Keion Adams potentially in the mix next year, Harrison would continue to be the odd man out.
Harrison is a Steelers' legend, but his career is winding down. He already retired once, in 2014, before injuries in Pittsburgh brought him back a month later.
While the 39-year-old's contributions will never be taken for granted, it's time for the Steelers to free up that roster spot and continue getting younger on defense.
Make a Post-Roethlisberger Plan
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Will Ben Roethlisberger retire after the 2017 season? It's been the big question underscoring Pittsburgh's entire year, sparked on by the quarterback's own comments after his team lost the AFC Championship game last January—and other comments he made subsequently over the offseason.
Even if Roethlisberger comes back for 2018, though, it's clear his career is coming to its end. Though under contract until 2020, it's becoming harder to believe he'll see the deal out to its conclusion.
Thus, the Steelers must focus on their quarterback situation in the post-Roethlisberger era; this urgent priority will intensify should the 35-year-old hang up his cleats in a few months' time.
So far, it appears that neither of Roethlisberger's two backups would be his ideal replacement: Landry Jones is a career backup for a reason, while rookie Joshua Dobbs has made the Steelers' 53-man roster this year but hasn't yet dressed for a game.
A smart move would be for the Steelers to make a play for one of the numerous veterans set to hit free agency in the spring, also use draft resources on another young passer and let the four either battle it out equally for the starting job (should Roethlisberger retire) or give them enough first-team reps to start to groom his successor post-2018 (should he not).
No matter if Roethlisberger retires in 2018 or in 2019, what is clear is the Steelers can no longer put off figuring out the future of the quarterback position. To not do so in the upcoming offseason could result in a desperate situation they would be wise to avoid.
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