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The Pittsburgh Steelers should not in place heading into the 2021 offseason. They’re bellied as much as the wage cap, and their record of free brokers is lengthy. With regards to greatest, and worst, case eventualities, you need to surprise what the group would seem like in the event that they occur to lose extra free brokers than they hold.
In reality, I needed to check out the offensive depth if the Steelers have been to lose all of their free brokers on that facet of the ball.
Let’s check out the free brokers first:
Unrestricted Free Brokers (UFA)
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
RB James Conner
OT Alejandro Villanueva
G/T Matt Feiler
OT Zach Banner
G Danny Isidora
OT Jerald Hawkins
QB Joshua Dobbs
Restricted Free Brokers (RFA)
WR Ray-Ray McCloud
Unique Rights Free Brokers (ERFA)
J.C. Hassenauer
Okay, with these names now on the market, this train is predicated on what the Steelers’ depth would seem like on the offensive facet of the ball in the event that they misplaced all of their free brokers. To make this less complicated, and likewise how uncommon it’s, I made a decision to say all RFA and ERFA can be retained a technique or one other. Subsequently, the one gamers who will actually be misplaced are the UFAs.
Let’s take a look at the Steelers depth chart, by place (Notice: I targeted on gamers who had bodily reps within the common season or playoffs in 2020. Those that have been by no means on the energetic roster are held off this record.):
QB
Ben Roethlisberger
Mason Rudolph
Dwayne Haskins
RB
Benny Snell Jr.
Jaylen Samuels
Anthony McFarland
WR
James Washington
Diontae Johnson
Chase Claypool
Ray-Ray McCloud
TE
Eric Ebron
Zach Gentry
Kevin Rader
OT
Chukwuma Okorafor
G
David DeCastro
Kevin Dotson
C
J.C. Hassenauer
Once you take a look at the above lists, you may’t assist however see simply how decimated the Steelers’ offensive line may very well be in the event that they misplaced all of their free brokers. Solely having one offensive deal with with sport expertise beneath contract, two guards and one middle is a recipe for catastrophe.
Taking a look at it this fashion, with out enhancements it received’t matter who’s at quarterback in 2021…they received’t be capable to defend them, or open up holes for the operating sport.
Nonetheless, anybody who thinks Kevin Colbert, Artwork Rooney II and Mike Tomlin are going to be heading into a daily season with out upgrades, or plans, for key positions, are fooling themselves. You may count on the group to convey again gamers like Banner, and presumably Feiler, to assist in giving the road some essential depth.
However the offensive line isn’t the one place which wants addressing within the offseason. The talent positions of operating again and vast receiver definitely want consideration with the anticipated losses of Conner and Smith-Schuster.
Loads of what they’ll, or can not, do that offseason will hinge on the return of Ben Roethlisberger, in addition to the pending wage cap quantity for the 2021 season. With these unknowns, it doesn’t go away followers with a heat, fuzzy feeling about the way forward for the group. However when you take a look at the above record, if they’re able to hold just some of these free brokers, the outlook needs to be one other dominant protection subsequent season.
If the Steelers are in a position to re-sign Banner for reasonable, and discover a appropriate middle, you’ll see an offensive line which might look one thing like this:
LT – Okorafor
LG – Dotson
C – FA/Draft Choose
RG – DeCastro
RT – Banner
Whereas this doesn’t depict a dominant offensive line, it definitely is nice sufficient to guard the quarterback and open up some holes within the operating sport.
If the Steelers have been to lose all their offensive UFAs, would it not be the tip of this technology of Steelers offense? Tell us within the remark part under, and be sure you keep tuned to BTSC for the newest information and notes surrounding the group as they put together for the brand new league yr, NFL Free Company and the 2021 NFL Draft.
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