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Looking ahead at the Steelers: offensive line

4 min read
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Despite losing Maurkice Pouncey and Kelvin Beachum, arguably its two most important players, for all but seven games this season, the Steelers’ offensive line was perhaps the strength of the team.

At the very least, the unit was the team’s best as a group on a week-to-week basis in 2015.

But with several key members ready to hit the free agent market, the Steelers are going to have some tough decisions to make moving forward if they want to keep this unit together.

Here’s a look at where the Steelers stand:

Guys under contract: G David DeCastro; RT Marcus Gilbert; C Maurkice Pouncey; T Alejandro Villanueva; C Cody Wallace; G Chris Hubbard.

There also is some flotsam and jetsam the team signed after the season, but six guys listed are locks to make the team with the exception of Hubbard. DeCastro, Gilbert and Pouncey are three starters next season and all carry a big price tag. Pouncey carries a cap hit of $10.5 million, DeCastro $8.07 million and Gilbert $6.46 million. That’s a lot of cash at one position and the Steelers will look to work out a long-term deal with DeCastro, who earned his first Pro Bowl nod this season and also was named an All-Pro. That could lower his cap hit slightly, but not a great deal.

Some have suggested cutting or trading Pouncey, but that’s highly unlikely to happen. Cutting or trading him would actually cost the Steelers money unless it was done with a June 1 designation. But the Steelers don’t need the cap space. A big part of his cap hit this year is because of a $3.5 million roster bonus, so the Steelers could do something with that to free up some cap space if needed.

Yes, Pouncey has missed 31 games in the past three seasons, but his injuries have been of the freakish variety. He’s still a key player on this team and if Ramon Foster leaves in free agency, Pouncey’s leadership will be crucial moving forward.

Many questioned a contract extension given to Gilbert two years ago, but his $6.4 million cap hit now looks very reasonable given his level of play.

Villanueva stepped in for Beachum when he suffered a season-ending ACL tear and performed well, but not to Beachum’s level. The team could decide to move forward with him at left tackle – and with a salary of $525,000, he would be a bargain – but he might better be served with being the swing guy for a season.

Wallace proved solid at center, prompting some of the speculation about Pouncey, and some have raised the prospect of starting him at guard to replace Foster. But he has struggled at guard in the past and should go back to his role as the backup guard/center.

Free agents: G Ramon Foster; T Kelvin Beachum; C Doug Legursky; T Mike Adams; T Byron Stingily; T Mitchell Van Dyk; T Kevin Palmer

There is some sentiment to re-sign Foster but the 30-year-old will likely get an offer in free agency the Steelers won’t be able or willing to match.

Beachum would have been one of the more coveted free agents to hit the market had he not suffered the ACL injury in October. Good, young left tackles don’t often hit the open market.

In that respect, the Steelers might have gotten fortunate. Beachum already was viewed as undersized – he was the NFL’s smallest starting left tackle – and the injury won’t help. The Steelers like his smarts and ability to play with great technique. He could be re-signed with the intention of moving him to guard to replace Foster with Villanueva staying at left tackle. Under that scenario, the Steelers could bring Adams back as the swing tackle.

Legursky won’t be needed any longer and the veteran likely will be allowed to move on. The Steelers could bring back the other three guys as training camp bodies.

Free agent targets: Brandon Brooks, Texans; Chris Chester, Falcons; Mike Harris, Vikings.

Yeah, not exactly a list of household names, but they’re all guards, so is that surprising. Brooks and Harris are up-and-comers who would be solid, young replacements for Foster. Chester, at 33, is a bit older, but could be a nice one- or two-year replacement while young player is groomed for the spot or to keep it warm. Remember, the Steelers have a long history of plugging in aging vets at left guard, from Duval Love to Will Wolford. But I think the plan will be resigning Beachum to play the spot if Foster leaves.

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