Who knows how long the Pittsburgh Steelers have left in their current window? Le’Veon Bell and Ben Roethlisberger consistently threaten to no longer be the faces of the squad, Martavis Bryant smokes his face off, and Ryan Shazier is currently re-learning how to walk. Every year they seem to be on the precipice of falling back into the abyss, and every year they pull off one of the best records in the NFL. Will that change this season? Well, the disaster draft provides for them to lose some quality talent on the team, but who do they protect? Who gets the boot?
Lost to Free Agency: Le’Veon Bell
The No Doubters:
| Player | POS. | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Ben Roethlisberger | QB | $23,200,000 | $23,200,000 | UFA | – | – |
| Antonio Brown | WR | $17,675,000 | $18,925,000 | $15,100,000 | $16,300,000 | UFA |
| Cameron Heyward | DE | $12,456,250 | $12,206,250 | $10,556,250 | UFA | – |
| Marcus Gilbert | RT | $7,358,500 | $6,643,500 | UFA | – | – |
| David DeCastro | G | $5,687,500 | $11,967,500 | $13,647,500 | $10,447,500 | UFA |
| Stephon Tuitt | DE | $5,432,000 | $13,642,000 | $13,642,000 | $13,642,000 | $11,092,000 |
| Artie Burns | CB | $2,615,721 | $3,051,678 | – | UFA | – |
| T.J. Watt | OLB | $2,104,220 | $2,525,064 | $2,945,908 | – | UFA |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | WR | $953,585 | $1,144,302 | $1,335,023 | UFA | – |
| Mike Hilton | CB | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
The best connection in the NFL (Big Ben to AB84) gets another run at it (maybe the last run?), alongside the Steelers WR of the future in JuJu. They also build a strong front on both sides of the ball, keeping two each of a defensive line and an offensive line. Watt, Hilton and Burns are cheap and talented, so they are shoo-ins to stay safe for 2018.
The More-Than-Likely Staying:
| Player | POS. | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Joe Haden | CB | $11,916,666 | $11,916,668 | UFA | – | – |
| Mike Mitchell | FS | $8,135,418 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Alejandro Villanueva | LT | $7,625,000 | $6,625,000 | $6,625,000 | UFA | – |
| Vance McDonald | TE | $4,318,750 | $5,100,000 | $5,500,000 | $5,500,000 | UFA |
| Tyson Alualu | DE | $3,625,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Javon Hargrave | DT | $864,314 | $893,314 | UFA | – | – |
This is where things get dicey for the Steelers. Joe Haden was extremely good with Cleveland, but he’s more “overpaid” than “overly frightening.” Mitchell hs his back, but was more hype that substance in 2018. Villanueva keeps Big Ben mostly clean, and given that Roethlisberger loves to get hurt, doing as little as possible to stave that off is a great idea. Vance McDonald is a garbage football player but the stupid 49ers signed him to a big ol’ contract and the Steelers thought it wasn’t the dumbest idea ever to take on that contract. They’re stuck with him but here’s the catch: he can’t catch. Tyson Alualu and Javon Hargrave keep the strong front they built with Tuitt and Heyward running strong.
The Leftovers:
These fine gentlemen have the opportunity of being some of the players on two insane imaginary franchises that I made up in my head, the Conquistadors and the Arches.
| Player | POS. | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Maurkice Pouncey | C | $10,551,000 | $7,951,000 | UFA | – | – |
| Ryan Shazier | ILB | $8,718,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| J.J. Wilcox | FS | $3,800,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Ramon Foster | G | $3,591,668 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Bud Dupree | OLB | $2,934,363 | – | UFA | – | – |
| Vince Williams | ILB | $2,500,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| William Gay | CB | $2,383,334 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Landry Jones | QB | $2,200,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Jesse James | TE | $1,959,228 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Robert Golden | FS | $1,891,668 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Jordan Berry | P | $1,887,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Coty Sensabaugh | CB | $1,612,500 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Darrius Heyward-Bey | WR | $1,333,334 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Sean Davis | SS | $1,114,628 | $1,300,401 | UFA | – | – |
| Cameron Sutton | CB | $771,432 | $861,432 | $935,232 | UFA | – |
| Jerald Hawkins | T | $762,622 | $852,622 | UFA | – | – |
| Leterrius Walton | DE | $734,234 | UFA | – | – | – |
| James Conner | RB | $731,572 | $821,572 | $911,572 | UFA | – |
| Sammie Coates | WR | $730,000 | – | – | – | – |
| Martavis Bryant | WR | $705,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| L.J. Fort | ILB | $705,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Joshua Dobbs | QB | $704,781 | $794,781 | $884,781 | UFA | – |
| Tyler Matakevich | ILB | $645,762 | $735,764 | UFA | – | – |
| Xavier Grimble | TE | $630,000 | RFA | – | – | – |
| B.J. Finney | C | $630,000 | RFA | – | – | – |
| Dashaun Phillips | CB | $630,000 | RFA | – | – | – |
| Kameron Canaday | LS | $630,000 | RFA | – | – | – |
| Brian Allen | CB | $612,544 | $702,544 | $792,547 | UFA | – |
| Matt Feiler | RT | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Jordan Dangerfield | FS | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Matt Wile | P | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Colin Holba | LS | $555,000 | – | – | – | – |
| Keion Adams | OLB | $496,504 | $661,504 | $751,505 | UFA | – |
| Trey Griffey | WR | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Tevin Jones | WR | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Justin Thomas | WR | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Marcus Tucker | WR | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| James Summers | RB | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Jake McGee | TE | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Lavon Hooks | DE | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Farrington Huguenin | DE | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Casey Sayles | DT | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Matt Galambos | ILB | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Keith Kelsey | ILB | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Darnell Leslie | OLB | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Antonio Crawford | CB | $480,000 | $570,000 | RFA | – | – |
| Malik Golden | S | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
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