I think that’s just about right. Miller and Reed should receive decent length contracts. Hampton and Clark should get 2-3 year extensions. FWP, Hartwig are gone for sure, Deshea sounds like he’d take a lot less to stick around and would be good insurance in either the safety or CB position next year.

It would be pretty great if they could get Starks into their long term plans, but at this point, I"m not counting on it. We are probably going to have a new LT after this season.

How is it that the Browns consistently have cap room after they sign players to crazy contracts? LeCharles Bentley, Eric Steinbach, Kevin Schaeffer, Donte Stallworth, Corey Williams, and Shaun Rogers all got huge deals to play in that cesspool. How do they still have money left over?

I’m thinking the Steelers will have to offer Starks a contract with at least $15M to $20M guaranteed for him to do a deal. That would be in line for an All-Pro LT, but is Starks worth that type of coin to the Steelers?

If he is going to be the centerpiece for your OL to protect Ben for the next 5 years, then he probably is. And if you have a window to win multiple Super Bowls, then I don’t think it’d be smart to have a revolving door at LT. I still think Starks best days are ahead of him.

Since this is the biggest decision left for the front office this offseason, what do you guys think Steelers Brass should do:

A. Pay Max the money and ink him for the next 5-years (thus freeing up cap room to get other deals done)
B. Let him play out the year and then consider franchising him again
C. Let him play out the year and either look to draft, acquire or promote his replacement

There are a lot of pros and cons on each side, so let’s hear it.

You’ve won 2 Super Bowls with him starting, so pay him. I do think Starks is a better LT than RT, because, well, he’s played better on the left side than he has the right. A good LT doesn’t grow on trees so pay him and less move on to some other players and issues.

And keep in mind, it would be great to have a great LT, but they don’t grow on trees. You can win championships with a good LT and a good OL. Neither has to be great. But I get the feeling that this front offfice already knows that. I think a deal with Starks will get done this summer.

DYMS, why would you think Starks would accept RT money when the team won a Super Bowl with him playing LT? If I was Starks, I know I wouldn’t accept that. This is probably the best leverage in negotiations that he’ll have in his career.

The Steelers will either have to pay up, keep doing the franchise tag dance or let him walk. I don’t think any of the Tony Hills talk can be too serious because none of us have even seen him on the field. I’ve at least seen Capizzi play in preseason, that is why I’m optimistic of his abilities.

And even if the team finds another LT, it still has to have somebody to start at RT because Colon isn’t the answer. It will be interesting to see what Starks gets, if they do a long-term deal with him.

if the answer is yes ,you don"t look to extend Max but if the answer is No then you better do something.Tackles are not always around when the steelers pick in the draft so the better get busy

But you have to pay him as a tackle that has started on 2 championship teams or let him walk. Just how much and for how long are things that are still being discussed by both sides today.

I think if Starks wasn’t in the Steelers future plans that they would have taken a tackle in this year’s draft or one higher than the 4th round the previous year. He’s not Anthony Munoz in his prime, but he’s good enough to win multiple championships with. Now, how much is that worth? That’s what Starks and the Steelers have to figure out.

Guys, the Steelers have a history of getting a deal done when they make it priority no. 1. Since Starks is priority no. 1 for them to lock up and free up cap room, then there’s a better than average chance that something can get done. But if Starks wants stupid money, then there’s a good chance it won’t get done. I think there is a happy medium in there somewhere.

At least Starks signing (or lack thereof) shouldn’t hold up getting the rookies signed.

Yes Starks has started for 2 SB winning teams and played last year at LT, but how can you justify paying him $7mm/year for next 4-5 years? That’s totally inconsistent with what’s kept the Steelers successful over the last 6 years … Overpay him for 2 years and we may have 2 rings to show for it, but then cut your losses.

Starks isn’t great, he’s good, and can be replaced. If I’m FO, I wait to see what unfolds on the field this year (does Colon improve, can Urbik play RT, is Hills any good, does Stapleton stay at G, etc.) and then either trade for another T or go find one in the draft.

Given the team’s track record in Rd 1, does anyone doubt that they could find younger, better version of Starks in Rd 1 next year if that’s the objective … even if they have to trade up from the 32nd slot ?!