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With free agency and the 2021 NFL Draft well over and done with, NFL teams have their 2021 roster virtually set in stone. But, that doesn't mean the front office has nothing left to do. From tweaking the roster to making sure the players already on the roster are locked in to long term deals it’s fair to say that offseason ‘business’ has only just begun.
Below are the most important pieces of business I believe the Steelers front office needs to take care of before the start of training camp.
Extend T.J. Watt
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Not the most pressing need, but definitely the most important the Pittsburgh Steelers should locked T.J. Watt down to a long term deal this offseason. He is currently playing the 2021 season on his fifth year option, but the team should get Watt on his ‘forever’ deal as soon as possible. Watt’s contract is going to reset the market for outside linebackers and is one worthy of the eight year term max.
I expect this deal to get done before the first regular season game, but it shouldn't be something the Steelers wait too much on.
Finish signing 2021 Draft class
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This is inevitable, the Steelers may even have the draft class under contract by the time this article is published. But, it is worth noting as business that needs to get done. Will it happen? Yes, and all the deals should be done soon.
Determine if you’re going to extend Joe Haden & David DeCastro
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This one comes down to two things: 1) do the Steelers want these guys to come back in the long term, and 2) these moves would free up money. A deal for Joe Haden could save up to $4,740,000 on the salary cap while David DeCastro could save an additional $6,140,000. That’s $10.8 million dollars could sign a great deal of free agents still on the market while also keeping two franchise corner stones on roster beyond 2021.
Determine if you’re going to restructure Stephon Tuitt & Chris Boswell
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When it comes to saving money, the Steelers could do it again by restructuring these two players. Doing it for Tuitt would give the Steelers another $3,962,500 on the cap while Boswell would save a shade over a million dollars. Basically if the Steelers are to sign any more players these moves would be no-brainers to get them some salary cap flexibility to enter the 2021 season.
Continue to improve the roster
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The name of the offseason game, improve the roster. The Steelers typically make a couple moves after the draft and before training camp, and I expect this year to be like any other. They were in on Ryan Kerrigan and Karl Joseph, so I think it’s fair to say they will add at least one more veteran to this roster in the next couple weeks. Could they surprise us and pick up a player via trade? It might be unlikely, but stranger things have happened!
But what do you think? Which pieces of business will the Steelers get done before the start of the 2021 season? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below.
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