5 Steelers free agents Pittsburgh needs to bring back

There will be plenty of changes this offseason for the Black and Gold. But the Pittsburgh Steelers would be wise to bring back these five performers.

These are troubling times for a franchise that has lost four consecutive playoff games for the first time in team history.

It’s shaping up as a different type of offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has not officially retired yet but that seems to be only a formality. And there’s talk, again nothing official, that defensive coordinator Keith Butler could retire. And general manager Kevin Colbert is planning on stepping down after the 2022 NFL Draft.

Nevertheless, the team must go on. Decisions must be made on their 16 potential unrestricted free agents (via Spotrac). So could these five performers return for another season and beyond? It’s worth noting that the 2022 salary cap figures stand at $208.2 million – up considerably from a year ago ($182.5 million).

5. S Terrell Edmunds

He was the club’s first-round pick in 2018. But as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported back in May, the Steelers did not pick up the fifth-year option on safety Terrell Edmunds. But could the team re-sign the four-year pro to an economic one-year deal this offseason?

The former Virginia Tech standout comes off arguably his most complete season. Edmunds finished third on the team with 89 tackles. He managed one sack, six passes defensed and a pair of interceptions. If there are indeed changes on the Steelers’ defensive coaching staff, his return would ensure a little continuity.