It’s going to be a different kind of offseason in the land of the Black and Gold. And the Pittsburgh Steelers will have some decisions to make very soon.
Mike Tomlin guided the Pittsburgh Steelers to the playoffs in 2021. But once again, the team fell on its collective facemasks in a 42-21 loss at Kansas City.
Now, for the first time since 2003, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will not be on the roster of the team from the Steel City. And after the three-day process known as the 2022 NFL Draft, general manager Kevin Colbert will be stepping down.
Yes, it’s going to be quite the transition for the franchise. And for the first time in years, the team enters the offseason with salary-cap room (via Spotrac). So could the Steelers part ways with these three performers?
3. T Zach Banner
Last offseason, the main objective for then-defending AFC North champions was to fix an offensive line that had fallen off in recent years. The team watched perennial Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey opt for retirement. Left tackle Alejandro Villanueva wasn’t re-signed, right guard David DeCastro was released and versatile Matt Feiler signed with the Chargers.
Tackle Zach Banner has been a member of the Steeler for three seasons. He’s played in a total of 23 games during his stay, including a brief appearance in this year’s wild-card contest at Arrowhead Stadium. He’s made only two starts. Injuries have played a factor here but his lack of substantial playing time is head-scratching.
2. RB Benny Snell Jr.
The future looks bright for the 24th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Pittsburgh Steelers opted for University of Alabama running back Najee Harris. Playing behind a rebuilt offensive line, he scratched out 1,200 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on 307 carries. He also finished second on the team in receptions with 74 grabs, good for 467 yards and three scores. He and wide receiver Diontae Johnson finished tied for the club lead with 10 total touchdowns.
Most impressively. Harris touched the ball 381 times during the regular season and did not fumble. His lone turnover of the season came in the team’s embarrassing 42-21 loss to the Chiefs in the wild card playoffs when he put the ball on the ground.
Benny Snell Jr. was the Steelers’ second-leading rusher with 98 yards in 36 attempts. That’s a mere 2.7 yards per carry. He had two carries for 15 yards and two receptions for 16 yards in the postseason loss at Kansas City. The team still has two-year pro Anthony McFarland Jr., who barely played in ’21. Could Pittsburgh bring back Kalen Ballage, who could test free agency in March? It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Snell.
1. ILB Joe Schobert
This is less of an indictment of the veteran linebacker’s play and more so with his contract and his cap hit this upcoming season (via Spotrac).
One-time Browns’ standout Joe Schobert was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020. He inked a five-year, $53.75 million deal with the latter after four years with Cleveland. He finished with a team-best 141 tackles with the Jaguars, along with 2.5 sacks, three interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles.
But the Steelers were able to pick up Schobert last August and only gave up a sixth-round pick in 2022. He finished second on the club with 112 stops, to go along with six passes defensed and one interception.
But it’s worth noting that the Steelers finished dead last in the league in rushing defense this past season and former first-round pick Devin Bush hasn’t looked the same since injuring his knee early in 2020.
Schobert’s pass-coverage skills are hard to ignore. And this could very easily be a case of a player that is released by the team and later brought back after the start of the 2022 NFL fiscal year begins on March 16. This bears watching over the next six weeks and perhaps beyond.