Which of their free agents should - and could - the Steelers target?

The same might be said from Ramon Foster. A former undrafted rookie, it always seemed as though he would eventually find himself in the starting lineup. Last year was no different when first rounder David DeCastro went down with a knee injury in the preseason. But with DeCastro and Willie Colon likely coming back, chances are Foster will be starting somewhere else in 2013 and beyond.The Steelers have spent the past two drafts using second round picks to draft tackles Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams. While they would love to retain Max Starks as a swing tackle to back up both positions, many believe that his play this past season, and his return to health, have likely earned him a decent contract elsewhere.Although he was not a 'bust', Rashard Mendenhall never really reached his potential in Pittsburgh as a first round pick. A meager offensive line didn't help either. But his comments, and actions, over the past two seasons, including insubordination, will undoubtedly see him leaving town. It's very possible that he makes a name for himself elsewhere. He has the talent. But it won't be in Pittsburgh.View the list »
Mike Wallace, of course, is the Steelers' biggest free agent set to hit the market. The team made a concerted effort to sign him to a long-term deal last offseason, but after he held out, the team turned their attention to Antonio Brown and signed him long-term. Wallace is most certainly out of their price range now. Expect them to net a third round compensatory draft pick for him in 2014.

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Every team in the league, in every offseason, has a list of their own players that are set to hit the free agency market - some more than others. The New York Giants, for example, have other a dozen unrestricted free agents to tend to.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are no different, and they have a number of notable free agents this offseason that they must make a decision on in a year where they have very little money to spend. Many of them are starters, some, of course, more important than others.

Among those starting free agents are left tackle Max Starks, guard Ramon Foster, running back Rashard Mendenhall, wide receiver Mike Wallace, nose tackle Casey Hampton, cornerback Keenan Lewis, and linebacker Larry Foote. It is well within the realm of possibility that none of these players return.

Many other key players, such as safety Will Allen, who started seven games last season, backup quarterbacks Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich, interior offensive lineman Doug Legursky, wide receiver Plaxico Burress, and long snapper Greg Warren, are among the 18 total unrestricted free agents that the Steelers must evaluate. Which ones should be their highest priority to retain? Which are within the realm of possibility, and which are all but gone? This list tries to decipher the mess.

View the list
  • Mike Wallace, of course, is the Steelers' biggest free agent set to hit the market. The team made a concerted effort to sign him to a long-term deal last offseason, but after he held out, the team turned their attention to Antonio Brown and signed him long-term. Wallace is most certainly out of their price range now. Expect them to net a third round compensatory draft pick for him in 2014.
  • Although he was not a 'bust', Rashard Mendenhall never really reached his potential in Pittsburgh as a first round pick. A meager offensive line didn't help either. But his comments, and actions, over the past two seasons, including insubordination, will undoubtedly see him leaving town. It's very possible that he makes a name for himself elsewhere. He has the talent. But it won't be in Pittsburgh.
  • The Steelers have spent the past two drafts using second round picks to draft tackles Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams. While they would love to retain Max Starks as a swing tackle to back up both positions, many believe that his play this past season, and his return to health, have likely earned him a decent contract elsewhere.
  • The same might be said from Ramon Foster. A former undrafted rookie, it always seemed as though he would eventually find himself in the starting lineup. Last year was no different when first rounder David DeCastro went down with a knee injury in the preseason. But with DeCastro and Willie Colon likely coming back, chances are Foster will be starting somewhere else in 2013 and beyond.
  • Larry Foote left the Steelers in 2009 because he wanted to start, knowing Lawrence Timmons was going to take his place. A year later, he signed a three-year deal to come back, with the idea in mind that he would take over for his former running mate, James Farrior. His deal is up, but reports are that he will be returning. The Steelers may not have any other options. Stevenson Sylvester has never shown starting potential, and second year man Sean Spence is not expected to be recovered from a brutal knee injury that he suffered in the last preseason game last year. The team does not expect to have him in their plans in 2013, sadly.
  • As much as some people have been down on Casey Hampton, his play in 2012 was better than many believe, and he got better as the season progressed as he recovered from knee and elbow injuries. But it seems unlikely that they could afford anything more than veteran minimum, which means it's time for Steve McLendon to assume the starting role and for troubled rookie Alameda Ta'amu to live up to his potential.
  • Perhaps it would be too much to say that it is a must for the Steelers to re-sign Keenan Lewis. But it is pretty close. Lewis emerged as a starter in his fourth year and despite not recording an interception led the league in pass deflections. The secondary would still have Ike Taylor, Cortez Allen, and Curtis Brown without him, but it would be so much deeper, and better, with him. Not to mention Taylor's time is winding down. Lewis could be their top corner of the future if they can find a way to secure him this offseason. Could he take a slight hometown discount to stay in the system with Carnell Lake, who helped turn his career around?
View the list

, Newark Football Examiner

Having grown up in New Jersey, Matt has naturally been around Giants and Jets football his entire life. But at a young age, he also found an affinity for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and as he got older, his fondness for the game itself grew beyond rooting for certain teams. Although the NFL season...

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