Steelers 2021 offseason tracker: Key dates, free agent signings, draft picks and extra

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Whereas no offseason in Pittsburgh is boring, the Steelers‘ present offseason guarantees to be one of the attention-grabbing in latest reminiscence. The primary story throughout the infancy of this retooling interval was the way forward for Ben Roethlisberger, who will return to Pittsburgh in 2021 after agreeing to a restructured contract.

And Large Ben will even have certainly one of his key weapons returning as nicely, with JuJu Smith-Schuster heading again to the Metal Metropolis on a team-friendly, one-year, $8M deal. Whereas Roethlisberger and Smith-Schuster are again, there are nonetheless a number of unanswered questions surrounding the 2021 Steelers. Will the crew re-sign James Conner. Will Pittsburgh spend its first-round choose on a working again for simply the fourth time since 1982? These and different urgent questions will probably be answered over the following a number of months, because the Steelers attempt to piece collectively a roster that’s adequate to compete with the BrownsRavens and Bengals in a aggressive AFC North division. 

Talking of the AFC North, the Steelers received the division final season for the fist time since 2017. However after an 11-0 begin, injures, dropped passes and a Thirty second-ranked speeding attacked all contributed to the Steelers profitable only one out of their final 4 video games. Within the AFC wild-card spherical, the Steelers trailed 28-0 earlier than finally falling quick towards the Browns, 48-37. The loss was the ultimate recreation for longtime Steelers middle Maurkice Pouncey, who joins fellow former middle Dermontti Dawson as two of Pittsburgh’s finest gamers who didn’t win a Tremendous Bowl. The Steelers are certainly trying to keep away from an identical ending in 2021. 

That is your one-stop vacation spot for all the things involving the Steelers’ 2021 offseason. Over the following a number of months, we’ll replace this story with all prevalent data relating to the Steelers. These updates will embody schedule bulletins, participant transactions, draft information, and different related data. 

Key upcoming dates 

  • April 19: Begin of offseason exercises for groups with incumbent coaches. 
  • April 23: Final day of the restricted free agent signing interval. 
  • April 28: Final day to match supply sheets for restricted free brokers. 
  • April 29-Might 1: 2021 NFL Draft

Unrestricted in-house free brokers

OLB Bud Dupree — signed with the Titans 
ILB Avery Williamson 
LT Alejandro Villanueva 
RT Matt Feiler — signed with the Chargers
CB Mike Hilton — signed with the Bengals 
DE Tyson Alualu — signed with Jaguars
OT Zach Banner — re-signed with Steelers 
DE Cassius Marsh 
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster — re-signed with Steelers
FS Sean Davis
P Jordan Berry 
OLB Jayrone Elliott 
DT Chris Wormley — re-signed with Steelers 
FS Jordan Dangerfield 
G Danny Isidora 
CB Cameron Sutton — re-signed with Steelers 
RB James Conner 
WR Ray-Ray McCloud — re-signed with Steelers 
OT Jerald Hawkins 
QB Joshua Dobbs
S Marcus Allen — re-signed with Steelers 
OLB Ola Adeniyi  
ILB Robert Spillane — re-signed with Steelers 
C J.C. Hassenauer — re-signed with Steelers 

Unrestricted free brokers signings from different groups

C/G B.J. Finney 

2021 NFL Draft picks 

The Steelers at present have eight picks within the draft, together with the No. 24 total choose. Pittsburgh acquired a fourth spherical compensatory choose on March 10. The crew will doubtless use its first-round choose on both a working again or an offensive linemen, however do not be stunned if the Steelers use their bounty of picks to commerce as much as choose a quarterback

Together with the twenty fourth choose, the Steelers additionally personal the fifty fifth, 88th, 129th, one hundred and fortieth, 216th, 246th and 255th total picks. 

Rumors, studies and updates

March 24: Robert Spillane signed a one-year deal to stay with the Steelers. Spillane performed nicely in seven begins (in aid of Devin Bush) earlier than an damage prematurely ended his 2020 season. Earlier within the day, tight finish Eric Ebron reportedly agreed to a contract restructure, giving the Steelers about $3.9 million extra in cap area. 

March 23: Pittsburgh launched cornerback Steven Nelson after reportedly granting him permission to hunt a commerce. The Steelers saved $8.25 million in cap area by releasing Nelson, who was two years right into a three-year, $25.5 million contract. 

March 19: JuJu Smith-Schuster and the Steelers got here to phrases on a one-year, $8 million deal. Smith-Schuster reportedly turned down a multiyear supply from the Eagles. The Ravens additionally made a push to signal the previous Professional Bowl receiver. 

March 16: The Steelers made a stunning transfer once they launched veteran linebacker Vince Williams. A former sixth-round choose, Williams began in 69 of his 121 common season video games with the Steelers. The transfer saved the Steelers $4 million in cap area. On the identical day the Steelers launched Williams, Bud Dupree got here to phrases with the Titans on a reported five-year, $85 million deal. 

March 12: With per week earlier than the beginning of free company, the Steelers re-signed receiver Ray-Ray McCloud, linebacker Marcus Allen, and offensive lineman J.C. Hassenauer. The crew additionally signed offensive lineman B.J. Finney, who was just lately launched by the Bengals. Finney spent his first 5 seasons with the Steelers earlier than signing with the Seahawks final offseason. 

March 10: The Steelers acquired one compensatory choose for the 2021 draft. Pittsburgh was given the 141st choose within the draft. 

March 9: Pittsburgh didn’t place the franchise tag on Bud Dupree. The Steelers have till March 17 to signal Dupree to a longterm deal earlier than he would grow to be an unrestricted free agent. 

March 4: Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers have come to phrases on a brand new contract for the 2021 season. The brand new contract pays Roethlisberger $14 million for the ’21 season, a $5 million payout. The transfer shaves off greater than $15 million on the Steelers’ 2021 wage cap. 

Feb. 24: After a day of studies, Artwork Rooney II confirmed that Ben Roethlisberger will probably be again for his 18th season. Rooney once more pressured that the 2 sides should work in direction of a restructure of Roethlisberger’s contract to assist the crew’s wage cap state of affairs. 

Feb. 22: Mike Tomlin leaves the Steelers’ facility after testing constructive for COVID-19. Tomlin later posted on Twitter that he has had “minimal signs and I am grateful to be in good well being. … I will be again within the workplace quickly whereas I proceed to work just about from my residence. Thanks to your help and nicely needs!” 

Feb. 22: The Steelers reportedly restructured Cam Heyward’s contract, creating about $7 million in wage cap area. The perennial Professional Bowl defensive deal with will nonetheless obtain $10.5 million for the 2021 season, however his roster bonus and base wage have been transformed right into a signing bonus, which created the extra cap area. 

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