Now, the realistic free agent options.

Iupati sucked last season and was injured, not interested in paying him big money.

 

This is what the Steelers do every year sign guys to fill holes, their strategy has worked for them in the past.

 

CJ2K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOOHOO!!

rimshot

 

I don't know how any fans don't clearly see that Gilbert is simply terrible. He either gets blown by or gets a flag, with little in between. He is clumsy, slow and soft. Not a good combination.

 

Same thing for Foster it seems. I like Foster but a lot of others do not.

 

My research shows Pgh with the 31st RT ranking. I am pretty sure that 2nd to last is something you should yearn to improve on. When you see a sack, it usually comes from Gilbert's man. If you see a flag for holding or false start, it's usually from Gilbert as well. He just sucks.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol

 

The passes looked to be more like late-season Andy Dalton than Brice McCain,Takeaway Machine.
Regardless, McCain's two interceptions helped the Steelers hold off the Bengals in their Week 17 AFC North championship game in 2014. Covering one of the best receivers in the game, Cincinnati's A.J. Green, McCain had one of his best performances, and set himself up well for free agency.
The Steelers got a bargain on McCain, signing him after he was released by the Texans for a one-year deal that won't count against their compensatory picks formula. They aren't likely to let him stray far into free agency, either. It should be expected the Steelers make McCain some kind of offer before free agency begins March 10.
That sounds fine to McCain.
He spoke with Steelers.com reporter Teresa Varley, and spoke of his commitment to staying in Pittsburgh.
"Coach (Mike Tomlin) said I can be more into the defense, control more things," McCain said. "The better I know it will help. There are so many things you can do in the defense. The more time in it I can control it as a nickel."
McCain played both inside and out in the team's base defense as well as in sub packages. All the cornerbacks moved around in 2014, largely due to the long-term injury to Ike Taylor as well as the sagging performance and injuries to Cortez Allen.
Taylor isn't expected to return, and Allen will likely be given every opportunity to earn back his starting position, and perhaps that's why McCain's comments are suggestive of him handling the team's nickel corner role. Allen and veteran William Gay look to be the team's starters in 2015, and it seems likely the team will address the position at some point in the draft.
Antwon Blake is a restricted free agent, but he's likely won't receive a tender offer from the team. He may return, but not at the $1.5 million salary of the lowest level of restricted free agency.

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.co...5/steelers-cornerback-depth-chart-free-agency

I'm definitely on board for re-signing McCain. Surprised to see they may not tendor an offer to Blake, but that could be the author's speculation.

 

mcain should be a priority

 

[h=3]LB Arthur Moats is hoping to remain with the Steelers.[/h]Last year when NFL free agency rolled around, linebacker Arthur Moats found himself with a new team, signing a one-year deal with the Steelers after spending the previous four seasons with the Buffalo Bills.

“It was mixed emotions when I left,” said Moats. “A change of scenery was good for my career. If I never left, I wouldn’t have had the chance to experience what I did here. It’s been a great year for me and my family.”

This year Moats is hoping he doesn’t have to go looking for a new team again.

Moats will become a free agent on March 10 when the NFL free agency period begins. But he is hoping that he remains right where he is, with a team and organization that he couldn’t be happier playing for.

“I love this organization,” said Moats, who believes there is mutual interest to keep him in Pittsburgh. “Even though I was only here for one year, from top to bottom it’s been a great experience.

“I think it’s the guys that are here. It’s a family run type of organization, you feel the love. They show that they care about you. Even when they are pushing you, and you are tired, you know they are doing it because they care about you and just want to get the best out of you.

“I would love to get something done sooner rather than later here. I love it here, my family loves it here.”

Moats said he has talked to teammates who played for other teams and came to Pittsburgh and fell in love with the organization. He’s heard the stories from players like William Gay, Matt Spaeth, and Will Allen, who left the Steelers to go elsewhere and jumped at the opportunity to come back to the Steelers. That’s why he is hoping to just stay put.

“What they say is there is nothing like this organization from top to bottom, the way the organization is run,” said Moats. “Talking to guys, they say when you go to other places it has some pros, but it’s never going to feel like it does here.”

During his four years in Buffalo, Moats had two head coaches, two defensive coordinators and two general managers, while the Bills went 22-42. His first year in Pittsburgh he immediately felt a difference.

“Coming here, from the time you step in the door it just feels right,” said Moats. “It’s because of the people they have here, the players, the coaches, and the staff. I just feel like it makes you more comfortable with the people here in the organization. Everyone here is positive.

“At the same time there is an expectation here. You don’t want to be somewhere where winning four, five, six games a year is acceptable. You want to go where they feel like it’s Super Bowl or nothing. That is the feeling here and that is part of why guys like it so much.”

http://www.steelers.com/news/articl...ization’/04d4bcde-7d0c-41dc-8e8f-4fba201cc634

Another priority FA signing imo.

 

Fine ... as long as he's dirt cheap.

 

I don't like Gilbert, hurt most of the time and is not too stout to handle the elite guys on his side of the ball.

Just look at the last Ravens game. Both our tackles were getting abused, and that is a problem because who do you help out with a RB or TE to chip? Beachum the Left Tackle, or the Right tackle? You certainly can't help both of them all game long. We need a RT to hold it down on his own.

He has improved, and I'm not sure we are going to find anyone better this off season... so I guess we just have to live with what we got.

For Foster, I hope Chris Hubbard shows something this offseason. They kept him around for a reason. Foster is serviceable, but extremely limited. Unfortunately someone really exceptional needs to be here to replace him ... they like Foster as a "locker room guy" too much.

 

I definitely also agree with this! Solid player and won't break the bank.

 

I doubt McCain signs for the lowest figure possible, but he still shouldn't be too costly. And he definitely needs to stay around.

 

my only problem with speath is how much we got out of his two year signing. we only got about half a season out of two with his injuries. there are some decent TE's in this draft.

will Johnson is another guy that is iffy to re-sign since we don't use him. he could be that down the seam extra pass catching type TE if we would use him as such. haley has wasted his talents so far.

 

At one point Tomlin was talking about how important Will J was to the offense as a whole, the 'most underrated player' or some such like. Maybe Haley disagrees.

It STILL befuddles me as to why he wasn't used more against the Ravens in the play offs.

I think he re-signs, to save us going out and finding an FB who will see the field even less.

Spaeth has always been a bit of a disappointment to me, as he has a monster physique and has never quite used that to full effect. I'm kind of 50/50 on whether we should bring him back.