Looking towards the draft and Free Agency

Well, I am now officially over the Steelers loss to the Broncos in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs. The Steelers were a MASH Unit in that game. Clark was held out due to his blood disorder, Hampton & Keisel were both lost in the game, LaMarr Woodley was in and out with his hamstring giving him trouble, Maurkice Pouncey was out with a knee injury, Rashard Mendenhall was out with a torn ACL, and Ben Roethlisberger was hobbled by a bum ankle.

So now it's time to look at the 2012 NFL Rookie Draft and Free Agency.

The Steelers are currently over the cap by the estimations of most. So they are going to make some cuts and have guys restructure their contracts to be able to sign their draft picks and their own free agents.

I think we will see the following players cut and/or retire:

• Chris Kemoeatu, G - He was benched twice this season. He's got the potential to be a very good guard, but he can't keep himself from making dumb penalties at the worst possible moments. I think Mike Tomlin has tired of him and he will be released.
• Chris Hoke, NT - He suffered a neck injury and is expected to retire. 
• James Farrior, ILB - For as great of a player as he's been for the Steelers, he is not the same player he was even a season ago. His play fell off a lot this season, and I can see him being a surprise cut to clear cap space.
• Daniel Sepluveda, P - This is his second stint on IR with the Steelers, I expect him to be released and Jeremy Kapinos retained.
• Jonathon Scott, T - He was horrible in the few games he played at tackle this season, I don't expect to see him on the roster past training camp.
• Byron Leftwich, QB - He's too fragile, can't make it through the preseason. I am not expecting him to be kept.
• Willie Colon, T - He was signed to a big contract and then was on IR before the season even started. This was his second straight season on IR and I don't expect the Steelers to keep him with them needing to get under the cap.

The Steelers' biggest priority on the free agent front is resigning Mike Wallace. Yes, he is a restricted free agent, and I do expect the Steelers to give him the highest possible tender so if he did go somewhere else the Steelers would acquire first and third round draft picks. But the Steelers would like to keep him, because with Antonio Brown they make a very dynamic wide receiver duo.

Now onto the NFL Draft, and I think the following are the biggest needs for the Pittsburgh Steelers:

•  Offensive Line - For years the Steelers have been using a patchwork offensive line. Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has taken a lot of sacks over the years, and with him turning 30 this year, he's not going to keep bouncing back from the hits. Yes, he's always going to play a brand of backyard football running around and holding onto the ball longer than he should, but the Steelers need to build an offensive line in front of him that can protect him better. Also, this has been one of the worst seasons I have ever seen the Steelers have running the football. An improved offensive line could help the run game too. The Steelers have taken one offensive lineman in the first round of the draft since 1998, and that was our current center Maurkice Pouncey. If there is an offensive lineman worth the pick at #24, or if we have to trade up a couple spots to nab Cordy Glenn (guard from Georgia), I think we should pull the trigger. 
• Nose Tackle - In the past three years the Steelers have taken Cam Heyward (2011) and Ziggy Hood (2009) to play defensive end in the Steelers' 3-4 defensive scheme. Now they need to find their future nose tackle. With Casey Hampton going down with a torn ACL and Chris Hoke likely retiring after a neck injury, we are thin at the position. While I don't have Hampton on my cuts list, it's a possibility with his age and injury, and if he isn't cut he won't be ready for the start of the season.
• Cornerback - Yes, the Steelers did have the top pass defense in  the NFL last season...and then they were shredded by Tim Tebow in their lone playoff game. Ike Taylor chose to have that game as his worst game of the season, but he is still a top notch corner in my opinion. William Gay has a very good season, but I still wouldn't mind seeing the Steelers take a corner in the first four rounds, hopefully a guy who's a freakish athlete they they can develop. 
• Running Back - Rashard Mendenhall tore his ACL in the season finale against Cleveland. Mewelde Moore is a free agent and isn't expected to return. That leaves Issac Redman as the starter (which I am fine with), but not much behind him. I can see the Steelers taking a speed back to compliment Redman's power running style. 
• Quarterback - Ben Roethlisberger is no doubt the starter. However, behind him there isn't a ton of talent. Nobody is expecting the Steelers to retain the fragile Byron Leftwich. Then you have Charlie Batch who was lucky to play against a hapless St. Louis Ram's pass rush in his only game of the season. And then you have Dennis Dixon who will be a free agent and likely not resigned. The Steelers need a young quarterback who can be a reliable option behind Ben for when/if he goes down with an injury. Right now that quarterback isn't on the team.

Later this offseason I will be doing a mock draft for just the Steelers, and then closer to the draft I will be doing a complete first round mock draft.