How to fix the Steelers for 2022 QB offensive line extending Minkah Fitzpatrick among top priorities

The ' 2021 season will be remembered for several different reasons. It will largely be remembered for being an unpredictable roller-coaster ride that saw them make the playoffs despite glaring weakne ses on both sides of the ball.The '21 season will also be remembered for overall brilliance that led to him matching Michael Strahan's single-season sack record. Fans will also remember the emergence of rookies and , who quickly became key cogs of the Steelers' offense. More than Eric Rowe Jersey anything, the 2021 season will be most remembered for being the final year of surefire Hall of Fame career. Roethlisberger received an emotional send-off against the in Week 17 before delivering one last comeback win in Baltimore in Week 18.With the 2021 season now in the rearview mirror, it's time to take a look at what the Steelers need to do in order to put themselves in position to get back to the AFC's upper echelon in 2022.This is the big question hovering over the Steelers. At a minimum, the Steelers can go with , who went 5-3 as a starter when Roethlisberger went down with an elbow injury two weeks into the 2019 season. Rudolph's erratic play has not endeared himself to fans, but Roethlisberger feels that an open quarterback competition in his former understudy. was also complimentary of Rudolph when asked about the future of the Steelers' quarterback position. "He's a great player," of Rudolph, who enjoyed a prolific career at Oklahoma State before being the Steelers' third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. "I'm sure he's going to work his tail off to compete for the starting job. I'm pulling for him."Given their other needs, don't Robert Jones Jersey expect Rudolph's challenger to be a high-priced veteran who may have a Super Bowl win on his resume. Some realistic options include veterans , , and . They could pursue if the are willing to take a late-round pick. Pittsburgh draft a quarterback in the first round, but they won't reach on a player they aren't sold on. Unle s Kenny Pickett somehow falls to the second half of the first round, the Steelers will go with a veteran quarterback in 2022. Pick Six Newsletter Crafted By The Best NFL Experts Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, picks and power rankings. I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the and acknowledge Paramount's . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. The Steelers knew they'd have to replace this time last offseason. They surely had a hunch that longtime starting center was also going to retire following his emotional postgame moment with Roethlisberger following Pittsburgh's 2020 wild card lo s to Cleveland. They also allowed tackle to sign with the Salvon Ahmed Jersey , who will host the this weekend in the divisional round. The Steelers probably did not anticipate having to release former All-Pro guard after his ankle did not recover enough in time to be ready for the '21 season. They also likely expected to get more contributions from than they did this past season, as Banner played in just 27 regular-season snaps.Pittsburgh replaced those players with a rookie center ( ), a rookie left tackle ( ), and a former Pro Bowl guard who was still unsigned at the start of training camp ( ). Pittsburgh also started two former undrafted players in and . The results were as expected. The unit Nat Moore Jersey took its lumps before making gradual improvement, especially in pa s protection. Ironically, two of the line's best run-blocking games came against the Cleveland Browns' formidable defensive front. The unit's brightest moment was in Week 17, when the line helped Harris run for a season-high 188 yards that included the game-clinching, 37-yard score.Green, Moore and 2020 fourth-round pick will remain in the Steelers' plans next season but will have to compete to regain their starting jobs. Look for the Steelers to invest in their offensive line this offseason, both in free agency as well as in the draft. Our CBS Sports NFL Draft expert Ryan Wilson has Pittsburgh selecting former Texas A&M Jakeem Grant Jersey offensive lineman Kenyon Green in the first round in . Po sible free agent options on the offensive line include center , Washington guard , guard , guard , guard , tackle , tackle , and tackle . The Steelers will likely try to re-sign tackle , who was one of the few mainstays on the line over the last two seasons.Fitzpatrick is deserving of a long-term contract that would place him among the league's highest-paid defensive backs. Fitzpatrick was spread extremely thin at 2021 as he was often asked to help mask the Steelers' deficiencies in the front seven. The result was 129 tackles, 45 more than he had in the same amount of games in 2020. The two-time All-Pro still managed to make several big plays in pa s defense despite his large presence in run defense.The Steelers picked up Fitzpatrick's fifth-year option last spring, but it's highly unlikely that he will play under the option in 2022. Fitzpatrick has proven that he is worth an extension, and the Steelers have the money (they are projected to have almost $45 million Shaquem Griffin Jersey in cap space) to get a deal done. and are among the Steelers' players who are slated to hit free agency. As they did last offseason, expect Smith-Schuster to test the market. The Steelers will likely make him an offer, but there's a good chance that the former team MVP signs elsewhere if his market is more robust this year than it was last offseason. Smith-Schuster likely elevated his market value by returning to play in Pittsburgh's wild card game roughly three months after undergoing shoulder surgery.If Smith-Schuster doesn't return, that will give outgoing GM Kevin Colbert one last opportunity to work his magic when it comes to drafting receivers. Colbert's track record at drafting receivers includes Smith-Schuster (2017), (2010), (2010), (2009), and (2006), among others.Pittsburgh informed Haden last offseason that they would not redo his contract before the 2021 season. When healthy, Haden was still a capable player who brought energy to the field and on the practice field. But his age (he will be 33 before the start of next season), injury i sues and the emergence of and (who is also slated to enter free agency) gives the Steelers some bargaining leverage. The Steelers should make Haden a fair offer, but they cannot overpay given their other roster needs. He had an interception in Sunday night's lo s to the , but linebacker largely struggled in his third season. Some of his struggles could be attributed to the fact that he was coming back from a major knee injury. Regardle s, the Steelers will probably not pick up Bush's fifth-year option, which will make the 2022 season a pivotal one for the former first-round pick. While Bush should bounce back in 2022, the Steelers Thomas Morstead Jersey need to have a contingency plan if Bush does not improve. With that in mind, expect the Steelers to invest some at inside linebacker, both in the draft and in free agency.
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