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With the 2014 NFL scouting combine in the rearview mirror and free agency about to begin, Insider's experts have produced an Offseason Blueprint for all 32 NFL teams. Included are each team's front-office priorities, projected 2014 lineups, draft and free-agency targets, cap situation and much more.
This is the Offseason Blueprint for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Front-office priorities
What management's to-do list should include this offseason.
1. Cap planning rules the day for the Steelers, as big names on this roster are in need of salary adjustments. The process has already begun, and LaMarr Woodley ($13.5 million cap number), Ike Taylor ($11.9 million), Troy Polamalu ($10.8 million) and Levi Brown ($6.2 million) are the most obvious candidates to come next, as Pittsburgh is above the cap as of this writing.
2. Pittsburgh needs to upgrade its offensive line and allow new O-line coach Mike Munchak to go to work. This unit as it is currently comprised fits a gap/power scheme more than a zone scheme, so I would expect that to be where they are headed. The return of Maurkice Pouncey could make the whole thing go, as he is the best center in the league when healthy. Expect help along the O-line to come via the draft.
3. The Steelers missed Mike Wallace last season and need to prepare Markus Wheaton to step in for likely-to-depart unrestricted free-agent WR Emmanuel Sanders. The Steelers also need to find third wideout in the draft to help take the pressure off Antonio Brown.