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2016 Free Agency Recap: AFC North

By Kris Rogers

Jan 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin talk before the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin talk before the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay (22) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 33-20. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay (22) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 33-20. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Pittsburgh Steelers

Additions: Ladarius Green

Re-Signs: William Gay, Ramon Foster, Darius Heyward-Bey, Robert Golden

Departures: Heath Miller (retirement)

Another team that tends to stay out of free agency, the Steelers usually focus on signing their own, as well as adding one or two depth players.

In the opening days of free agency, Pittsburgh has stuck to this philosophy, resigning key veterans to a team-friendly three-year contracts, including $7.5 million for corner William Gay, $9.6 million for guard Ramon Foster, $5 million for special teams captain and safety Robert Golden and $3.8 million for receiver Darius Heyward-Bey.

The likely reason behind these team-friendly contracts are players buying into Mike Tomlin’s system, and saving money to extend David DeCastro and Le’Veon Bell, but there’s a chance they could be making a play for a big name free agent, such as Eric Weddle.

The Steelers were also given the task of replacing tight end Heath Miller after his retirement. Pittsburgh was able to sign Ladarius Green from the Chargers to a four-year, $20 million contract, giving the already potent offense another target. Green praised the Steelers organization, and claimed that Steelers fans, “played a role in his signing“.

With that said, the Steelers still have a few players to lock up. Linebackers Sean Spence and Terrence Garvin have taken meetings with other teams, as well as corner Antwon Blake. Blake was PFF’s second-lowest corner in 2015, but teams may be interested in him as cheap depth.

Notable remaining FAs: Kelvin Beachum, Steve McClendon, Antwon Blake

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