During the Steelers pre draft press conference today Steelers Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert said, “We\’re going to pick based on our team as it currently stands,” Colbert said. “I don\’t know how it currently stands because there\’s different possibilities that exist. But when the lockout began this is our team as we know it, and we\’re going to draft accordingly.”
What Colbert was of course eluding to are the several free agents the Steelers have that are up in the air. Most notably are the ones who\’s free agent status depends on the outcome of a new CBA like tackle Willie Colon, cornerback William Gay, tight end Matt Spaeth and punter Daniel Sepulveda. All four of those players have been tendered as if they were restricted free agents, but that certainly could be the opposite depending on how the labor talks go.
The Steelers already placed the franchise tag on linebacker LaMarr Woodley and he signed his franchise tender prior to the start of the lockout. Also tendered were tackle Tony Hills and quarterback Dennis Dixon, both of which are likely to remain restricted free agents. The Steelers also have several players I have discussed since the end of the season who are sure-fire unrestricted free agents. Those players are, cornerback Ike Taylor, defensive back Anthony Madison, nose tackle Chris Hoke, defensive end Nick Eason, running back Mewelde Moore linebacker Keyaron Fox, guard Trai Essex, kicker Shaun Suisham, long snapper Greg Warren and safety Ryan Mundy. In addition Doug Legursky is an exclusive rights free agent, but has yet to officially sign. He will return in 2011.
As it stands right now, the Steelers have 57 players under contract if you count Woodley signing his franchise tender. This includes the 17 players they signed to the offseason expanded roster after the season ended, many of which ended the season on the Steelers practice squad.
Below is the list of players on the Steelers current roster as it stands today that are under contract heading into the 2011 NFL draft. The Steelers offseason roster can not exceed 80 players under contract at any given time under the current NFL offseason roster limits.
| # | Name | Pos. | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | James Farrior | ILB | 36 |
| 16 | Charlie Batch | QB | 36 |
| 71 | Flozell Adams | T | 35 |
| 86 | Hines Ward | WR | 35 |
| 91 | Aaron Smith | DE | 35 |
| 98 | Casey Hampton | NT | 33 |
| 99 | Brett Keisel | DE | 32 |
| 92 | James Harrison | OLB | 32 |
| 25 | Ryan Clark | FS | 31 |
| 82 | Antwaan Randle El | WR | 31 |
| 4 | Byron Leftwich | QB | 31 |
| 81 | Arnaz Battle | WR | 31 |
| 50 | Larry Foote | LB | 30 |
| 43 | Troy Polamalu | SS | 30 |
| 7 | Ben Roethlisberger | QB | 29 |
| 78 | Max Starks | T | 29 |
| 20 | Bryant McFadden | CB | 29 |
| 26 | Will Allen | S | 28 |
| 68 | Chris Kemoeatu | G | 28 |
| 83 | Heath Miller | TE | 28 |
| 37 | Tuff Harris | DB | 28 |
| 65 | Nevin McCaskill | OG | 27 |
| 56 | LaMarr Woodley | OLB | 26 |
| 47 | Baraka Atkins | LB | 26 |
| 13 | Jeremy Kapinos | P | 26 |
| 90 | Chris Ellis | LB | 26 |
| 33 | Isaac Redman | RB | 26 |
| 80 | Limas Sweed | WR | 26 |
| 41 | James Johnson | RB | 26 |
| 87 | Eugene Bright | TE | 26 |
| 73 | Ramon Foster | T | 25 |
| 69 | Steve McLendon | DT | 25 |
| 94 | Lawrence Timmons | LB | 24 |
| 23 | Keenan Lewis | CB | 24 |
| 96 | Ziggy Hood | DE | 24 |
| 17 | Mike Wallace | WR | 24 |
| 77 | Ra\’Shon Harris | DE | 24 |
| 77 | Dorian Brooks | OG | 24 |
| 88 | Emmanuel Sanders | WR | 24 |
| 48 | Mortty Ivy | LB | 24 |
| 46 | Chris McCoy | LB | 24 |
| 42 | Da\’Mon Cromartie-Smith | S | 24 |
| 34 | Rashard Mendenhall | RB | 23 |
| 85 | David Johnson | TE | 23 |
| 28 | Crezdon Butler | CB | 23 |
| 97 | Jason Worilds | OLB | 23 |
| 61 | Chris Scott | T | 23 |
| 5 | Swayze Waters | K | 23 |
| 67 | Kyle Jolly | T | 23 |
| 45 | Jamie McCoy | TE | 23 |
| 19 | Tyler Grisham | WR | 23 |
| 15 | Wes Lyons | WR | 23 |
| 55 | Stevenson Sylvester | ILB | 22 |
| 84 | Antonio Brown | WR | 22 |
| 30 | Donovan Warren | CB | 22 |
| 53 | Maurkice Pouncey | C | 21 |
| 27 | Jonathan Dwyer | RB | 21 |
