The Pittsburgh Steelers have put in work prior to the official start of free agency, re-signing nearly all of their key impending free agents. Ramon Foster was arguably the most surprising, someone who had a real chance to leave and test the market. But the Steelers signed him to a three year contract today, ensuring he plays the rest of his career out with the team that brought him in as a UDFA.
Foster joined 93.7 The Fan today to talk about re-upping with Pittsburgh. KDKA pulled the quotes on their website and I encourage you to check out the whole article at the link here.
In the interview, Foster said there was interest from other teams, but his priority was to remain in Pittsburgh.
“And I told my agent, we should try to get the best deal done possible with Pittsburgh. Him being an agent, he wanted to explore other options, but we maximized everything we could out of Pittsburgh.”
“Maximized everything” does seem to imply he received a fair-market value deal, though the official numbers haven’t come in yet.
But Foster also pointed out that it wasn’t just money that was driving him. It was the chance to win a 7th Lombardi and bring it to Pittsburgh.
“Can you imagine what a seventh Super Bowl in Pittsburgh would look like? I mean, the parade, the rings, the diamonds – that right there is what I’m searching for.”
Even if we assume Foster only lasts two years of his three year deal, it’ll mean he’s played his first nine seasons in Pittsburgh. Frankly, there aren’t many players league-wide who spend nine years in one place, much less a UDFA left guard who made the team as a swing tackle.
In addition to being a solid option at guard, Foster brings leadership and experience along the line, two aspects that are impossible to quantify but are extremely valuable.
It’s funny to see how the two sides of the Steelers’ offensive line were put together. From center to the right side, high round picks were invested. Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro were first rounders, Marcus Gilbert in the second. On the left? A totally different story. Foster and Alejandro Villanueva undrafted, and even if Kelvin Beachum comes back, a 7th rounder. I’m not making much of a commentary beyond, “isn’t that neat?” but it’s interesting to point out the line’s construction.
