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Five moves the Steelers need to make this offseason

By Edward Hunt

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 15: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 15: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 15: Cameron Heyward #97 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Heinz Field on September 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 15: Cameron Heyward #97 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Heinz Field on September 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

Extend Cameron Heyward and Alejandro Villanueva

The Black & Gold can finagle the cap by extending players by giving them more money down the line and lowering their 2020 cap hit. Presumably, the salary cap will grow over time as the NFL will have more revenue in the future.

There are also two players who deserve to be extended. The first one is Cameron Heyward. Cameron Heyward was once again their defensive captain and one of the two best players on their defense. Cameron Heyward was very worthy of the Pro Bowl this season.

Heyward has a $13 million cap hit according to Over the Cap in 2020 and that could be lowered by an extension. The Steelers will also have the bargaining power that Heyward is on the wrong side of 30. I see this deal getting done and both sides wanting to.

The other player that deserves an extension is Alejandro Villanueva. Villanueva may not be the Steelers best lineman but he is a very solid left tackle in a league that values the left tackle position.

Villanueva should be a discount this time around as well as he is 31 according to Rotoworld. He has given the Steelers the hometown discount in the past and so I see this as a smooth contract extension process.

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