Steelers who are entering their final year with the team

Alejandro Villanueva

Speaking of stories to root for, OT Alejandro Villanueva has one for the ages. After playing WR at Army and then serving his country overseas, Villanueva tried latching on as a defensive player before the Steelers converted him to OT. He has thrived there, earning a Pro Bowl nod twice during his career. While he hasn’t become an elite OT, he has proven to be one of the better players at his position.

That said, he signed a discounted contract in 2017 that paid him six million a year on average, making him (currently) the 32nd highest-paid OT in the league. Realistically, he deserves top 15 pay, and maybe even top 10 due to his previous performance. That would put his average value between 12-14 million per year.

While Villanueva is worth that kind of money, the Steelers may not have the resources to afford it. Cap space will likely be limited next year, and with a plethora of other options also being set to be free agents, he may have to look for work elsewhere. Unless Villanueva is willing to play at a major discount (something he has already done the past four years), expect to see him in a different uniform next year.