4 reasons Steelers Villanueva won’t be re-signed after 2020

Age is a factor for the Steelers left tackle

While Villanueva entered the league at an older age, meaning he should have some better tread on his tires as a result, it still doesn’t help that he is 32 years old. As stated before, the Steelers are getting ready to transition to life without Roethlisberger, and that likely means a few lean years. Unfortunately, that will likely encompass the remainder of the good years that Villanueva has left, making his return to the team less likely.

To be fair, the NFL has seen offensive linemen play well into older ages. Since they don’t rely on speed and athleticism, they can have careers well into their mid-thirties. That said, Father Time still comes for everyone, and Villanueva will be no different. While he may be able to remain as a top tackle on a short two- or three-year deal, he likely won’t as effective of a player on a longer deal.

The fact that his age would dictate a shorter contract ends up going back to the money issue. With the Steelers cap-strapped next season, they will need to cooperate longer deals to lower the first-year cap hit. Villanueva’s first-year charge will be substantially higher on a two-year deal than it would be on a five-year deal. This means he may be harder to fit under the cap next year, making his odds of getting resigned even less likely.