As the Steelers near the halfway point of the 2021 season, the clamor generally begins about who does or does not come back to play next year.
There are numerous candidates for the Pittsburgh Steelers on this list already, especially the exit list. That said, despite being on the exit list, it’s possible some of them return. The obvious candidates for leaving are, of course, Joe Haden and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Then the Steelers have players whose contracts are expiring, and they could come back, or the Steelers could decide just as easy to part ways. The top contenders the most likely to not play for the Steelers in 2022 are Ben Roethlisberger, Eric Ebron, Terrell Edmunds, Melvin Ingram, Chukwuma Okorafor, James Washington, and Robert Spillane.
So this is where the crystal ball comes out. We shall gaze into it bold predictions about who on that list does not come back to play in a black and gold uniform in 2022, and to see who does come back to play for the Steelers in 2022.
In 2021 the Steelers were cash strapped and had to get creative restructuring contracts, allowing them to sign who they needed, to stay at least competitive in 2021. In 2022 they no longer have the same salary cap issues, so they have the luxury of deciding who they want to woo back or let go.
First, we will look at the four Steelers who, under no circumstances, will return for the 2022 season. Then we shall look at four Steelers who will return to the team in 2022.