The Steelers will be rebuilding in 2022, and while they have talented players on the roster, these three can’t be back for the rebuild.
The Steelers will be a team rebuilding in 2022, and while they will never admit to it, they will likely not be contenders for next season. That means the team has to prioritize youth and the future over guys who realistically won’t be around in two-three years.
With this rebuild in mind, here are three Steelers that can’t be back with the team in 2022.
Steelers can’t bring back Haden
Joe Haden has been one of the best free-agent signings that this team has made in recent years. The veteran cornerback has helped bring this secondary back from mediocrity and he has been a steady contributor even with his age slowing him down. While his overall play hasn’t been horrible this season, there is no real reason to bring back Haden.
For starters, while his coverage skills have still been sharp, his decline in athleticism has been relatively obvious. He would benefit from a move to free safety, but that would leave him with no starting spot with the Steelers. He may be ok at corner for another season, but in a year when the team has next to no chance of competing, bringing him back is fruitless.
The Steelers will likely bring in a new corner next season, so having Haden around would prohibit the development and playing time of some of the younger corners. James Pierre and Ahkello Witherspoon, assuming he is brought back, would see fewer snaps if Haden is back. As well, any cornerback that is drafted would struggle to see snaps over the veteran. Add in Haden’s price tag, which won’t be cheap, and bringing him back in 2022 seems like an unnecessary move.
Steelers can’t bring back Alualu
One of the most missed Steeler’s defenders this season has been Tyson Alualu. The team hasn’t been able to stop the run since he got injured, and as a result, the defense as a whole has suffered. He is under contract for another season after this one and based on his play it would seem like a no-brainer to bring him back.
At his age though, there is little chance that he plays past next season (assuming he decides to play at all). This means that the team will be paying Alualu more than the minimum to take snaps from the younger players in a year when the team won’t compete. There is no point in this for the long-term success of this team. Instead, seeing what the team actually has at nose tackle would be far more beneficial.
The team could also feasibly add a noses tackle in the draft or through free agency as well. That way, this player will have a season to get used to the defense and be ready to start at a higher level in a year the team could feasibly compete. No matter what, the team can save some cap space and move on from Alualu next season. It would hurt the team in the short term but would set them up for more long-term success.
Steelers can’t bring back Roethlisberger
A name that has spurred a lot of conflict amongst the fanbase, it seems likely that Ben Roethlisberger retires after this season. He has reportedly already told teammates that this is his plan, and with his deal set to expire after this season, he would need a new deal to return. Even if Roethlisberger decides he wants to play in 2022.
Last season was a different story, as the team was set to be worse off than before but would still have a competitive roster to compete. At this point though, the roster is in need of a complete overhaul, and having a limited and aging quarterback won’t help. What keeping Roethlisberger does is push the narrative that this team is still in a “win-now” mode even though their roster isn’t there to complete that.
Instead, the team moving on allows them to begin the rebuild this roster so desperately needs. A veteran quarterback can take over with limited expectations and resources can be dedicated to the team-building not just to win in 2022, but for the long term. Keeping Roethlisberger around delays that one more season. This team needs to accept that they need an overhaul on this roster. Keeping Roethlisberger around goes against that narrative.
The Steelers as a team will be facing an overhaul in 2022. While a rebuild won’t yield instant results, it keeps what’s best for the team in mind going forward. While these three veterans have been good players, the Steelers have to move on from them in 2022 if they truly want to rebuild.