Prioritizing Pittsburgh Steelers free agents who must be re-signed in 2023

Get your popcorn ready! We are about to witness a rush of moves around the NFL in preparation for the 2023 free-agency period. Many players will be cut from their current teams in an effort to create cap space, while other contracts will be restricted to free up additional spending money. The Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty of work of their own to do.

Things have been quiet on Pittsburgh's front for most of the offseason, but that's about to change. Omar Khan will soon be making moves to clear cap space and set the Steelers up with plenty of cash to throw around in 2023.

The first step has to be trying to retain their own players. At this point, there is no incentive for their unrestricted free agents not to test the market before potentially inking a new deal with Pittsburgh. Though Khan has to be careful not to overspend to retain his own, here are the three most important pending free agents the Steelers must prioritize.

3. Steelers DT Larry Ogunjobi

Admittedly, I'm not the biggest Larry Ogunjobi fan. Though I was excited about the move initially, Ogunjobi was a bit of a letdown in his first season as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former Browns and Bengals pass rusher initially had a deal in place with the Bears last year before health scares forced him to sign a one-year deal in Pittsburgh.

I don't think it would be terribly hard to find at least a comparable player to Ogunjobi in free agency this year, but if there isn't a big market for him, the Steelers should sign him back. Cameron Heyward is the only trustworthy piece along the interior defensive line at the moment, as Chris Wormley is a free agent who suffered a season-ending knee injury late in the season.

Spotrac.com projects Ogunjobi to make $3.4 million per season in new annual earnings on his next contract. If he's in this ballpark, the Steelers should cover their bases by signing him back for the 2023 season.