The Pittsburgh Steelers figure to look like a completely different team in 2022 as longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger prepares to sail off into retirement. The Steelers are all but guaranteed to need to address the quarterback position this offseason, but there are some additional areas they need to hone in on as well in 2022 NFL free agency.

In addition to Roethlisberger's retirement, the Steelers are also expected to see GM Kevin Colbert retire after participating in the 2022 NFL Draft. That makes this a very unique offseason for the Steelers, who are looking to return to their past levels of success after another early playoff exit this year. While the Steelers will be expected to make a splash in free agency, they should also be looking to lock up some players of their own in order to avoid losing them to opposing teams. With that in mind, here are three players the Steelers must re-sign in the 2022 offseason.

 

Steelers 2022 NFL Free Agency

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3. Joe Haden 

The veteran DB doesn't quite seem ready to call it a career, despite having 12 NFL seasons under his belt. He featured in 12 games for the Steelers in 2021, making a season-saving play to help seal a win against the Tennessee Titans, which in turn put the Steelers in position to make the playoffs. While Haden didn't record an interception in 2021, he's nabbed 12 picks over his five-year tenure with the franchise, along with 54 pass defenses in that same span.

Haden doesn't figure to earn a huge contract on the open market after a rather pedestrian year in 2021, but that doesn't mean he can't provide immense value for the Steelers secondary on a short-term deal. He has a strong rapport with his fellow secondary members in Pittsburgh and offers experience few other players on the defense can boast. Locking down Haden for the 2022 season should be a priority in Pittsburgh, as his veteran leadership on defense can be extremely valuable.

2. Trai Turner

Yes, the Steelers' offensive line was an absolute disaster in 2021, but it's hardly the fault of Turner. Starting two mid-round rookies on the o-line isn't the best recipe for success, but allowing Turner to hit free agency would be a mistake. The veteran guard expressed his desire to return to the Steelers just recently, and bringing him back would be the smartest move the Steelers could do if they want to avoid another disastrous season from their offensive line in 2022.

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Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan next to Pittsburgh Steelers edge defender Alex Highsmith. Khan has a speech bubble that says “Thank you, Alex.”

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Courtland Sutton wearing a Steelers jersey next to a Steelers logo

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Justin Fields in a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform on one side, Mike Tomlin on the other side, a bunch of the big eyes emojis in the background

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Turner is one of the most experienced players on the Steelers roster and was the leader of the young group up front last season. Rather than letting him hit free agency, the Steelers should try to bring him back on a short-term deal in order to provide some veteran leadership in the trenches. Any quarterback coming into Pittsburgh would take a quick look at the offensive line room and probably start regretting his decision. Keeping Turner in town will ensure there's a necessary veteran presence up front helping develop the young linemen on the Steelers' roster.

1. JuJu Smith-Schuster

An injury saw Smith-Schuster miss most of the regular season in 2021, but the young wideout has already expressed his desire to return to the team for another go-around. Whether that's on a long-term deal or a short-term one remains to be seen, but Smith-Schuster could provide excellent depth for an already-potent group of wide receivers. With Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson establishing themselves as WR1 and WR2, Smith-Schuster could carve out a crucial role as the team's primary receiver in the slot. He's worked out of the slot effectively in the past, and could make that his niche on the team going forward, with Johnson and Claypool.

His shoulder injury limited him to just five regular-season games this year, but Smith-Schuster was effective in Pittsburgh's Wild Card loss to the Chiefs, hauling in five receptions for 26 yards. If he can stay on the field in 2022, he could prove to be a good value signing for the Steelers if they can keep from hitting the open market. Once considered one of the brightest young WRs in football, Smith-Schuster's stock has taken a hit of late, but he can still prove to be a player well worth holding onto.