The 2021 Pittsburgh Steelers who take the field together for the first time figure to look plenty different than the ones that ended the 2020 season Sunday night.

Nineteen players are scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency in the spring, plus tight end Vance McDonald has a team option that isn’t likely to be exercised, and several other players will be restricted free agents. And that doesn’t even count players who could be cut at some point over the ensuing months.

“Teams are never the same, whether it’s free agents, draft picks, trades, whatever it is. That’s the hardest thing about this business,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said after a 48-37 loss to the Cleveland Browns in an AFC wild-card game Sunday. “You lose some really good friends. Things always look different. Yeah, we anticipate it looking different.”

Bud DupreeJuJu Smith-SchusterAlejandro VillanuevaMatt FeilerMike HiltonTyson AlualuCam SuttonJames ConnerVance McDonald (option)Zach BannerJ. BerryC. WormleyJ. DangerfieldS. DavisJ. DobbsC. Marshhttps://t.co/JPdp4sB90M

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) January 11, 2021

Players who can be considered starters who will be UFAs are linebackers Bud Dupree and Avery Williamson, receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, offensive linemen Alejandro Villanueva, Matt Feiler and Zach Banner, cornerbacks Mike Hilton and Cam Sutton, running back James Conner and defensive lineman Tyson Alualu.

Defensive captain Cameron Heyward was the only player who received a contract extension over the summer. He avoided unrestricted free agency, but he was choked up at points during postgame remarks Sunday when asked about the bevy of free agents on his team.

“It’s very tough,” Heyward said. “Every year, the team looks completely different. I’m appreciative of everybody in that locker room, coming to work, sacrificing, their families’ sacrificing, as well. It’s been a year. It’s not been our year. We did some great things this year. But we didn’t reach our goal.

“It hurts knowing we’re going to lose players. Especially in the pandemic and things have changed. But I loved every one of these guys in here. To come to work and just talk to these guys, go to work, it’s just been a real treat, and I appreciate it.”

The 2021 NFL league year is scheduled to begin March 17.

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