Steelers offseason positional outlook: Tackles

Editor’s note: This is Part 5 of a 12-part series breaking down the Pittsburgh Steelers at each position in the offseason. All salary cap information courtesy spotrac.com or overthecap.com.

No group on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster has more impending free agents than the tackle position. With three players set to hit unrestricted free agency and another ready to become a restricted free agent, the players who line up on the outside of the offensive line will have a different look in 2021.

And that, realistically, is a good thing.

The Steelers in 2020 finished last among the 32 NFL teams in rushing, an indication of a lack of push up front — both on the interior and exterior of the line. And although the line permitted the fewest sacks in the NFL, that success had as much to do with Ben Roethlisberger’s quick release time as anything else. Roethlisberger couldn’t afford to hold onto the ball any longer for risk of the pocket collapsing.

Change also is necessary given four of the five starting linemen from last season will be at least 29 years old when next season begins. The oldest is left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, who will turn 33 in September.

Villanueva is a two-time Pro Bowl pick, but his last selection was in 2018, and he is coming off a season in which Pro Football Focus rated him No. 40 among 55 qualifiers in pass blocking efficiency. The site’s subjective grading system rated Villanueva the No. 27 tackle overall (from a group of 59 qualifiers), including a No. 41 ranking as a run blocker.

Villanueva also was responsible for allowing a league-high 13 quarterback hits and 43 pressures, fifth-most among all tackles, according to Pro Football Focus.

With Villanueva’s contract expiring, the Steelers are expected to let him walk — unless he opts to retire first.

Right tackle Chuks Okorafor started the final 15 games, plus the playoff loss to Cleveland, after Zach Banner sustained a torn ACL in the season opener. Okorafor didn’t grade well in his first year as a starter, ranking No. 53 overall and No. 56 as a run blocker.

Okorafor, though, is one of the few tackles under contract next year and there is belief he can improve in his fourth NFL season.

Banner is an unrestricted free agent as is Matt Feiler, who started at left guard this season after serving as a right tackle the previous two years. With his starting experience at both spots, Feiler could command more money than the Steelers have available. Banner seems like the most realistic option to re-sign with the Steelers. He could regain his job at right tackle, with Okorafor shifting to the left side.

The restricted free agent is Jerald Hawkins, who was brought back to the organization after Banner’s injury and served as an extra blocker in the jumbo formation.

The four other tackles on the roster are players who spent last season on the practice squad and have no NFL experience: Anthony Coyle, Jarron Jones, Brandon Walton and John Leglue.

The best way to replenish the position, of course, is through the NFL Draft and the Steelers using the No. 24 overall pick on a tackle isn’t out of the question. The last time the Steelers used a first-round pick on a tackle was 1996 when they selected Jamain Stephens, a bust who lasted only two years with the organization.

Offseason outlook: OTs

Returnees

Chuks Okorafor, 1 year left on contract, $2.183 million cap hit for 2021

Others under contract

Anthony Coyle, 1 year left on contract, $780,000 cap hit for 2021

Jarron Jones, 1 year left on contract, $660,000 cap hit for 2021

John Leglue, 1 year left on contract, $660,000 cap hit for 2021

Brandon Walton, 1 year left on contract, $660,000 cap hit for 2021

Free agents

Alejandro Villanueva, unrestricted, $8.39 million cap hit for 2020

Matt Feiler, unrestricted, $3.259 million cap hit for 2020

Zach Banner, unrestricted, $1.75 million cap hit for 2020

Jerald Hawkins, restricted, $705,888 cap hit for 2020

Tomorrow: Guards/centers

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