Tim Benz: Steelers' honey-do lists should keep Kevin Colbert busy

ESPN.com’s Bill Barnwell took on the heavy task of outlining the top five needs for every NFL team.

Essentially, a team-by-team to-do list.

It’s a good post. Some worthwhile suggestions. Especially for all the clubs in the AFC North. Definitely worth a read.

We’ll take a look at his ideas for the Steelers shortly.

“But, Tim, what would you put on the to-do list?”

Oh, well, since you asked …

1. Figure out the Bud Dupree situation: Try to lowball him into a team-friendly, long-term deal. Don’t count on it. But try.

Short of that, hit him with the franchise tag. If the Steelers don’t want to do that, then I would suggest tabling any plans to address their many offensive needs and figure out how to draft or sign a different Pro Bowl-caliber pass rusher.

Good luck with that.

2. Address TE, WR, RB: Yup. All three. In the draft. Free agency. Or both.

3. Find a veteran backup quarterback: Mike Tomlin, Kevin Colbert and Art Rooney II have said they are “comfortable” with the Steelers’ quarterback situation.

I am decidedly “uncomfortable.”

4. Make a commitment to an offensive-line plan: For as good as this offensive line has been in recent years, it is now aging and regressing.

The team needs to figure out whether it is going to retain Ramon Foster for one more year at $4 million.

B.J. Finney is an unrestricted free agent. Matt Feiler and Zach Banner are restricted. And it’s time to determine whether Chuks Okorafor is a work in progress or a bust.

5. Be aggressive in advance of the draft: Those are a lot of issues, right?

So Colbert needs to get creative to get some of them addressed in the first two days of the draft.

As of now, the Steelers have only a second-round pick (49th overall) and potentially a third-round pick after No. 96.

That’s not enough in terms of quality or quantity. They need to trade away some picks next year and/or some players off this roster to get additional selections or move up in the second round.

Maybe even into the first.

•••

So those are my ideas. Take a look at Barnwell’s below.

Each point is his “to-do” suggestion.

I’m not going to give away Barnwell’s work. Click on the link above for his rationale for each phase of his plan.

The explanation after each point is my reaction to his ideas.

1. Create cap space: Well, sure. As of now, Barnwell projects the Steelers will be over by $2.1 million.

Obviously, none of what I suggested above can take place until the Steelers get well below compliance.

Barnwell thinks they can accomplish that by cutting Mark Barron.

Yes. Go ahead and do that. Barnwell also proposes cutting Anthony Chickillo.

Sure. Do that, too.

But the site also says they may want to hold onto Chickillo in case Bud Dupree leaves in free agency.

No. Don’t do that. They can do better than Chickillo as a backup. Replacing Dupree — if necessary — requires more than just retaining Chickillo.

2. Add a replacement for Dupree: Of course.

If Dupree is leaving, you have to replace him regardless of whether you keep Chickillo as depth.

An outside linebacker needs to be added in the draft or free agency either way.

If Dupree leaves, they need a new starter. If Chickillo leaves, they need a new backup. If they both leave, they better sign James Harrison again.

The 2008 version.

Just franchise Dupree. It’s the most expeditious route to go.

3. Draft an interior offensive lineman: Good idea.

But I actually say draft a tackle. Or sign one.

Granted, it is entirely possible the Steelers part ways with Foster. And Finney could depart via free agency.

If both things happen, Feiler likely gets bumped inside to guard. Then, suddenly, either Banner or Okorafor becomes the starting right tackle. The person who loses that battle becomes the third offensive tackle the Steelers love to employ so often.

So depth will be needed there, too. And, hey, if you get a good one, who is to say that guy can’t win the starting job or be groomed to eventually replace Alejandro Villanueva?

I understand the need for an interior player, though. One who can play center and guard. Because what if Maurkice Pouncey gets hurt?

Or what if Pouncey decides he wants to beat up Myles Garrett again?

That’s an idea I fully endorse, by the way.

4. Work on an extenson for JuJu Smith-Schuster: At Barnwell’s suggested price of $19 million per season?

No way. Not after last year.

If Smith-Schuster lights up the league again in 2020, indeed, Rooney will have to shell out major dollars to keep him.

At a lot more than $19 million, though? I don’t think so.

In a best-case scenario, if Smith-Schuster rediscovers his Pro Bowl form with Ben Roethlisberger, at least you’ll know last year was a fluke because of injury and missing the starting quarterback.

I’d rather pay a little more next year than pay top wide receiver money now for a guy who didn’t show he could be elevated as a replacement for Antonio Brown.

Now then, if Smith-Schuster wants to discount himself and sign a below-market extension coming off a down year?

That’s a different story.

Don’t hold your breath, though.

5. Pick up TJ Watt’s his fifth-year option: This is a no brainer. I don’t even know if that’s something on the to-do list. I consider that something simply that needs to be done.

I mean, do you put “brush teeth” or “breathe oxygen” on a to-do list? Or do you just do it?

Here’s another option.

Based on what we are reading about how the fifth-year option rules may change in a new collective bargaining agreement — if current players on entry deals are not grandfathered on their existing contracts — it might be wise to just get a long-term deal done now.

Watt long term in Black and Gold.

That has a nice ring to it.