NFL teams can start using the franchise tag on top players on Tuesday, which means that some superstars speculated to move will enter contract negotiation periods and will not hit the open market. In the past, the Pittsburgh Steelers have used the franchise tag and had their run-ins with it, such as the Le’Veon Bell situation.
But their 2024 free agency class is a surprisingly light one when looking at elite, impact players that would require the tag. The decisions on the franchise tag could be a bit more pronounced next year, with some of their upper-echelon players set to be up for a new contract. But this year, the top free agent that will at least be talked about is, of course, Mason Rudolph.
Beyond that, there are plenty of solid role players like Montravius Adams, Markus Golden, Armon Watts, and others who the team could look to keep. But none of them will require that tag.
So, expect this period to be a quiet one for the Black and Gold, though there will be some names to watch, like Jaylon Johnson and L’Jarius Sneed, who could become the huge splashes the team would make in the offseason. In addition, watching what the divisional opponents will do with guys like Tee Higgins is another key storyline to watch.
The last time the Steelers used the franchise tag was on Bud Dupree. They could use it again sometime soon, but have tried to avoid using it in recent years under Omar Khan, instead opting to extend top talent.
STEELERS 2024 FREE AGENTS
QB Mason Rudolph
WR Miles Boykin
NT Montravius Adams
DT Armon Watts
OLB Markus Golden
ILB Kwon Alexander
ILB Blake Martinez
ILB Mykal Walker
CB Levi Wallace
CB James Pierre
CB Chandon Sullivan
DB Elijah Riley
SS Miles Killebrew RB Godwin Igewbuike (RFA)
DT Renell Wren (RFA)
ILB Chapelle Russell (RFA)
LS Christian Kuntz (RFA) OT Dylan Cook (ERFA)