With the 2017 NFL Draft and the main portion of free agency both now over, the Pittsburgh Steelers can turn their attention to some other offseason business they likely want to accomplish between now and the start of the regular season.
That offseason business figures to include a few players receiving contract extensions and leading that list is running back Le’Veon Bell, defensive end Stephon Tuitt and quite possibly even tackle Alejandro Villanueva.
Bell’s time frame for an extension is pretty cut and dry as the Steelers have until July 15th to get him signed to a new contract due them placing the franchise tag on him ahead of the start of the new league year.
As for Tuitt and Villanueva, the only real deadlines that exist when it comes to new contracts for them are those imposed by the Steelers, who have a long-standing tradition of not doing deals with players once a regular season gets underway.
While it’s all but guaranteed that Tuitt will receive a very lucrative contract extension between now and the start of the regular season, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported recently that discussions with the former second-round draft out of Notre Dame concerning a new deal have not yet intensified.
That news, however, really isn’t surprising being as the Steelers are likely wanting to get Bell signed to an extension before any other player. In short, contract extension talks with Tuitt and his representation aren’t likely to heat up until the Steelers report to Latrobe for training camp.
Tuitt, who is now in the final year of his rookie contract, has played in 44 regular season games for the Steelers during his first three years in the league. The defensive end has registered 108 total tackles, 11.5 sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles so far during career.
Tuitt, by the way, will turn 24 years of age in a little less than two weeks from today.
