Pittsburgh Steelers

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Offense

Quarterbacks

Ben Roethlisberger $305,000 (2004 NFL off. rookie of the year, 14-1 record)
Tommy Maddox $750,000 (great b/u vet, can effectively start if needed)
Andrew Walter $400,000 (Strong accurate arm. Good decision making skills)
total = $1,455,000

Running Backs

Jamal Lewis $2,632,000 (Powerful rb entering his prime, 03' rushing champ)
Reuben Droughns $950,000 (1000+ yd rb, great depth. Will also sub in at fb)
Willie Parker $305,000 (5.8 ypc in 04', has starting potential)
Ryan Moats $350,000 (Fast, elusive, powerful rb. Will add a good mix)
FB Dan Krieder $250,000 (great blocker and can carry the ball when needed)
total = $4,487,000

Wide Receivers

Peter Warrick $2,280,000 (Ready to return to 03' form. injured in 04')
Ronald Curry $300,000 (coming off breakout year 50 rec, 679 yards, 6td's)
Troy Edwards $1,000,000 (productive slot wr. 50 rec. easy)
Chris Henry $450,000 (Prototype wr, a big play waiting to happen)
Fred Gibson $350,000 (potential big play wr, will also return kicks)
Dane Looker $300,000 (proven to come through when called upon)
total = $4,680,000

Tight Ends

Jermaine Wiggins $1,750,000 (71 rec, 705 yards, and 4 tds in 14 games 04')
Boo Williams $850,000 (Another big productive target, also a good blocker)
Matt Kranchick $305,000 (great size and excels at blocking. Also our LS)
total = $2,905,000

Offensive Line

LT Marvel Smith $2,950,000 (Pro bowler, versatile w/ even more upside)
LG Alan Faneca $3,650,000 (Pro bowler, best guard in the league.)
C Chukky Okobi $853,000 (Effectively started in past. Groomed for spot)
RG Keydrick Vincent $605,000 (returning starter, an aggressive force)
RT Oliver Ross $1,100,000 (18 game starter in 04'-exp. at all ol positions)
Max Starks $305,000 (young w/ tons of potential, starting for real Steelers)
Jim Jones $305,000 (returning back up player, ex- starter)
Jason Brown $350,000 (Strongest player in the draft, future starter)
Ben Wilkerson $225,000 (4yr starter at LSU, Smart, leader...a steal in 7th rd)
total = $10,343,000

DEFENSE 3-4

Defensive End

LDE Aaron Smith $3,750,000 (Pro bowler, the leagues next great de)
RDE Bryce Fisher $600,000 (Upgrade in passrush, led Rams with 8.5 sacks)
Raheem Brock $600,000 (58tck/6.5sk as starter for indy in 04', good depth)
Cory Redding $380,000 (48 tackles and 3 sacks in 04', can play dt and de)
total = $5,330,000

Defensive Tackles

Kelvin Pritchett $225,000 (Massive run stopper, vet leader to young core)
Chartric Darby $400,000 (50 tackles as starter for Tampa Bay, good depth)
Anttaj Hawthorne $400,000 (Good passrush and run stop, highly recruited)
Anthony Bryant $250,000 (Great size and strength, run clogger)
total = $1,275,000

Linebackers

LOLB Shawne Merriman $500,000 (Bluechipper, Will be a passrushing terror)
LILB James Farrior $665,000 (Probowler-95tck/3sks/4ints/1td in 04')
RILB Larry Foote $1,318,000 (Broke out last season. 70tck/3sk/1int in 04')
ROLB Tommy Polley $1,000,000 (78 tckles and 2 sks in 04', a lot of upside)
James Harrison $305,000 (45tck/1 sk as b/u in 04', good depth)
Matt Stewart $400,000 (3 year starter for Falcons, can start both olb spots)
Dan Cody $450,000 (Seek and destroy mentality. Future starter)
Adam Seward $300,000 (Smart instinctive player, tackling machine)
total = $4,938,000

Cornerbacks

Samari Rolle $5,500,000 (one of the top cover cb's in nfl, former pro bowler)
DeShea Townsend $1,000,000 (56 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 ints, and 1 td in 04')
Kelly Herndon $400,000 (NFL leader w/23 pass defensed, solid 2yr starter)
Mario Edwards $225,000 (Vet cb who will excel in nickel packages.)
Alphonso Hodge $300,000 (Very fast college cb w/good cover skills)
total = $ 7,425,000

Safeties

SS Troy Polamalu $566,000 (Probowler, 97tck/1sk/5ints/1td - Playmaker)
FS Chris Hope $605,000 (emerging star who had 90 tackles and 1 int in 04')
Mike Logan $225,000 (re signed vet and ex starter, great depth)
Brandon Browner $350,000 (great college cb who we feel will excel at safety)
total = $1,746,000

Special Teams

P Chris Hanson $250,000 (former pro bowler...43.5 yard career punt avg)
K Jeff Reed $1,000,000 (Re-signed vet kicker, showed great improvment)
total = $1,250,000

LS Matt Kranchick
KR/PR Fred Gibson

Total $45,834,000
$5,166,000 Under (still in good cap shape)

Bold = Starters
Black = Returning Players
Blue = Acquired Through Trade
Brown = Free Agent Signing
Green = Draft Signing

 

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Free Agents

Restricted:
Sean Morey ERFA
Bo Lacy ERFA
Larry Foote - $1,318,000 Re-signed
Chris Hope - $605,000 Re-signed
Verron Haynes
Lee Mays - $605,000 Re-signed
Keydrick Vincent - $605,000 Re-signed
Brett Keisel
Jeff Reed - $1,000,000 Re-signed


Unresticted:
Charlie Batch
Plaxico Burress
Matt Cushing
Barrett Brooks
Oliver Ross - Re-signed in FA $1,100,000
Kendrick Clancy
Kendrell Bell
Willie Williams
Ainsley Battles
Tyrone Carter

 

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Cuts

QB Jeff Krohn
RB Jerome Bettis
RB Darryl Kennedy
RB Dan Krieder
CB Chad Scott
CB Chidi Iwuoma
DT Grant Bowman
LB Lewis Moore
LB Matt Farrior
LB Clint Kriewaldt
OL Ulish Booker
OG Lenny Vandermade
C Ben Claxton
C Mike Schneck
WR Chris Collins
WR Walter Young
WR Zamir Cobb
WR Sam Simmons
WR Patrick Crayton
TE John Frieser
TE Jerame Tuman
TE Jay Riemersma
DT Chris Hoke
DT Eric Taylor
DT Langston Moore
DE Kimo Von Oelhoffen
DE Travis Kirschke
DE Bob Dzvonic
DE Brandon Calton
S Russell Stuvaints
K Mike Barr
P Chris Gardocki

 

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Trades

Pittsburgh trades LB Joey Porter and #125 to the Green Bay Packers for #64, #109 and #134.

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Pittsburgh trades RB Duce Staley to the Chicago Bears for #119

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Pittsburgh trades #64 to the N.O. Saints for TE Boo Williams and #178

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Pittsburgh trades #157 to the Denver Broncos for RB Reuben Droughns

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Pittsburgh trade C Jeff Hartings and #119 to the Detroit Lions for DE Cory Redding

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Pittsburgh trades #62 to the Tennessee Titans for CB Samari Rolle

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Pittsburgh trades CB Ike Taylor to the N.O Saints for WR Patrick Crayton and #160

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Pittsburgh trades DT Casey Hampton, WR Antwaan Randle El, and CB Ricardo Colclough to the Cincinatti Bengals for WR Peter Warrick and #17

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Pittsburgh trades #17 to the Baltimore Ravens for RB Jamal Lewis

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Pittsburgh trades LB Alonzo Jackson to the Cincinatti Bengals for DE Robert Geathers, DT Langston Moore, and CB Dennis Weathersby

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Pittsburgh trades #30 and #178 to the Oakland Raiders for #68, #99, #108, and WR Ronald Curry ($300,000)
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Pittsburgh trades WR Hines Ward , OG Kendall Simmons , LB Clark Haggans, and #134 to the Dallas Cowboys for #11 and #16
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Pittsburgh trades #16 to the G.B. Packers for #41, #64, #100 and #138

 

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Free Agent Signings

DE Raheem Brock
Brock has appeared in 45 games, with 38 starts. Last season he totaled 58 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Brock will battle for the starting right defensive end position and at the very least will add excellent depth to our defensive line.

DE Bryce Fisher
Fisher has appeared in 49 games, with 19 starts. Last season he totaled 46 tackles and led the Rams defense with 8.5 sacks. Fisher will compete for the starting right defensive end position with Raheem Brock.

LB Matt Stewart
Stewart has appeared in 63 games, with 45 starts. His best season came in 2003 when he compiled 108 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble while starting all 16 games at outside linebacker. He is very versatile and can play either outside or inside linebacker positions.

CB Kelly Herndon
Herndon has started 27 regular-season games and two playoff games the past two seasons. Herndon emerged as a starter for Denver finishing the season with 70 tackles, 1 sack, 2 ints, and 3 forced fumbles. He led the league with 23 passes defensed and had only 51 percent of the passes thrown in his direction completed in 2004. For $400k Herndon is a huge steal and will compliment Rolle and Townsend very well.

NT Chartric Darby
Darby has 61 career appearances and 23 starts. In 2004 he emerged as a starter at defensive tackle for the Buccs finishing the season with 49 tackles. Darby is expected to back up Cory Redding and along with Langston Moore, will add solid depth at our nose tackle position.

TE Jermaine Wiggins
Wiggins stepped it up in 2004 after Jim Kleinsasser was injured. Wiggins, managed career highs with 71 receptions for 705 yards and 4 TDs despite missing 2 games with a broken hand. His 71 receptions led all Viking recievers. Wiggins is a very good blocker and a solid reciever, who will provide Ben Roetlisberger with yet another reliable target.

LB Tommy Polley
Polley has 58 career appearances and 52 starts, A starter for the Rams since his rookie season, Polley has developed into an intelligent player. He has good agility to avoid and redirect and flows through blockers smoothly with good closing speed. Polley is expected to compete for the starting rolb position.

FB Dan Kreider
Our organization is very pleased to have retained the services of Kreider. Kreider has been the starting fullback in Pittsburgh for the last four years. He has emerged as one of the leagues best blocking backs and is as tough as nails. Kreider will resume his role as starting fullback.

P Chris Hanson
Hanson is a four year vet and one of the leagues best punters. He made the Pro Bowl in 2002, averaging 44.2 yards a punt. Hanson's career average punting distance is 43.5 yards, with a long of 69 yards. Hanson will takeover the starting punter position.

OT Oliver Ross
Ross started all 16 games last season at right tackle and helped pave the way for the 2nd best running attack in the NFL (154 ypg). Ross is a very versatile lineman who can play either guard or tackle positions. He will retain his starting right tackle position. With the edition of Jamal Lewis and now being able to re-sign Ross, the Steelers are primed for another top NFL rushing attack.

WR Troy Edwards
Edwards finished second on the Jaguars with 50 catches for 533 yards and 1 touchdown in 2004. Edwards has good hands and runs his routes well. This former 1st round pick will battle for the slot receiver and kick returner positions. Edwards has excelled at both positions in the past and will provide another reliable target for Big Ben Roetlisberger.

 

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Rd1 Pick #11
Shawne Merriman DE/OLB Maryland
Shawne is a rare talent with the ability to play away from the line as a strong-side linebacker, off the edge as a rush end or in a three-point stance as a down lineman. He has excellent quickness and explosion off the ball, has great flexibility, knee bend, agility and speed to make plays down the line, string out the run and shoot the gaps with suddenness. Merriman is a perfect fit for olb in our explosive 3-4 defense.

Rd2 #41
Dan Cody DE/OLB Oklahoma
Cody is a player that compensates for his lack of ideal bulk and weight-room strength with high intensity and a "search and destroy" mentality on the field. He has a long torso and long limbs, but also shows impressive hand usage, a terrific nose for the ball, superb balance, good quickness and great instincts. He is a bit mechanical in his change of direction, but keeps his feet and plays with good leverage and explosion.

Rd2 #64
Chris Henry WR West Virginia
Has an outstanding frame for a wide receiver. Has the quickness and thrust in his get-off to immediately get into his routes and defeat the jam ... Smooth straight-line runner who can adjust to uncover … Catches with hands extended from the frame and will not hesitate to go over the middle and compete for the ball in a crowd … Will lay out to get to the deep ball and has the lower body power to run through defensive backs that fail to wrap him up … Uses his size and leaping ability to win most battles for the jump ball.

Rd3 #68
Andrew Walter QB Arizona St
Has excellent size and arm strength for his position … Athletic, smart and has a good grasp of a pro-style offense … Shows quick setup and follow through ability, with excellent field vision as he can look defenses off and is able to find his secondary receivers with ease … Throws a nice, tight spiral and has touch on his shorter throws. Andrews is a great young developemental project and should add great depth to an already impressive group of qb's.

Rd3 #93
Anttaj Hawthorne DT Wisconsin
Hawthorne has an explosive initial step to get advantage coming off the snap. Anttaj is a good program player with quick hand reaction to shock and jolt and outstanding instincts working down the line. He anticipates the potential blockers' moves and reacts with strength and quickness to blocking schemes. He is the type of competitor who plays with good intensity and playing strength, but was a little inconsistent in that effort as a senior. Anttaj also shows good instincts, awareness and ball recognition ability. A steal this late in the draft, Hawthorne will be a great starter for years to come.

Rd4 #99
Ryan Moats RB Louisiana Tech
Has a stout build, with broad shoulders, thick thighs and smooth skin. … Shows suddenness coming out of his stance. Has the speed to reach the corner and the acceleration to go the distance with the ball. He has enough leg drive to break tackles and shows fluid lateral agility to elude once he gets into the open. … His excellent short burst will usually see the initial tackler miss.

Rd4 #100
Brandon Browner CB/S Oregon St.
Browner has excellent ball skills and has proven to be a true "ballhawk" during his career at OregonSt. He has proven to be a very durable player, starting all 23 games of his career. Has great size and athleticism. A playmaker with a nose for the ball who has proven to be very productive. We feel Brandon will be a good fit a safety because of his size and speed. That could change but for now, he will add nice depth at safety.

Rd4 #108
Fred Gibson WR Georgia
Shows the ability to stick his cuts and work back for the ball…Has very good body control and tracking ability, showing no problems catching the pigskin over his shoulder…Has some short area quickness to make the initial defender miss…Long strider with good quickness off the line of scrimmage, where he can gain and defeat a defensive back's cushion. Always a big play threat. Needs to bulk up a bit but should catch a good share of balls this year.

Rd4 #109
Jason Brown C/G North Carolina
The strongest player in the draft. Shows good body control with some quickness to get off the snap. Gets a good leg base and generates tremendous power behind his hand punch. Explosive and powerful enough to sustain blocks. Has good natural balance, which allows him to play with his feet underneath him in pass protection. Even though he does not have great speed, he will flash aggression with his hands into the defensive tackle and has more than enough pop and strength to consistently put his opponents on their backs.
Rd5 #138
Alphonso Hodge CB Miami (Ohio)
One of the fastest players in the draft. Has great size, natural feet and can flip his hips, generating good explosion in attempts to run to the ball. Uses his hands with force to press and jam the receivers at the line of scrimmage. Shows excellent range and crispness cutting out of his breaks and has the top-end speed to immediately recover. Opens his hips and shows smooth feet in his backpedal. Has the strength to match up well against tight ends and fullbacks blocking in the short area.

Rd5 #160
Adam Seward ILB Nevada Las Vegas
Seward is a physical inside the box type of tackler with good strength and above average short area quickness. He is a respected, vocal leader with good instincts. He has the speed to make plays in the backfield and delivers an explosive hit when attempting to fill the rush lanes. His quick reads allow him to step up almost instantly to meet blocks head on. He is an instinctive short area zone coverage defender who uses his strength and hand placement to reroute tight ends. Seward is a great fit in our defense. He will see significant playing time and should be a great starter for the future.

Rd6 #189
Anthony Bryant DT ALABAMA
Anthony is a massive athlete with incredible strength, holding the school records with a 505-pound bench press and 775-pound squat. He was the veteran leader of the Crimson Tide defensive line the last two years and has experience in the one- and two-gap systems. He's not going to get to the qb very often but he is great for eating up the run. Bryant is a great pick up for NT, and adds good depth while he learns.

Rd7 #221
Ben Wilkerson C LSU
A great athlete. Starter since his true freshman season. Good quickness and a leader along the o-line. Smart and excels at making all the line calls. Has good burst off the line and solid in both run and pass protection. Ben will add good depth at center and we expect him to be starting in a year or two.