Steelers/NFL
Inside Pittsburgh Sports has learned the Steelers top priorty will be starting left tackle Max Starks this off-season.
Starks, 27, Signed a one-year, $6.895 million contract last off-season and many fans questioned the signing as Starks opened the season on the bench. After starting the Steelers final 13 games (including playoffs) at left tackle, Starks is the Steelers top priority as the team has a late start on their off-season planning after winning Super Bowl XLIII.
The Steelers are expected to begin negotiations with Starks representatives next week in the hopes of signing Starks to a long-term deal before free agency begins on February 27th.
Expect the Steelers to make an initial offer in the range
of four to five years. Starks who is very close to Ben Roethlisberger has a strong interest in returning to Pittsburgh.
The Steelers have all intentions of making a qualifying offer to Right Tackle Willie Colon. The Steelers seem comfortable of going into the season with Starks and Colon as their starting tackles if both can be re-signed. All of their focus appears to be on upgrading the interior of their offensive line.
That doesn’t bode well for Chris Kemoeatu who I don’t think the Steelers will bring back.
