The Steelers might not be able to fit one central Ohio running back under their 2018 salary cap, but they did lock up another Saturday, signing fullback Roosevelt Nix to a four-year deal.
Nix, who like running back Le'Veon Bell is a native of suburban Columbus, made his first Pro Bowl in 2017 when he finished the season with one touchdown each receiving and rushing. He also had 10 special teams tackles and led the way for Bell to finish third in the NFL in rushing with 1,291 yards.
Nix, 25, was scheduled to become a restricted free agent. To retain his services, the Steelers would have been forced to tender him an offer sheet that would have given him a hefty raise from the $615,000 he made in 2017. The restricted free agent tender for a low-round pick or non-drafted player last year was $1.797 million.
"I'm a Steeler," Nix said when asked at the end of the season about his thoughts on staying in Pittsburgh. "I don't want to go anywhere else."
Nix, a former all-conference performer in the Mid-American Conference as a nose tackle at Kent State, went undrafted and joined the Steelers in 2015 after initially signing with the Atlanta Falcons in 2014. He also spent time with the Cleveland Gladiators in the Arena Football League.
The Reynoldsburg, Ohio, native earned a spot on the Steelers' roster with his solid special teams play and has quickly become a favorite in the team's locker room for his gritty play.
He also is very close friends with Bell. The two grew up playing against each other in the youth football leagues of suburban Columbus and on through high school. Bell also is headed for free agency this offseason after playing under the franchise tag in 2016. Team president Art Rooney II reiterated earlier this week that the team would like to sign Bell to a long-term contract extension.
The Steelers have three other players set to become restricted free agents: placekicker Chris Boswell, outside linebacker Anthony Chickillo and receiver Eli Rogers.
The team would like to work out a long-term deal with Boswell and would be open to doing so with Chickillo, a valuable reserve. At the very least, the team will tender them one-year contracts to try to keep them from reaching free agency.
Rogers suffered a torn ACL in the team's 45-42 playoff loss to Jacksonville. The team is unlikely to make him a tender offer because of that injury, but could look to re-sign him on a one-year deal at some point.