The league descends upon Indianapolis this week for the annual NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium, with the underwear Olympics kicking off on Wednesday.
A number of NFL coaches and executives will be addressing the media on Wednesday, including Kevin Colbert, while the players will begin their on-field workouts that day as well.
Colbert spoke just two weeks ago in Pittsburgh and not much has changed with the team since then, as the Steelers have thus far chosen not to place the franchise tag on Le'Veon Bell -- yet.
"Everything is a big picture kind of cloud right now. Even looking at the free agents, we’re not sure who will be free agents because some of their teams may sign them prior to free agency," Colbert said two weeks ago. "Same thing with the draft. Guys that we like going into the combine and the pro days, we may not like or may like better. It’s just a big process."
But the process is now beginning to kick into high gear. Teams have until 4 p.m. March 6 –– the day after the combine officially ends -- to place the franchise tag on potential free agents. The NFL free agency period begins March 14, with the legal negotiating period beginning March 12.
The Steelers have been in talks with Bell regarding a long-term contract, but with the deadline to get something done approaching, placing the franchise tag on him again is a possibility. The cost, however, would jump from the $12.1 million it cost to do so last season to $14.5 million this year, a 20 percent increase.
"We’ll never say we wouldn’t use it," Colbert said. "We will say our goal is to sign him to a long-term deal. Everybody knows that’s an option. Even if you do tag a player you can still sign him. Again, our goal is to be able to sign him to a long-term deal."
But Bell also has gone on record as saying he would consider not playing in 2018 or retirement if the franchise tag is placed on him again. He turned down an offer last year that would have paid him a reported $60 million over five seasons.
Bell isn't the only player the Steelers must do something with in the coming weeks. They would like to get a long-term deal done with placekicker Chris Boswell, who is scheduled to be a restricted free agent, or tender him an offer sheet to retain his rights. They also must make decisions on restricted free agents Anthony Chickillo and Eli Rogers.
Chickillo is likely to get a one-year tender offer, while Rogers, who is rehabbing a torn ACL, will be allowed to become an unrestricted free agent.
Salary cap-related moves are coming, as well.
While the salary cap won't likely be officially set by the NFL until sometime after the combine concludes, the Steelers and other teams have to begin the process of getting under the cap, which is expected to be around $180 million. The Steelers are estimated to have around $6 million in cap space.
In order to place the franchise tag on Bell, the Steelers would have to clear another $8-plus million, a move that could be accomplished with the expected releases of safeties Mike Mitchell ($6.37 million) and J.J. Wilcox ($3.125 million).
Those moves, and any others, will need to be made before March 14, as well.
Meanwhile, the focus this week will be on getting a good look at the talent available in the upcoming draft, which will be held April 26-28. The Steelers have the 28th pick in the first round and six selections overall in the seven-round draft.
There will be more than 300 players on hand this week at Lucas Oil Stadium, several of whom have local ties.
Penn State will have eight players in Indianapolis, including running back Saquon Barkley, who is expected to be a top-10 pick. The Nittany Lions also will be represented by Mt. Lebanon's Troy Apke, a safety, and fellow safety Marcus Allen, cornerbacks Christian Campbell and Grant Haley, linebacker Jason Cabinda, tight end Mike Gesicki and receiver DaeSean Hamilton.
Former Central Valley star Jordan Whitehead, a safety, leads a contingent of seven Pitt players invited to the combine. Also expected to be there are punter Ryan Winslow, wide receivers Jester Weah and Quadree Henderson, offensive tackles Brian O'Neill and Jaryd Jones-Smith and cornerback Avonte Maddox.
Three West Virginia players, running back Justin Crawford, receiver Ka'Ran White and safety Kyzir White, were invited, as was IUP safety Max Redfield, who formerly played at Notre Dame.
Penn receiver Justin Watson, a South Fayette High School graduate, also will be on hand.