Nose Tackle

Casey Hampton turns 35 in September and is going into a contract year. He’s also a candidate to start the year on the PUP with a torn ACL, assuming he isn’t cut first. The Steelers don’t have another nose tackle. If Dontari Poe is available at 24, they pull the trigger in a heartbeat.

Middle Linebacker

James Farrior is another candidate to be released as the Steelers are pressed for cap room and need to resign Mike Wallace. Even if he isn’t released now, he’ll be a 38 year old free agent next offseason and they don’t have a clear long term solution at the position behind him.

Offensive Tackle

Max Starks has a torn ACL. Even though he’s only 30, his career could be over. He didn’t sign with the Steelers until October because he was out of shape and he has a history of weight and injury problems. This could be the last straw for him. He’s also a free agent. The Steelers are expected to move Marcus Gilbert, a rookie right tackle in 2011, to left tackle to replace Starks. That leaves them needing a new right tackle. Willie Colon could be that guy, but he can’t stay healthy. Meanwhile, Jonathan Scott, who always seems to have to play, isn’t very good.

Guard

Chris Kemoeatu was benched last season. He could be a cap casualty. They really need a new left guard regardless.

 

Cornerback

The Steelers always need help at cornerback. Bryant McFadden is pretty mediocre and could be cut, while Ike Taylor is getting older. They’ve taken some cornerbacks in the mid rounds in the last few years, but if they aren’t impressed with their developmental, they could do so again this year.

Wide Receiver

Hines Ward is expected to have played his last game in a Steeler uniform. Meanwhile, they’ve given Mike Wallace a first round tender. Given their cap situation, they may be unable to match any contract he’s offered so they could just take the first rounder and let him go. That would leave them with just Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders at receiver. Even if Wallace is resigned, they’d have 3 receivers who are deep threats. They need a Hines Ward esque possession guy in the mix.

Safety

The Steelers love building for the future on defense so they could start looking for young safeties behind Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark, two safeties on the wrong side of 30 with a history of injury problems.

Running Back

Rashard Mendenhall is another player who tore his ACL. He might not be able to play at all in 2012. If that’s true, he may have played his last game in a Steeler uniform because he’ll be a free agent after next season and given how bad their cap situation is, they may not shell out the kind of money he wants, especially since he’ll be coming off a major injury. They’re talking up Isaac Redman as a feature back, but they may want one more complimentary guy, depending on what they think of Jonathan Dwyer and John Clay.