It's the time of year when the roster goes through quick changes on the heels of free agency.
A lot has happened since the free agency window began, and even in the days leading up to the start of it.
This will take you through everything that happened, from the Steelers keeping their own players, to new additions.
Roster Recap
The Steelers secured several of their own players before free agency even began, including Ramon Foster and Tyson Alualu, keeping both of them in black and gold through the 2020 season and allowing them to avoid free agency.
"It's good to have it over with," said Foster. "The Steelers have been our home for over a decade now. It's awesome to be able to extend my career there, also my family. It's always been a second home to us. We are excited. When we started talking we got it done quick because both sides wanted to get it done. It's definitely a relief."
Alualu, who originally signed with the Steelers as a free agent from Jacksonville, was also happy not to have to go through the process.
"It feels great," said Alualu. "I am blessed to be able to come back and play for an organization that I love being around, from the top to the bottom. From management to my teammates. I am thankful to get something done and be with the group of guys that are chasing that trophy. I am just excited to get something done as soon as possible."
The team also signed Maurkice Pouncey to a new three-year deal, keeping him in a Steelers uniform through the 2021 season.
"I am going to be honest with you, it was so out of the blue," said Pouncey. "I know a lot of people aren't going to believe that, but honestly it was. It was so out of the blue. I didn't expect it at all. It's not like my agent reached out, or I reached out and asked for it. They wanted to do this from the start and it was amazing. It showed how much faith and belief the organization has in me.
"I appreciate them more than anyone could ever say or imagine. I really do. They are family to me. I love Mr. (Art) Rooney. I love the Rooney family. I love everything they preach and they bring. Our coaching staff, Coach (Mike) Tomlin, he has been there since day one and he has been more than a football coach to me. He has been a father and a friend and I appreciate everything he has done."
As free agency drew closer the team made even more moves.
The Steelers announced that Ryan Shazier's contract will be tolled into the 2019 NFL season, which means he will remain on the team's roster this year and eventually will be placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform List.
The Steelers secured punter Jordan Berry, linebacker Anthony Chickillo and defensive tackle Daniel McCullers, who will all remain in black and gold through the 2020 season with two-year contracts.
Berry is coming off a 2018 season where he averaged 43.7 yards per punt, with a net of 38.8 yards. He had 28 punts hit inside the 20-yard line.
Chickillo played in all 16 games in 2018, finishing with 17 tackles and one and a half sacks. He also added two fumble recoveries and a pass defense. Chickillo recovered a fumble against the Chiefs on defense and added a special teams recovery on a kickoff return against the Panthers.
McCullers played in 15 games in 2018, starting one, and finished with three tackles and a sack. His only sack this season came when he took down Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Week 2.
The team also traded Antonio Brown to the Oakland Raiders for a third and fifth round draft pick. The third-round pick is the 66th pick overall, while the fifth-round pick is the 141st pick overall. In addition they traded Marcus Gilbert to the Arizona Cardinals for a sixth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the 207th overall pick.
Eli Rogers signed a two-year contract, thrilled to be remaining in the black and gold.
"It's a blessing for me to be here," said Rogers. "I like the atmosphere, the love here. The camaraderie, the people in the building, the team. Especially Coach (Mike) Tomlin. I love the way he carries himself every day. He is a true example of coming to work in a certain spirit every day, being a professional. I appreciate seeing a man like him being a role model, an example of how you should be as a professional. The coaches are all cool. You can talk to anyone and they have something to offer you, always helping you.
"And the team. It's like one group. Everyone…it's genuine."
The team also added three unrestricted free agents, cornerback Steven Nelson, receiver Donte Montcrief and linebacker Mark Barron.
Nelson signed a three-year deal with the team, giving the secondary a boost. Nelson played the first four years of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, starting all 16 regular season games in 2018 and two postseason games.
"I am fired up to play for Steelers Nation," said Nelson. "You guys have some good football here. It's a lot to look forward to.
"I have heard great things about this organization, and Coach (Mike) Tomlin and how the vibe is here. It's like a family. I have heard great things already."
Moncrief, who signed a two-year deal, played for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, where he caught 48 passes for 668 yards and three touchdowns while starting 14 of the 16 games he played in. Moncrief was originally drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft, the 90th pick overall. He spent four seasons with the Colts, before signing a one-year deal with the Jaguars last year. With the Steelers he said he expects to play all of the positions and is willing to do whatever is asked of him.
"I'm going to play pretty much all the positions," said Moncrief. "Come in and do whatever it takes…X, Z, F, whatever they want to put me at. Just come out and make plays and gain trust from Ben (Roethlisberger). Wherever they use me, they'll put me, and I'll learn the offense quick and everything will go from there."
Barron, who signed to a two-year contract, began his NFL career as a safety with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the seventh overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Barron started 12 games for the Rams in 2018, missing four with an ankle injury. He finished the season with 60 tackles, 43 of them solo stops, and three tackles for a loss. He also had a sack, a forced fumble, a quarterback hit and recorded a safety.
For his career Barron has played in 104 games, starting 93, with 624 tackles, 44 for a loss, nine sacks, eight interceptions and 17 quarterback hits. He also has five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Barron said his role with the Steelers will be at linebacker as well, and he expects to be an every down player for the black and gold.
"I don't think I will be coming off the field," said Barron. "I am playing linebacker. As far as what all they will ask me to do, I am not sure. I am a versatile guy. I feel like I can do whatever is needed. I am here to do whatever is needed to help this team win."
The most recent moves include Matt Feiler and B.J. Finney both signing their tenders.
A look at the moves during the 2019 offseason:
Keion Adams - Signed a reserve/future contract. Was on the Steelers practice squad during the 2018 season. Was the Steelers seventh-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Spent the 2017 season on the reserve/injured list. A linebacker out of Western Michigan University, Adams finished his college career with 124 tackles, 70 of them solo stops, and added 32 tackles for a loss, 14.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Tyson Alualu – Signed a new two-year contract to avoid becoming an unrestricted free agent. He has played in 31 games with seven starts in his two seasons with the Steelers and recorded a career-high four sacks in 2017. He has 318 career tackles, including 37 for a loss, 21.5 sacks and 57 quarterback hits, seven passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.
Zach Banner – Signed a one-year contract extension at the end of the 2018 season. Banner was signed by the Steelers during training camp last year and spent the 2018 season on the active roster, although he didn't see action in any games and was a game day inactive for 15 games. Banner was a fourth-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2017 NFL Draft, but spent his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns, playing in eight games. He was signed by the Carolina Panthers last offseason but was released in late May.
Mark Barron – Signed a two-year deal. Began his NFL career as a safety with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the seventh overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Was traded to the Rams. For his career Barron has played in 104 games, starting 93, with 624 tackles, 44 for a loss, nine sacks, eight interceptions and 17 quarterback hits. He also has five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Jordan Berry – Signed a two-year deal. Berry is coming off a 2018 season where he averaged 43.7 yards per punt, with a net of 38.8 yards. He had 28 punts hit inside the 20-yard line.
Marcelis Branch - Signed a reserve/future contract. Originally signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2017 NFL Draft. Was waived before the start of the 2017 regular season, but signed to the Falcons practice squad, and then signed a reserve/futures contract with the Falcons after that season. Was released prior to the start of the 2018 season. Branch played college football in the Pittsburgh area at Robert Morris, where he was the male athlete of the year for 2016-17. The safety was also named All Northeast Conference three times.
Kameron Canaday – Signed a one-year contract extension at the end of the 2018 season. Canaday has been consistent as the Steelers long snapper the last two seasons, playing in every game. Canaday originally signed with the Steelers in the 2017 offseason, was released, and then signed back and won the long snapper job in training camp. Canaday entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Arizona Cardinals in 2016 but was released early that season.
Anthony Chickillo – Signed a two-years deal. Chickillo played in all 16 games in 2018, finishing with 17 tackles and one and a half sacks. He also added two fumble recoveries and a pass defense. Chickillo recovered a fumble against the Chiefs on defense and added a special teams recovery on a kickoff return against the Panthers.
Jordan Dangerfield – Signed a one-year contract extension at the end of the 2018 season. He played in 16 games this year, starting the season finale against Cincinnati at free safety with Sean Davis sidelined. Dangerfield had five tackles on defense and two on special teams. He also recovered a fumble against the Los Angeles Chargers while playing special teams. Dangerfield has played in 30 games with 15 tackles in his NFL career.
Matt Feiler - Signed his tender. Feiler played in 11 games in 2018, starting 10 of them at right tackle. Feiler played in five game in 2017, including starting the Steelers Week 17 game against the Cleveland Browns at right guard, his first NFL start.
B.J. Finney - Signed his tender. Finney originally signed with the Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2015 NFL Draft. He started two games in 2018 at guard, while playing in all 16 games.
Ramon Foster – Signed a two-year contract. Foster has been a staple on the Steelers offensive line for the past 10 seasons. Foster, who first signed with the Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2009 NFL Draft, will be entering his 11th season in black and gold, second only to Ben Roethlisberger who will be entering his 16th season with the Steelers.
Trey Griffey - Signed a reserve/future contract. Was on the Steelers practice squad during the 2018 season. The son of Hall of Fame baseball player Ken Griffey Jr., he played collegiately at Arizona. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2017 but was waived/injured before training camp started. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins during camp but released prior to the season.
Bucky Hodges - Signed a reserve/future contract. Was on the Steelers practice squad at the end of the 2018 season. The tight end was originally signed by the Steelers during training camp, just a few days after he was released by the New York Jets. In addition to spending time with the Jets, he also spent time with the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Lavon Hooks - Signed a reserve/future contract. Was on the Steelers practice squad during the 2018 season. Originally signed by the team in 2017 but was released before the start of the season. Spent the 2017 season on the team's practice squad. Prior to joining the Steelers, he spent time with the Green Bay Packers.
Tevin Jones - Signed a reserve/future contract. Was on the Steelers practice squad during the 2018 season. Entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Houston Texans in 2016. Was released by the Texans before the season started but added to their practice squad late in the season. Was signed to a reserve/future contract in Jan. 2017 but waived that spring. Signed by the Kansas City Chiefs that summer but was released prior to the start of the season.
Daniel McCullers – Signed a two-year deal. McCullers played in 15 games in 2018, starting one, and finished with three tackles and a sack. His only sack this season came when he took down Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Week 2.
Donte Moncrief – Signed a two-year deal. Played for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, where he caught 48 passes for 668 yards and three touchdowns while starting 14 of the 16 games he played in. Moncrief was originally drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft, the 90th pick overall.
Patrick Morris - Signed a reserve/future contract. Was on the Steelers practice squad during the 2018 season. Was signed by the Steelers as a rookie free agent after the 2018 NFL Draft. Morris, a center out of TCU, started 18 games in college, with 10 at guard and eight at center.
Steven Nelson - Signed a three-year deal with the team, giving the secondary a boost. Nelson played the first four years of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, starting all 16 regular season games in 2018 and two postseason games.
Maurkice Pouncey – Signed a three-year contract. Pouncey, one of the offensive team captains in 2018, has been a staple at center since the Steelers selected him in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He has started all 108 games he has played in his career, and also has started seven postseason games.
Eli Rogers - Signed a two-year contract. Rogers has played in 30 games in his three seasons with the Steelers, recording 78 receptions for 822 yards and four touchdowns. Rogers originally signed with the Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2015 NFL Draft.
R.J. Prince - Signed a reserve/future contract. Was on the Steelers practice squad during the 2018 season. Prince made an impression when he attended Steelers rookie minicamp in 2018 on a tryout basis and was signed afterwards. Prince, a guard who played at North Carolina, started 11 of the 12 games he played his final college season. He started 12 games his junior year.
Kevin Rader - Signed a reserve/future contract. The tight end signed with the Green Bay Packers last year as an undrafted rookie free agent, spending training camp with the team. Played collegiately at Youngstown State where he had 44 receptions for 601 yards and four touchdowns. Played high school football at Pine-Richland in the Pittsburgh area.
Brogan Roback - Signed a reserve/future contract. Roback was originally signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted rookie free agent last year. The quarterback was released before the start of the regular season. In the preseason he completed nine of 18 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown. Roback played collegiately at Eastern Michigan.
Tegray Scales - Signed a reserve/future contract. Scales originally signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2018 NFL Draft. He was released by the team before the start of the season. Scales was signed to the Colts practice squad in December and released him later in the month. Scales played collegiately at Indiana where the linebacker had 325 tackles and 18 sacks.
Christian Scotland-Williamson – Signed a reserve/future contract. Was originally signed by the Steelers through the NFL's International Player Pathway program on May 10, 2018 and spent the season on the practice squad. Before joining the Steelers played for Worcester Warriors Rugby Football Club of the English Premiership, where he played in 23 games from 2014-17 before joining the NFL's International Player Pathway program.
Conor Sheehy - Signed a reserve/future contract. Sheehy was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Green Bay Packers after the 2018 NFL Draft. He was released before the start of the season. The defensive end played collegiately at Wisconsin where he made 33 starts.
Diontae Spencer - Signed a reserve/future contract. Spencer spent the last four seasons playing in the CFL for Ottawa and Toronto. In his four seasons in the CFL he played in 57 games with 259 catches for 3,137 yards, including 1,007 yards in 2018. The receiver/returner also spent a short time with the Los Angeles Rams.
Robert Spillane – Signed to the 90-man roster on February 8. Was originally signed by the Tennessee Titans after a tryout during rookie minicamp. Added to the Titans practice squad at the start of the 2018 season. Played in one game for the Titans in 2018 but was released midseason. Played against the Steelers in the 2018 preseason and intercepted Landry Jones. The linebacker was a second-team All Mid-American Conference selection as a junior and senior at Western Michigan.
Herb Waters - Signed a reserve/future contract. Was on the Steelers practice squad during the 2018 season. Waters, a second-year defensive back, was signed to the practice squad in October. He began his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers as a rookie free agent in 2016. Spent time on the team's practice squad but did play in two regular season games. Missed the 2017 season with a shoulder injury. Played collegiately at the University of Miami.
Ralph Webb - Signed a reserve/future contract. Was on the Steelers practice squad for a portion of the 2018 season, signed in December because of injuries at running back. Webb was originally signed by the New England Patriots after the 2018 NFL Draft, released at the end of the preseason and signed to the practice squad. He was released from the Patriots practice squad during the season, signed to Tampa Bay's practice squad, and later released from the Bucs and signed by the Steelers.
Ka'Raun White – Signed a reserve/future contract. Was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2018 NFL Draft, but released and signed by the Cincinnati Bengals. Spent training camp and the preseason with the Bengals but was released prior to the start of the regular season. White played at West Virginia where the receiver finished his career with 61 receptions for 1,004 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Malik Williams - Signed to the 90-man roster on February 8. Was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2018 NFL Draft. Spent training camp with the Falcons but was waived with a shoulder injury. Williams rushed for 531 yards and four touchdowns in 2017 for while at Louisville.
