Ramon

Foster

Foster caught on with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and went on to start 145 games. This included at least 14 games from 2011-2019. Offseason reports indicated that Foster was a candidate to be released. PFF graded him as their No. 50 overall guard among 86 qualified players in 2019.

Foster is owed $5.6 million going into his age-34 season. The Steelers can save $4 million in cap space from cutting him with only $1.6 million in dead money. With swingman B.J. Finney a free agent, Pittsburgh may use Foster’s cap savings to re-sign Finney.

Foster had been headed to free agency. With the Steelers since 2009, Foster has been a full-time starter since 2011. He had an excellent 2018 after a rough 2017. Foster turned 33 in January.

Journeyman Trai Essex is expected to start on Big Ben’s blindside while Ramon Foster fills in for Doug Legursky (shoulder) at right guard. Essex will be in the spotlight against a Texans front seven that is bringing the heat through three games.

Wallace will be guaranteed $2.7 million under the first-round tender. Along with Baltimore’s Lardarius Webb, he’s expected to test a restricted free agent market that hasn’t seen an NFL team successfully sign an offer sheet at the first-round level in a decade. The other five Steelers are believed to have been tendered at the lowest level available to the team.

“Really, we didn’t think David would be there at 24 quite honestly,” said GM Kevin Colbert. “We valued him that high ... This kid is an exceptional player.” DeCastro’s consistency grade of 96.88 last season was the highest in the Pac-12 since the stat was introduced in 1985. The Steelers will likely keep him at right guard, leaving Ramon Foster to hold off Doug Legursky at left guard.

Foster did draw interest from undisclosed teams after being tendered at the original pick level. Holding up well in pass protection as a second-year starter, Foster was slightly below average as a run blocker last season. The Steelers could use an upgrade on the opposite side.

Legursky will be eased in as a swingman between center and guard. It’s quite possible that he’s lost his starting job to Ramon Foster, as the Steelers offensive line has solidified the past few weeks.

The Steelers have Chris Kemoeatu available, but they’re going with utility lineman Trai Essex as Foster’s backup. In a 35-7 game, it won’t make much of a difference. Foster stated after the game that he expects to be back in the lineup for Week 14 against the Browns.

Foster was forced from last week’s game with a low-ankle sprain. OC Bruce Arians fully expects him to be available for Thursday’s game against the Browns.