Ben Roethlisberger wants to be Pittsburgh's starting quarterback beyond 2019 and is willing to sign a contract extension. The Steelers would like to have Big Ben under center beyond next season and would like to extend his current contract. Given these facts, it would seem that both sides would be able to get a deal done sooner rather later.

Reports earlier this week suggested that Big Ben and the Steelers would possibly come to terms on an extension by this Friday, when Roethlisberger would be due a $5 million roster bonus if he still under his current contract.

Despite Big Ben and the Steelers' desire to get an extension done, there's apparently more negotiations that have to be done. At the start of the new league year, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that a source close to Roethlisberger said that they are not close to finalizing anything with regard to a contract extension. Roethlisberger was the 12th highest paid quarterback in the NFL last season, making $21,850,000. Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers was the league's highest paid quarterback last season, taking home an annual salary of $33,500,000.

Roethlisberger is the final year of his four-year, $84 million contract that included $34,250,000 in guaranteed. Big Ben's projected contract extension, according to Spotrac.com, is a two-year $49,837,280 deal.

Big Ben has stated on multiple occasions that he can see himself playing anther well into the next decade. The Steelers, in efforts to keep Roethlisberger's offensive line in-tact for, gave Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey a contract extension last Friday. They also re-signed guard Ramon Foster to a two-year deal.

"As long as they’ll have me, I’ll be back," Roethlisberger told 93.7 The Fan days after the 2018 season came to an end. "I know I joked with you [after Pittsburgh's Week 17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals], as long as [Maurkice Pouncey is] back, that’s a big thing for me, but it’s all the linemen up front, all those guys. It’s so much fun to play with them and for them. I’ll let the process kind of unfold itself. If the Steelers want to talk, my agents, that’s what they’re paid to do. But if they want to have me, I’d love to be here.

"I feel like in as good as shape as I’ve been in in a long time. I enjoy playing this game. The trainer has really made me better, put me in the best shape of my life. Arguably [just had] one of the best seasons of my life. The linemen keep me healthy, and so I really feel like my best football is still ahead of me. I really feel that way.

"I’m really excited. A good group of guys. I love what some of the young guys did this season."

Roethlisberger, 37, enjoyed the greatest statistical seasons of his career in 2018. In 16 games, Big Ben completed 67 percent of his passes for a league best (and franchise record) 5,129 yards. He also set a franchise record by throwing 34 touchdown passes against 16 interceptions. Roethlisberger did all of this while working with first year offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner.

"There were growing pains for us in terms of learning each other and learning situational things," Roethlisberger said of working with Fichtner this past season. "That just comes with a new position and a new guy that we communicate with and call plays. But man, if you look at what we did offensively, I thought it was pretty awesome in terms of moving guys around and some of the injuries we had and things like that. I thought it was an awesome situation with Randy and I’m excited for next year with him."

Despite the team missing the playoffs for the first time since 2013, Roethlisberger believes that the Steelers' Super Bowl window is still open.

"A lot of things to be encouraged with," Roethlisberger said of Pittsburgh's 2018 season. "One of the only things that really matters to me is winning championships. Winning and losing. Yeah, we won a passing title. Not me, we won the passing title in terms of throwing for the most yards and those kinds of things. That’s everybody. That’s wide receivers, that’s tight ends, that’s running backs, that’s the line. That’s an awesome accomplishment for our group, for Coach Randy. But to me, one of the biggest things is having a winning season. That’s 15 straight seasons since I’ve been here that we haven’t had a losing season. To me, that means a lot."