The 2017 offseason marks a change for the Pittsburgh Steelers that some might have felt would never happen. For a team that has seemingly spent forever in the bottom third of the league when it comes to salary cap space, they will enter uncharted territory next year with an unprecedented amount of money to spend.

While some sites present this data in its most literal form, the numbers can be misleading as they fail to account for rollover amounts, outstanding team debts or obvious roster additions every franchise will make at the end of the season.

To give you a more accurate perspective, we have included all of these factors into our accounting for a more precise look at the Steelers cap position heading into 2017. Our calculation is based off an assumed league-wide cap limit of $165 million, a figure some experts predict will be higher, but provides a conservative baseline that will hopefully only increase.

The final total of $32,301,302 in projected salary cap space is a previously unimaginable figure, given the relative pennies the Steelers have struggled with in the past.

As high as this figure is, it is worth noting cap space around the NFL appears to be in plentiful supply for many teams next year. Even with so much cap room at their disposal, Pittsburgh only just scrapes into the top half of the league in available space.

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To make our projection more practical, we have included all of the Steelers exclusive rights free agents (marked in red) who are active on the current roster at their designated amounts for 2017. Considering they have no choice but to sign at these levels under the terms of the CBA that govern ERFA’s, it seems illogical they will not be re-signed. Many are key contributors and can be easily retained for very modest salaries under contracts that come with no guarantees or bonuses.

Also included is an additional figure to account for seven futures signings that would bring the Steelers to the key number of 51 players under contract. With a minimum salary of $465,000 for next year, these players will mostly come from the team’s own practice squad.

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The projected salary cap rollover assumes most of the team’s current space from 2016 will be available to carry forward into next year, barring any new signings due to injury before the year is out. Money designated for repayment of a loan the Steelers took against the cap in 2011 and 2012 is the last repayment the team has to make and represents the total outstanding on the debt which must be paid before the end of the 2017 financial year.

When it comes to the obvious gaps on the roster, with only 35 players under contract and another nine presumed returning ERFA’s, the Steelers most glaring needs are at running back where only Roosevelt Nix is close to being under contract.

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Of the 28 players headed towards free agency under one of three designations, the running back and linebacker groups feature some significant names about to become unrestricted free agents. Le’Veon Bell being the starting point for all discussions.

A new contract for Antonio Brown will be another huge issue to address, with both Bell and Brown fixing to be the main talking points of the offseason until decisions are made. Re-signing both is extremely feasible, while still leaving the Steelers money to address other areas, even if it requires the use of the franchise tag on Bell.

It may be a little early to be putting your free agent wish list together for 2017 at barely the midpoint of the season, but it is reassuring to know, on paper at least, the Steelers have the funds to fix what ails them for the first time in a long time.