Mar 14, 2015 3 min read

Ben Roethlisberger’s contract extension won’t make the Steelers’ star the highest-paid quarterback in the league. But it certainly puts him in the ballpark.

Roethlisberger’s five-year deal is worth $99 million, with escalators tied to performance that could push the total package to $108 million. Essentially, it’s four years of new money at $87.4 million since Roethlisberger already was scheduled to earn $11.6 million in 2015.

At an average of just under $22 million per season from 2016-2019, Roethlisberger will be second to Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, whose contract averages $22 million per season, among quarterbacks.

It’s a lot of money to shell out for one player. In fact, going by this year’s salary cap, it would account for about 15 percent of the Steelers’ cap space.

But it’s also the cost of doing business when you have a franchise quarterback.

Think about this. Since 2001, only four quarterbacks in the AFC – Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Joe Flacco and Roethlisberger – have led their team to the Super Bowl. And Flacco’s only been there once.

Remember that when you get all fired up about the big-name signings going on everywhere else in the league.

Yes, it’s nice to add a star player such as Miami did in Ndamukong Suh, or bring in a bunch of high-profile free agents, but if you don’t have a star quarterback in place, you’re still swimming upstream. And the current is heavy.

With Roethlisberger locked up for the long term, the Steelers can begin the business of filling their remainder of their needs.

They took care of part of that Friday when they signed veteran running back DeAngelo Williams to a two-year, $4-million deal to back up Le’Veon Bell.

Were there better – and by better, read younger – options available than Williams, who turns 32 in April? Sure.

But after the debacle with LeGarrette Blount last season, the Steelers wanted someone who was comfortable serving as Bell’s backup, not soemone who felt he was option 1B to Bell’s 1A.

They got that in Williams, who took to Twitter Friday night to explain he’d do anything, including being the guy who takes water to the offensive linemen or towels off Roethlisberger’s hands, to make a run at a Super Bowl.

Now, the Steelers can get about the business of improving their defense, which was ranked a disappointing 18th in 2014.

Having already lost corner Brice McCain in free agency and linebacker Jason Worilds to a surprise retirement last week, the Steelers are in definite need of players to fill spots at those positions.

But to paraphrase Branch Rickey, the Steelers’ defense stunk with those guys, it can stink without them with less expensive options.

Former New Orleans Saints’ No. 1 pick Patrick Robinson is expected to meet with the team this weekend, but given the market for cornerbacks, he’ll likely make some other visits before making a decision about signing. Former Steelers’ corner Keenan Lewis also is reportedly being shopped for a trade by the Saints as well.

And every day that passes with another edge rusher signing elsewhere brings the Steelers closer to having James Harrison back for another year.

In all likelihood, the draft is where the Steelers are going to have to get better defensively.

At least with Roethlisberger signed for the long term, they won’t have to think about swimming against the current anytime soon.

F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com.