The Steelers and left tackle Alejandro Villanueva have come to terms on a new four-year contract. Financial terms were not immediately available.
Villanueva had been an exclusive rights free agent and would have played the 2017 season on a one-year deal worth $615,000 had he not signed his new deal. His signing now leaves star running back Le'Veon Bell as the only player on the roster not under contract.
Bell is not expected to report to training camp on time and could miss several weeks. He will play for $12.12 million under the franchise tag when he does report.
Villanueva has started the past 31 games at left tackle after being inserted into the starting lineup halfway through the 2015 season when Kelvin Beachum went down with a season-ending knee injury. He started the final 10 games, plus two playoff contests that season, as well as all 16 regular-season games and three more playoff games last season.
Now the focus switches to Bell, who failed to come to terms on a long-term contract with the Steelers before the NFL deadline for franchise players July 17. He cannot negotiate again with the Steelers until next year, and the Steelers can use the franchise tag on him again.
"He can have some of my money," veteran center Maurkice Pouncey said Thursday. "I'm totally fine with that. They can erase a year of my contract. I'm cool with just going out there and just playing."
Pouncey also said he'd like to see Bell report to camp.
"Just to be around the team, so you guys don't have to ask the same question every day," he said. "He can sit on the sidelines and answer that question every day."
