Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers' Adams has free agency delayed a year by CBA rule

Published Feb. 2, 2016 12:40 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Pittsburgh Steelers' lack of depth at offensive tackle came to focus after Kelvin Beachum went down with a torn ACL in Week 6. A quirk in the collective bargaining agreement might restock the cupboard for next season.

Mike Adams, the Steelers' backup swing tackle since coming into the league in 2012, will not become an unrestricted free agent this offseason as originally scheduled. Adams spent the entire season on the physically-unable-to-perform list with a back injury, meaning the final year of his contract will be pushed back a year, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Adams, who will earn close to $1.13 million in the final season of his rookie contract, didn't seem too upset about the idea of having to wait another year to hit free agency.

"It's no secret that I love being here," Adams said. "So to be able to be back for a year and not have this year, in a sense, count against me, was kind of a good thing — not (merely) kind of a good thing; it was a great thing."

With Adams sidelined, the Steelers were forced to insert the unseasoned Alejandro Villanueva in place of Beachum. Villanueva was a pleasant surprise in his 10 starts for the Steelers, but they would obviously love to re-sign Beachum. Regardless of whether Beachum returns, Pittsburgh will now have two inexpensive options to add depth on the outside that it sorely missed in 2015.