FanHouse BryantMcFadden

With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.

After a Cinderella run to the Super Bowl -- and nearly winning the thing -- the Cardinals will look to continue building momentum as a franchise. They have a gaping hole in the backfield, because there is no true every-down back on the team anymore. Also, Anquan Boldin's situation really needs to be resolved, and the team could struggle to replace dearly departed offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

I'm not sure if this is good news for Anquan Boldin, the Cardinals wide receiver who's been clamoring for a contract extension for almost a year now, but his agent Drew Rosenhaus wants to make it clear that he and Boldin are on good terms with the organization even though previous comments from the wide receiver suggested otherwise.

As proof, Rosenhaus points to the two-year, $10 million deal he negotiated for another of his clients, cornerback Bryant McFadden, the Cardinals' newest member.

Heading into free agency, most people assumed that former Steeler Bryant McFadden would be in demand, perhaps even the first cornerback to ink a big-money deal. Ten days and a handful of defensive back signings later, McFadden finally got a new contract. And it has to be a lot less than what he was expecting: he's headed to Arizona for two years and $10 million.

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Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

For the second time in four years, the Steelers hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, which means no matter what happens this offseason, Steelers fans have plenty of reasons to be happy. But with an easier 2009 schedule on the horizon and few big names hitting free agency, Steelers fans are ready to start thinking repeat, even if Mike Tomlin won't use that word.

Last offseason, the Steelers slapped Max Starks with the transition tag, and at the time, most people didn't know what to make of the move. Starks, the team's starting right tackle during the 2005 Super Bowl season, had lost his job to Willie Colon, and paying a backup more than $6 million to ride the pine didn't make much sense.

It turned out to be a great move, however, because left tackle Marvel Smith missed most of the season with a back injury, and Starks, who will never be mistaken for Jonathan Ogden, played well in his absence. So well, in fact, that Pittsburgh franchised him Thursday afternoon.

The Steelers have $19 million in cap room with only a talented cornerback and a slew of mediocre or injury-prone linemen heading to free agency. So everything's great, right?

Well, take a look at this list of Steelers who are getting ready to head into the final year of their current contracts (thanks to davaughnci for pulling a list together over at Football's Future Forum): RB Willie Parker, LB James Harrison, WR Hines Ward, TE Heath Miller, C Justin Hartwig, S Ryan Clark, CB Deshea Townsend, DE Brett Keisel, NG Casey Hampton, K Jeff Reed.

As they create room in the trophy case for a sixth Lombardi Trophy, the Steelers also have some decisions to make. Four of the team's top five offensive tackles are free agents (although Willie Colon is only a restricted free agent), as are starting cornerback Bryant McFadden and No. 3 receiver Nate Washington.

But according to Sports Illustrated's Don Banks, the Steelers have already decided on their top free agent priority. Banks says the Steelers plan to try to re-up McFadden before free agency begins on Feb. 27. With $19 million in cap room, Pittsburgh has some room to get McFadden under contract while also either re-upping Max Starks or trying to bring in free agent offensive line help.

Every week during the season we focused on an aspect of line play with Between The Lines. So for the Super Bowl, we're focusing on all aspects of the battle of the line of scrimmage. Today, we look at the Steelers' defense.

There have been many times this postseason when Larry Fitzgerald, Kurt Warner and the Cardinals offense have looked unstoppable. On Sunday, we'll find out how true that is. There many matchups to watch, but it's safe to say that if the Cardinals can block the Steelers' pass rush, they likely will pull off the upset. If they can't, Pittsburgh will be bringing its sixth Super Bowl trophy back to the Steel City.

Warner has averaged 286 yards passing per game this season, but now he'll be facing a defense that has allowed more than 300 yards of total offense only twice in 18 games. Warner and an offense with three 1,000-yard receivers will be one of the Steelers' D's toughest tests, but this is not a defense that is untested.

The new salary cap management technique sweeping the NFL is locking up your players before they reach free agency. It explains why so few elite players reach the free agent market, and it also explains (with a little help from some hefty salary cap bumps) why so few teams battle to stay under the cap.

But as the Steelers get ready to head to training camp, it's pretty clear that they aren't going to be able to re-sign everyone who is heading into the final years of their deals.

Pittsburgh has three offensive tackles (Marvel Smith, Max Starks and Trai Essex) heading to free agency after the season, along with one guard (Chris Kemoeatu), one wide receiver (Nate Washington), a cornerback (Bryant McFadden) and a linebacker (James Farrior).

Smith, Kemoeatu and Farrior are all starters, while Starks and McFadden could earn starting roles this year, and Washington is a valued No. 3 receiver who has started as an injury fill-in in the past. So these are some pretty significant decisions facing the Steelers.

It's great to have Jim Wexell back on the Steelers beat after he traveled the country talking to the families of Steelers players for an upcoming book. Wexell has an eye for the detailed nuts and bolts news that diehard fans eat up.

Included in a notebook this week is this gem about the strongest Steelers. Wexell wasn't asking about Casey Hampton (who's one of the strongest players in the NFL). He wondered who was the best pound-for-pound weightlifter on the team. It might surprise you to find out that Bryant McFadden jumps out as a smaller player who has a whole lot of strength.

"Yeah, either him or Anthony Smith. And I'll tell you what, Hines Ward belongs up there too. He works out with 315 like the big boys do."

According to the coach, Ward's also getting Santonio Holmes to lift throughout the season as the key to having a long, successful career. Speaking of Ward he also makes it clear that he isn't worried about Bart Scott hunting him down during the next Ravens game. Ward figures that he's got a lot of players looking to lay him out, but no one ever seems to be able to do it.