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          Steelers mailbag: What is the plan at running back behind Le'Veon Bell?

          Here is the latest Pittsburgh Steelers' mailbag. If you have a question please send to @ScottBrown_ESPN with the #mail. And away we go...


          @ScottBrown_ESPN: Le'Veon Bell is going to be the every-down back but the Steelers need an upgrade behind him unless they think Josh Harris develops into the kind of player who can handle a heavy workload if Bell is out. The Steelers are bracing for a one-game suspension of Bell, probably at the beginning of 2015, because of his arrest for marijuana possession and driving under the influence. Injuries, meanwhile, are always an X factor, so someone better be ready behind Bell. This appears to be a deep draft for running backs and that's the way the Steelers have to go after what happened with LeGarrette Blount. They should be able to find a quality back in the middle rounds, after they have addressed their myriad needs on defense.


          @ScottBrown_ESPN It's so tough to tell because of the limited repetitions Landry Jones gets in practice. Through little if any fault of his own, it is simply a wasted draft pick unless Jones makes enough progress to supplant Bruce Gradkowski as the No. 2 quarterback. Even if that happens -- and that is a big if at this point -- why would the Steelers use a fourth-round draft pick in 2013 on a quarterback when they had so many other needs and after they had signed Gradkowski to back up Ben Roethlisberger? The Steelers had three different quarterbacks start games in 2012 because of injuries so that is the best explanation why they took Jones in the following draft even when they had already gotten younger at quarterback behind Roethlisberger.


          @ScottBrown_ESPN: Yep, could definitely see them having an interest in the former University of Washington standout if he is still available when they make their second-round pick. Marcus Peters is one of the most talented cornerbacks in the draft though he has some questions to answer -- first and foremost why he got kicked off the team last season. It's hard to imagine the Steelers taking a chance on Peters in the first round even as needy as they are at cornerback. What they will have to determine during the pre-draft process is whether he is worth the risk. The Steelers, like every other NFL team, will do their homework on Peters before ultimately deciding when they are willing to gamble on him if they are at all.


          @ScottBrown_ESPN: Steelers president Art Rooney II said recently that there have not been any talks on that front. I expect discussions to really start now with the 2014 season in the books and free agency on the horizon. Roethlisberger is under contract for next season, but it would help the Steelers if they get a new deal done before March 10 (the start of free agency), so they can lower his cap hit of $18.395 million in 2015 and use the savings to address other areas of need. Rooney has said the Steelers aren't setting any sort of deadlines as far as signing Roethlisberger and I assure you a deal will get done. For comparison sake, Roethlisberger signed his eight-year, $102 million contract in 2008 on March 3.


          @ScottBrown_ESPN: I would be surprised if they get a third-round compensatory draft pick this year. The formula for determining compensatory picks is based on how many free agents a team signed and how many it lost the previous year. The Steelers were busier than usual last March signing free agents such as safety Mike Mitchell, outside linebacker Arthur Moats, cornerback Brice McCain and defensive end/nose tackle Cam Thomas. All started at least eight games in 2014 and Mitchell started every game last season. Emmanuel Sanders had a heck of a season in Denver, catching 101 passes for 1,404 and nine touchdowns, but unless I am missing somebody Sanders was the only free agent who left the Steelers and became a full-time starter elsewhere. I don't believe linebacker Larry Foote counts when it comes to determining compensatory picks since the Steelers released the veteran before he signed with the Arizona Cardinals. I am interested to hear general Kevin Colbert's thoughts on what the Steelers expect to receive as far as compensatory picks. They will be announced at the NFL owners meetings in late March.


          @ScottBrown_ESPN: Lawrence Timmons can play outside if the Steelers need him there because of injuries, something he did in 2011 when he started four games at right outside linebacker in place of James Harrison. But I don't think the Steelers would even entertain such a move full-time for Timmons. Coach Mike Tomlin said in early January that even with the depth the Steelers have at inside linebacker, none of those players stand out as candidates who could move outside. And why even consider a position change for Timmons? He is a Pro Bowl inside linebacker and is probably just another guy at outside linebacker.