It appears that Steelers guard Ramon Foster has found a permanent home in Pittsburgh. Just hours before he was to become a free agent, the Steelers resigned Ramon Foster to a 3 year contract.

Foster shared the following message with his followers in Instagram:

Well let's make more memories! I thank God for this opportunity, my wife and kids for their daily support and motivation to play this sport that's considered a job. My family support(grandparents, aunt Terri, Renardo, Lil Ron, Maurice, Tywalla, Meeka, Lil Mike, Big Ron, Ms Barb. Mom❤️, I wish you were physically here for this event, I know you're here in spirit and never left. Thanks to the whole @steelers organization, everyone! I could type forever on this lol, if I forgot your shoutout, my bad, text me. Not a bad career so far for an undrafted kid out of Tennessee(Go Vols). #SteelerNation Let's get it O Line.

A photo posted by Ramon Foster (@theramonfoster) on Mar 9, 2016 at 5:22am PST

Ramon Foster turned 30 in January and while this latest 3 year contract does not ensure that he will play his entire career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, it raises the probability exponentially. Ramon Foster’s future in Pittsburgh was one of the biggest questions the Steelers faced heading into free agency.

While the Steelers have not groomed a ready replacement, word leaked that they preferred to move Kelvin Beachum to guard.

• Beachum however, has ruled out moving to guard.

Observers also pointed to the tendency to staff their offensive line with younger, more athletic players, and concluded that Foster didn’t match that type.

That left Foster’s fate a little vague. Would the Steelers let him test the market? Would the Steelers place their faith in Chris Hubbard and/or look to the draft to replace Foster? At the end of the day Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin provided an iunequivocal answer:

• The Steelers trust Ramon Foster and his ability to protect Ben Roethlisberger and open holes for Le’Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams.

Foster’s leadership this season in mentoring Alejandro Villanueva is also something which the team valued.

Ramon Foster began with the Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2009 making sporadic starts that year and in 2010 and has been a fixture on the line since then. Free agency is only a few hours old, but the Pittsburgh Steelers have already resigned William Gay, Robert Golden, Darrius Heyward-Bey and now they have Foster under contract.

Interestingly enough, there has been no word on either a contract or talks with Steve McLendon, who represents the next biggest potential hole the Steelers may need to fill in free agency. Things can and will change fast….

Free agency go your head spinning? Check out our Steelers 2016 free agent tracker and/or click here to read all articles on our Steelers 2016 Free Agent Focus section. 

Follow @SteelCurtainRis