Updated Sunday, March 25, 4:35 p.m. ET

Free agency started quietly for the Steelers — and that is a good thing. The Steelers have the NFL’s most desirable restricted free agent, WR Mike Wallace, and any interested clubs have until April 20 to make him an offer they believe Pittsburgh must refuse. In March, Steelers president Art Rooney II told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the club wants to sign Wallace long term. An agreement struck before the start of the 2012 season would benefit the Steelers by keeping Wallace in the fold for multiple years, and removing the prospect of him testing free agency next offseason. Should Wallace fail to draw an offer sheet, the Steelers will have dodged their biggest risk in free agency. The Steelers did lose CB William Gay to Arizona, but the club likes its young CB depth, Fourth-year pro Keenan Lewis and second-year pro Cortez Allen are among the options to replace Gay, who started 15 games in 2011.