The Steelers don’t dip their toe into the free agency waters very often.

The franchise has an aversion to free agency, much in the same way they have an aversion to cheerleaders and a logo on the left side of the helmet.

But if there was any year in which Pittsburgh would ink a few select players, this would be the year.

The roster is aging and a few key players are all but out the door.

That leaves a void that the draft can’t possibly fill by itself.

Free agents can sign with teams at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Here is a look at what the Steelers can expect when the bell rings.

They’re gone: Mike Wallace, Rashard Mendenhall, Larry Foote, Casey Hampton and Keenan Lewis.

Other role players will be allowed to walk as well.

Wallace, his ego, bad attitude and stone hands can’t leave the ‘Burgh quickly enough. Foote and Hampton are casualties of Father Time more than anything else.

Lewis is an unknown. He could garner lots of attention on the open market, but he’s young and the Steelers would love to keep him.

Needs: Cornerback, nose tackle, backup quarterback, wide receiver and a change-of-pace running back.

That’s all? When you don’t make the playoffs, holes are magnified and the Steelers have a few gaping ones.

Defensive back is a big one, especially if Pittsburgh is out-bid for Lewis.

The backup behind Ben Roethlisberger needs to be addressed because the surest bet in Las Vegas is Big Ben will get hurt and miss some time at some point in 2013. Depth at running back and wide receiver will also be a priority.

Who they will/should target: Lewis, Brent Grimes, Ma’ake Kemoeatu, Bruce Gradkowski, Felix Jones, Greg Jennings and Steve Breaston.

The best option for the Steelers is to simply re-sign Lewis. Should that not happen, they could go after Grimes, who missed all but one game last season for Atlanta with an Achilles injury.

Before he got hurt, he was one of the best and underrated corners in the game — a perfect target because he may not command top dollar.

At nose tackle, Kemoeatu would be a perfect replacement for Hampton. The Steelers know him well from his days in Baltimore.

Gradkowski would be a good fit as Roethlisberger’s primary backup. He’s a local boy (a Seton-La Salle High graduate), he’s a veteran and, most importantly, he’s mobile.

Jones’ speed would make him a nice change-up to bruisers Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman.

In an alternate universe where the Steelers were aggressive in free agency, Jennings would be a prime target. But Pittsburgh isn’t going to pay a premium in free agency. It just isn’t going to happen. So, that leaves Breaston — another local guy (a Woodland Hills graduate) who could be redeemed in black and gold.

Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.