Two of the Pittsburgh Steelers' best players are set to be free agents after the 2022 season.

Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and wide receiver Diontae Johnson are both looking for new contracts as they enter the final year of their respective deals.

Fitzpatrick, a first-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 2018 NFL Draft, and Johnson, a third-round pick by the Steelers in the 2019 NFL Draft, are both essential to Pittsburgh's success.

Johnson is the Steelers' No. 1 wide receiver while Fitzpatrick is one of the best safeties in the league.

Suffice it to say, Pittsburgh would love to have both players locked up long-term. But the Steelers aren't a franchise that's going to recklessly spend, so it's not a guarantee that both players will be in Pittsburgh for the long haul.

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, a longtime NFL insider, made a prediction for both players this week in his Monday Morning Quarterback column.

Here's what he had to say:

I’d guess that the Steelers will pay Minkah Fitzpatrick before Diontae Johnson. And given where receiver prices have gone, I think there’s a decent chance Johnson will wind up betting on himself and going to the market next year rather than doing the sort of deal Pittsburgh would see as suitable for him.

Breer is extremely plugged in when it comes to the various happenings in the NFL, so I tend to listen to what he has to say.

And his prediction makes sense. The Steelers gave up a first-round pick to acquire Fitzpatrick. He's a two-time Pro-Bowler who is coming off a season that saw him total 124 tackles and two interceptions. He's not the type of player you let get away. Pittsburgh almost has no choice but to extend him.

As for Johnson? Well, now probably isn't a great time for the Steelers to try to work out an extension. The wide receiver market went stupid this offseason and Johnson would likely look to receive a contract similar to what we saw guys like AJ Brown get earlier this offseason (in the $25 million a year range). I can't see Pittsburgh giving Johnson that kind of money — at least not this offseason.

Johnson wants to stay in Pittsburgh, saying recently "I want to be here. I'm patient. I'm just going to keep working. My agent is going to do what he does in that situation, and I'm not going to focus on that."

Maybe he'll give the Steelers a slight discount next year. Or maybe Pittsburgh places the franchise tag on him to buy some time. All options are essentially on the table.

The Steelers have some tough decisions to make. And ultimately, I think Breer will be right that Fitzpatrick signs an extension first and then the Steelers wait until next offseason to deal with Johnson.

Featured image via Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK