Pittsburgh Steelers Have More Money Than Usual To Spend In Free Agency

The Pittsburgh Steelers seemingly restructure contracts each year just to have minimal amount of space under the salary cap.

Things are different this year, though. The Steelers go into free agency with some money to burn.

The Steelers are $28.8 million under the cap, a large chunk of that coming because of the retirement of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger following last season. Thus, vice president of football and business administration Omar Khan has not had to perform his usual cap wizardry.

Historically, the Steelers have avoided making splashy signings in free agency and that is likely to be the case again. Yet, coming off a 9-8-1 season in which they barely slipped into the playoffs, the Steelers have plenty of holes to fill and will likely sign some veteran help.

Roethlisberger’s departure after 18 seasons leaves the Steelers with Mason Rudolph as the only quarterback on the roster. However, they plan to re-sign restricted free agent Dwayne Haskins.

The Steelers say they plan to contend next season. They also say that Rudolph is their No. 1 quarterback.

Whether the Steelers can be a playoff team with Rudolph running the offense is questionable. He has a 5-4-1 career record as a starter.

Rudolph lost the starting job to rookie free agent Devlin “Duck” Hodges in 2019 after becoming QB1 when Roethlisberger sustained a season-ending elbow injury in Week 2. Hodges now plays in the Canadian Football League.

There is a school of thought the Steelers will select Roethlisberger’s long-term successor in this year’s draft and sign a “bridge” quarterback to start in 2022 and mentor the rookie.

Among the free agents connected to the Steelers are Teddy Bridgewater, Marcus Mariota, Mitchell Trubisky and Jameis Winston. Among the draft-eligible QBs who apparently pique the team’s interest is Liberty’s Malik Willis.

The Steelers could also look to upgrade both lines. Pittsburgh was 29^th among the 32 NFL teams in rushing offense last season and last in run defense.

Cornerbacks Joe Haden, Ahkello Witherspoon and Arthur Maulet all become unrestricted free agents along with safety Terrell Edmunds.

Haden is the best of the bunch. However, despite his production and popularity in the locker room, the Steelers seem unwilling to spend big on a corner who will be 33 when next season begins.

Wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington are also ready to hit the opening market. The Steelers are likely to let the up-and-down Washington walk but Smith-Schuster is an interesting case.

It appeared Smith-Schuster would not be re-signed when he became a free agent last year. However, he found a depressed market and returned to the Steelers on a one-year, $8-million contract.

Smith-Schuster will likely have a hard time landing a big deal again this year following a season marred by a shoulder injury season in which he had 15 receptions for 129 yards in five games.

Smith-Schuster had a 111-catch season in 2017, 97 receptions in 2019 and is a fan favorite. It is not out of the question to see him back again in Pittsburgh on another one-year contract.

The Steelers could also free up more cap money by releasing some veterans. The two most likely casualties are linebacker Joe Schobert and defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt.

Schobert was acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars in a training camp trade last year and finished second on the team with 112 tackles. However, his effectiveness waned late in the season and his playing time decreased.

Tuitt sat out all last season after having knee surgery and losing his brother in an automobile accident. The Steelers haven’t shed much light on Tuitt’s situation and there has even been speculation the 28-year-old may retire.