Still Curtain
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Five Steelers players who might be finished in Pittsburgh

By Brandon Kring

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 22: Brandon Copeland #51 and Brian Poole #34 of the New York Jets defend as Vance McDonald #89 of the Pittsburgh Steelers fails to catch a pass during the first half of the game at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 22: Brandon Copeland #51 and Brian Poole #34 of the New York Jets defend as Vance McDonald #89 of the Pittsburgh Steelers fails to catch a pass during the first half of the game at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 29: Ramon Foster #73 of the Pittsburgh Steelers lines up against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 29: Ramon Foster #73 of the Pittsburgh Steelers lines up against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Ramon Foster

The Steelers have been blessed to have Ramon Foster on their offensive line for the last decade. He has played extremely well for most of it and has been entrenched as the starting left guard for much of his career here.

Foster is one of the most underrated pass blocking interior offensive linemen in the league. He has continually improved in pass protection is a key part of the offensive line rebuild that happened in the early 2010s which helped keep Big Ben upright and likely extended his career.

Foster was signed to a two-year deal last offseason that was team-friendly for the first year. However, he is set to count for $5.575 million against the 2020 cap number.

Foster just turned 34 years old and is on the tail end of a great career in Pittsburgh. This will impact the decision when the Steelers contemplate making him an unfortunate cap casualty for 2020.

Cutting Foster does two things for the Steelers. First, it saves them $4 million on the cap by cutting him getting their space up from roughly $1.6 million to just over $5 million after dead money.

The second thing cutting him does is open up the avenue to retain and allow B.J. Finney to start in 2020. Finney will turn 29 in the middle of the 2020 season and is an unrestricted free agent.

Finney has shown he can handle starting capabilities and the Steelers would do well to retain him and let Foster go. If they keep Foster for the last year of his deal, Finney will likely be the one finding a new home and a chance to start elsewhere in 2020 and beyond.

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