5 Steelers who need a better 2nd half of season to not get cut

Eric Ebron

Eric Ebron on the Steelers has been an interesting fit so far. His expectations were sky high at the beginning of the season, and then they tanked early on due to his small role with the team. In recent weeks, he has built a rapport with Ben Roethlisberger though, and while his numbers aren’t huge, they certainly haven’t been bad. So far, he has a stat line of 29/285/3, less than what was expected early in the season but an ok number for a security blanket.

That said, Ebron will count for a hefty 8.5 million against the cap in 2021, and the team could save 6 million of that by releasing him. While cutting both of their tight ends would certainly be a risk, it may be a move the Steelers are forced into due to their cap restraints. While Ebron hasn’t been horrible, he isn’t worth that cap number as of now. If he could make a few bigger plays, his roster spot would be far more secure, but considering he hasn’t done that yet, don’t be surprised if he is one and done with the Steelers.

As of now, Ebron is probably a coin flip in terms of making the roster or getting cut. More than likely, it will depend on the NFL’s salary cap number in 2021, as if it is at the lower end he will likely be cut or if it is on the higher end he is likely safe. While he could be eligible for an extension, he hasn’t done enough to warrant a long-term deal yet. Ebron will be hoping for a decent cap number across the NFL next year or else he may be out of a job with the Steelers.