3 reasons Steelers should pass the torch to Mason Rudolph in 2021
By Tommy Jaggi
Money saved could allow Steelers to retain more players
Perhaps the biggest reason why the Steelers should consider cutting Roethlisberger and making Mason Rudolph their starter in 2021 is because of the money they would save. Though Pittsburgh would retain just $19 million of Roethlisberger’s $41.25 million cap charge, according to Over the Cap, this is more than enough savings to retain some quality young football players.
As of now, there are 19 unrestricted free agents who are set to hit the market this offseason – barring an extension. Among the most notable are Bud Dupree, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Alejandro Villanueva, Matt Feiler, James Conner, Cameron Sutton, and Mike Hilton. Honestly, with this kind of money back in their pocket, the Steelers could find a way to get JuJu or Dupree locked up long-term (especially considering that they are set to have the most cap space in the league in 2022).
However, I think it would be wise of Pittsburgh to use this savings to keep some core young players around like Sutton, Hilton, and potentially Feiler. They could also use this to solidify some weak spots on their roster in free agency. While we have to consider displacement cost for the quarterback who will replace Big Ben, they could fill the third quarterback spot at a fraction of the price with a veteran minimum free agent or through the NFL Draft.