While the initial details of his release were unknown, it is now perfectly clear that the Steelers failed with how they handled things with Nelson.
Despite his relatively short tenure with the team, Steven Nelson was one of the best early free-agent signings that Colbert has ever inked (Joe Haden was added before training camp after being cut). He instantly stepped in as an every-down starter and was a perfect running mate to pair with a rising Steelers secondary. Trouble surfaced early in this offseason though, and it led to Nelson eventually being released.
This was a bad move in terms of the talent that was leaving this team, but often when a player displays issues with the team they are on, getting rid of them is the only conceivable way to keep the roster strong going forward. This certainly seemed like the case with Nelson, as he began cryptically tweeting until the team allowed him to seek out a trade before releasing him. A recent interview sheds a different light on the subject though, and if what he said is true, the Steelers truly bungled the situation with him.
"“…there was never a discussion of me taking a pay cut. I was never even given that opportunity to take a pay cut.”"
Nelson said this in a recent interview with Mark Kaboly. As well, it was reported that Nelson wanted an extension based on his strong play over the past two years. Instead of working to keep a talented corner in the prime of his career, the team cut him and gained nothing but some meager cap space as a result.
Now, one might ponder how earning an extension equals receiving a pay cut. Simply put, with Nelson in the final year of his deal, the team could have lowered his cap charge by turning as much of his base salary this season into a signing bonus to spread out over the life of the contract. Even if Nelson’s average cost per year increased, his cap hit this season would have dropped. Is it a true pay cut? Obviously not, but it would have gone a long way in freeing up more cap space in an already tight offseason.
For those that are upset that Nelson wanted more money, don’t be. He was far outplaying the contract he had signed, and the cornerback market this year was showing that he could and should have been earning more. While his 2020 season was a regression from his nearly elite coverage in 2019, it wasn’t like he was a liability. At only 28 years old, Nelson still has a few years before he should see regression.
This makes cutting him so illogical. He is a good player that wanted a fair contract that still would have helped out the team this year. Now, there is a gaping hole at cornerback, meaning that yet another need will have to be filled in the draft. For a team set to bring back its 39-year-old quarterback for one final run at a championship, destroying your secondary seems like more of a hindrance than a help.
If the Steelers truly needed cap relief from their cornerback spot, they should have cut Haden and extended Nelson to lower his hit. It would have cleared as much, if not more, than just cutting Nelson did. While Haden was the slightly better corner last year, his age and obvious regression will continue to be problems. Considering his contract is up next season, it is likely his last year with the team as well. This cornerback room will look awfully different this time next year.
While I am high on Cameron Sutton, just having him won’t fill the void created by cutting Nelson. Even if Sutton moves to the outside full time, there won’t be a slot capable corner on defense. Likewise, if Sutton stays in the slot, that means unproven options like James Pierre or Justin Layne will have to start. If the team had committed to a rebuild, this wouldn’t have been a huge issue, but considering this team is trying to make one last Super Bowl run, moving on from Nelson was a mistake.
It wasn’t too long ago that the Steelers secondary was the laughingstock of the NFL. Adding savvy veterans like Haden and Nelson went a long way in shoring up this group and improving this defense. Now, it seems like a lot of those gains will be gone this year and through next. Nelson seemed like he was willing to work with the Steelers, but the same can’t be said for the team. Had Nelson forced their hand, this narrative would have been different. Instead, the Steelers botched this move, and it will likely cost them during the 2021 season.