6 Steelers with the most to prove in 2021-2022

David DeCastro will be the only truly established veteran on the o-line in 2021.

You would think that DeCastro’s job is safe, he is the only lineman who has been starting in the same position for more than 2 years on our roster. However, he is 31 years old. We already saw some regression in 2020. Furthermore, he has always been a better pass-blocker than a run-blocker. We know now how important rebuilding the run game is to the Steelers for the future.

2021 is his last year under contract for Pittsburgh. We could see him re-signed to the black and gold, but it should be for a much smaller contract than his last one. If he doesn’t start making a comeback on the field, Pittsburgh isn’t going to offer him a contract fitting of a former all-pro.

It is more about the business side of things in this case. Even if he takes another step down, there are a few teams that would probably overpay him for his services. We could see him leave in free agency to make more than his play may be worth. We could see Pittsburgh letting him walk as they did with Villanueva and Feiler to complete the rebuild of the offensive line.

I think the Steelers are realizing that they can’t keep overpaying players based on legacy. If we are being honest I don’t think Decastro is worth the $14 million cap hit that is with him for 2021. No one in the league will tell you that he will be the 2nd best right guard in football in 2021, yet he is carrying the second-highest cap hit in 2021. This season is a crossroads for DeCastro. He could either work back towards his peak form or his play could start dropping off entirely. It is not to say that I think he is terrible. Yet, it is still a business, and paying a guard, whose production is average at this point, top-tier money is not going to help Pittsburgh’s cause when we are talking about super bowl wins.

At this point, the only saving grace for DeCastro is that the Steelers don’t have another potential starter to replace him on the roster. With the team getting marginally younger over the past few seasons, and a decent amount of projected cap room I would not be surprised if the Steelers look for his replacement through every avenue heading into 2022. That is, unless he improves on his performance from 2020, or is willing to take a large pay-cut to stay with Pittsburgh.