The Steelers might have a lot of cap space this upcoming offseason but it is time for these relationships to end.
Everyone has their eyes on the Steelers for this upcoming offseason as they enter a rebuilding phase. It will be the first time in a while as this team looks for a bunch of answers to fill across their roster. They will have a bunch of money to work with if they so desire to use it.
Pittsburgh is expected to have some decent spending money by the time free agency begins. They can also get that cap space up by letting some players go from the team. Allowing some extra cash flow back onto this payroll might help in the long run as well.
It is not going to be a spending spree like the New England Patriots pulled off in free agency of 2021. The black and gold need to be calculated in their spending and what implications that will bring down the line as the rebuilding process begins.
It is going to be hard for many fans to see these players depart from the Steel City this upcoming offseason. Some have been major centerpieces of teams over the last handful of years while others have been playing forever. This is going to be a new era for this franchise as they look to make another contender sooner rather than later.
Steelers Derek Watt, Fullback
Derek Watt was brought onto this team for his special team’s prowess. He has brought a good element to that phase of football since joining the team. Watt has even become a captain for the club in 2021. That is nothing to scoff at when you look at someone’s importance to this team.
The major issue with this player is the contract that comes with him. Fullbacks are people too but none should be getting paid that handsomely, especially if they’re just a special team contributor. That is too much money to spend on a player like that.
Watt will be entering his final year in his current contract with the Steelers, so maybe an extension to lessen the cap hit could occur. He will need to take a discount in a future deal to stay with this team. He is good at what he does but not at that current price.
Steelers Eric Ebron, Tight end
Eric Ebron was a good player for the Steelers in 2020 but that has not translated over to the current season. He has been up and down at times with some drop issues but his playmaking ability brought some life back into the tight end position for this franchise.
This position demands two major components of blocking and being a large target in the passing game. Ebron has only been a big target for Ben Roethlisberger in the passing game. He has never been a well-rounded player for his position during his time in the NFL.
With the addition of Pat Freiermuth, this player has become expendable. The rookie has been getting more targets and his overall play has been better. Ebron has been dropping the football a lot at this point in the year.
The rookie has been outperforming him and making the veteran tight endless of a factor in the offense. Ebron is a free agent this upcoming offseason so many fans should not expect him to be back. His role is diminishing and the team seems perfectly ok with cutting his minutes and moving forward with a younger group at that spot.
Steelers Joe Haden, Cornerback
Joe Haden is a great story ever since he joined this franchise. When he was cut from the Cleveland Browns, many thought that he lost his Pro Bowl touch as a player. He regained that form when he came over to the Steelers after signing as a free agent.
This cornerback has been a great addition to this defense ever since then and has expressed interest in re-signing with the team before becoming a free agent in March. The issue is the age that he comes with.
It is a young man’s game in the NFL and that does not do Haden any favors. He will be turning 33 in April and the black and gold should steer away from him in free agency. He is a great person and leader but the better business decision would be to let him walk. The physical decline for his position usually happens fast.
Haden hasn’t been terrible during the 2021 season but you can tell father time is starting to catch up with him. Perhaps signing him to a team-friendly deal would suffice if he was willing to take one. He probably has another year of starting capabilities left. This corner would be a great addition to a retooling defensive secondary as well.
Steelers JuJu Smith-Schuster, Wide receiver
JuJu Smith-Schuster has been a fan favorite ever since he was drafted out of USC. He was a young kid that rode his bicycle everywhere around the city. The fans saw him mature from bike to car but they also saw him mature as a person.
The kid was forced to mature as he became the young leader of the receiving group. He was still younger than most of them entering the league but he became the guy that they turned to with his experience. It has been an up and down career for Smith-Schuster but one the fans will never forget.
He brought back some Hines Ward vibes that Steelers fans desperately want to see. He is physical and reliable as a receiver. He brings a different aspect that no one else in that positional group brings to this team. He almost left the franchise last year in free agency before some cap space was found.
It is not common for Pittsburgh to offer their receivers a second contract unless they see them as irreplaceable. Their track record with drafting and developing the position also plays into that mindset of not paying receivers. It will be tough to say goodbye, especially with how his final season in the Steel City happened.
The injury that occurred earlier this year was tough to watch. He was sidelined with a shoulder injury that cut his final season in this city short. It’s possible he can come back but that possibility is very low. It is time for these two to move on from each other.
Steelers Robert Spillane, Linebacker
Robert Spillane had high expectations leading up to the 2021 season. He was expected to start alongside Devin Bush at the inside linebacker spot but that did not pan out. He had a bad pre-season and the team traded for Joe Schobert from Jacksonville.
Spillane had a nice season last year as he filled in for injured players. Many thought that he would carry that success over from 2020 but he could not accomplish that. Now Spillane sits on the team in limbo as he plays in certain packages and on special teams.
This player will have to be content with being a depth player and special team’s demon to stick around the Steelers organization. He is good enough to at least do those tasks but if the team would need him to start, they will be in trouble.
He is a good run-stuffer but to say he is unreliable in the passing game is an understatement. There are other linebackers on the team that provide more than Spillane currently does. He could always be pushed off this roster by future additions via draft or free agency when it comes up.
Spillane is kind of a coach’s favorite at this point as he continues to play on the starting defense, specifically on passing downs. That is a major issue and something management needs to take away so the coaches cannot make this mistake anymore. This player had a decent 2020 year but that looks to be an anomaly in his career.
Steelers James Washington, Wide receiver
James Washington is someone that has a ton of potential but never got much of an opportunity in Pittsburgh. He is a former high draft selection and that will lead to him getting another chance on another team. The Steelers receiving group was just too talented and deep for this player to get many chances to play.
His earlier request to be traded during the pre-season process was understandable. He is not getting many chances even though the receivers are having injury issues currently. For whatever reason, Washington is not getting many passes thrown in his direction.
This player brings something unique to the team with his strength and catches at the point of attack. He can go up and get footballs without drop issues. He is reliable and the next team that employs him will be pleasantly surprised by the player they acquire.
There is still a lot of football to be played before the season ends and he could always get a bigger role. It just seems like there is zero percent chance that either of these two parties will want an extension when the time comes. There is just some sort of disconnect between the two and that will leave the Steelers with another receiver leaving the group. It is starting to get scarce of talent as this group disbands without Washington or Smith-Schuster next season.
Steelers Ben Roethlisberger, Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger is going on his last ride in 2021. It has not been the most successful year for him or his employer. It has not been the best start for them and that could be attributed to a lot of things. One of those issues is Roethlisberger himself.
He has not been able to stay with the game’s speed and look over all of his options on the field. He is making poor decisions and that is leading to poor results for the offense. The offensive line is struggling at points in front of him so not all the blame can be put on the quarterback but he deserves his fair share of it.
Football is a team sport but the quarterback spot will always be the pivotal position in any offense. Your offense goes by how well the gun-slinger is playing. He just doesn’t seem to have it anymore as his physical regression is evident. Everyone in Pittsburgh wanted to see him prove the doubters wrong but that will not happen.
He will be a free agent after this season but him playing elsewhere is not going to happen. It does not seem like he will be brought back on an extension either. His playing days are limited to 2021 unless father time turns back the clock for the remainder of this year.
It is a tough business in football and father time always wins. It is time for the Steelers to get a new quarterback even though it will be tough to say goodbye to this cornerstone of the franchise. The team needs to get younger and start re-tooling/rebuilding depending on how you want to phrase it. The success over the past couple of decades was spoiling but now the franchise needs to be ready for some more in the future.
The Steelers will have a ton of turnaround this upcoming offseason. Lots of fan-favorites will be departing the team and this list of names are most likely.