3 easy cuts would save Steelers more than $15 million in salary cap space

Steelers must cut OT Joe Haeg

It’s never ideal to cut two offensive tackles in the same offseason, but it could prove to be necessary this year for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Instead of paying two low-quality offensive tackles good money, Mike Tomlin could save $7.6 million by cutting Joe Haeg and Zach Banner in the offseason and put this money towards a free agent offensive tackle who’s actually good.

Haeg was decent when called upon this season. Unfortunately, because of the way the compensatory formula worked out this year, playing Haeg in Pittsburgh’s final regular-season game against the Ravens ultimately cost the team a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Regardless of the serviceable depth he offers in a pinch, the Steelers should take the cap savings here. Haeg obviously isn’t a guy you want to have as a full-time starter, and with all the money the Steelers are going to have, they could bring in upper-level starters on the offensive line and sign a swing tackle who would be an improvement over Haeg.

These three moves alone would save the Steelers an additional $15.43 million in salary-cap space next season. For three players who were hardly positives for Pittsburgh in 2021, these three cuts seem like no-brainers.