4 scenarios Steelers could explore to boost their 2022 salary cap space
By Tommy Jaggi
The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to have more cap space than they have had in years, but here are four scenarios they could explore to free up even more money in 2022.
The Steelers roster is in rough shape. After selling out for one more chance at a Super Bowl run in 2021 with Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh will now be in search of a franchise quarterback among many other important positions like offensive tackle, cornerback, and center.
Fortunately, they have more money to work with this offseason than they’ve had in years. According to Over the Cap, the Steelers are projected to have roughly $34.1 million in spending money heading into the 2022 offseason.
This money can go rather quickly — especially when you have a player like Minkah Fitzpatrick who needs a new deal. The good news is that there are still numerous ways to clear up additional cap. Here are four scenarios the Steelers could explore to find themselves with even more salary-cap space in 2022:
Scenario 1: Steelers cut Banner and Schobert
The first and most obvious scenario for the Steelers to open the offseason would be to cut two players who aren’t worth a fraction of their weight in gold: offensive tackle Zach Banner and linebacker Joe Schobert.
During the summer, both of these players were not only projected to be starters but major contributors to the team’s success. The Steelers had high hopes for Banner when they gave him a two-year, $9.5 million deal last offseason, and Pittsburgh clearly thought Schobert would give them a boost when they were willing to trade draft capital in addition to taking on the remainder of the five-year, $53.75 million contract he signed with the Jaguars in 2020.
By cutting both Banner and Schobert, the Steelers would save an additional $12.8 million for the 2022 season — boosting their total cap space up to over $47.9 million. These two cuts seem like easy decisions early in the offseason.