The Steelers could release some of these players to open up some spending cash in free agency when this offseason kicks into high gear.
As we sit here today, the Steelers only have a little over a million bucks in cap space to spend. That is not going to even get you a bag of chips in today’s NFL. Cap space needs to be opened, and there will be a lot of work done between now and the start of free agency. Before all of that happens, the black and gold need to focus on re-signing some of their own pending free agents.
Being a cap casualty is not fun, but the NFL is a business and Pittsburgh needs to find different ways to get some extra cash to spend this offseason. They could always restructure some contracts over the next month or two but cutting these players would be a wise choice. Each one of them counts too much against the cap for the Steelers to realistically believe that keeping them is in the best interest of the team.
William Jackson III was a wasted trade by the Steelers and needs to be let go
On the same day that the Steelers pulled off a great trade with the Chicago Bears, they made another deal that was not as bountiful. Chase Claypool got Pittsburgh pick 32 in the upcoming draft, but the black and gold gave away a future pick for an injured William Jackson III. The move seemed like a decent shot at the time to see what you had in a veteran corner, but he did not play a snap for the Steelers.
The club has always wanted Jackson, even since he entered the draft in 2016. Pittsburgh would probably hope that they could release him and re-sign him on a cheap prove it deal moving forward. Jackson would free up more than 12 million against the cap, so this move seems like a no brainer. The Steelers need spending cash and releasing Jackson and trying to bring him back makes the most sense.
Gunner Olszewski makes too much money to not play a role in this team
Training camp caught the attention of many as Gunner Olszewski started to show some promise besides being a return guy. His pre-season was just a flash in the pan as he failed to do much on the offensive side of the ball after that. The real issue was not his lack of production on offense, but he lost his job as a returner to Steven Simms during the season.
Another no brainer for the Steelers as Olszewski accounts for two million against the cap for Pittsburgh this upcoming season. Cut your losses and bring Simms back to be the return guy in 2023. Two million is not a ton, but there is no need for Olszewski anymore on the black and gold.
Montravius Adams was not worth the gamble that the Steelers took on him
Another smaller cap charge with Montravis Adams here, but that is still two and a half million in savings if the Steelers decide to cut him. Adams deserved the short term deal he got after the 2021 season, but he did not perform well this time around. He is only under contract until after this year and should be cut to make more space to add an impact player.
There is an argument to keep Adams as there could be a huge blow to the black and gold’s depth in the defensive trenches. Tyson Alualu is likely retiring, and both Larry Ogunjobi and Chris Wormley are scheduled to become free agents. Cut Adams and with all these cap savings, they could add depth and potentially re-sign Ogunjobi to return as a starter.
Myles Jack has not panned out after the Steelers signed him in free agency
Many thought that Myles Jack would be able to come in and calm the Steelers dumpster fire at middle linebacker. He did not help for long as he continued to gather poor performances the longer that he played. Pittsburgh needs to find a long-term answer in the middle of this defense sooner rather than later.
The continued lack of presence at middle linebacker for this defense has caused for offenses to take advantage of them. Devin Bush and Robert Spillane were the primary partners lined up next to Jack for most of this past season. It was ugly for most of the games, and it cost the black and gold a lot of ground in the process.
Jack was a cap casualty last year after the Jacksonville Jaguars decided to move in another direction. Mike Tomlin personally called him up and asked if he would like to come to the Steel City. Jack liked the idea of proving himself again with some talented players on defense.
Sadly, that opportunity has gone sour, and Jack could be the only returning starter at inside linebacker from this past season. Cutting this player would save eight million and give the black and gold a nice chunk to spend in free agency. The lack of depth and experience at inside linebacker could be the sole reason for Jack’s return next year.
Pittsburgh needs to decide if they want to keep either Witherspoon or Wallace
Both Levi Wallace and Ahkello Witherspoon signed with the Steelers in free agency last year. Witherspoon was already with the black and gold before he re-signed after testing the free agency waters. These two were brought in to start on defense after Joe Haden was leaving for his eventual retirement.
Both account for four million against the cap and both could realistically get cut. Witherspoon had an injury riddled season after his new contract, and he played poorly when he was healthy enough to go. He could not handle the role of being a top cornerback on defense and it seems like Witherspoon might be the likeliest of these two of being a cap casualty.
Wallace signed the same deal as Witherspoon and joined the Steelers after starting in Buffalo for many years. It was a slow start in Pittsburgh for Wallace as he dealt with a nagging injury that slowed down his preparedness for a starting role. He would eventually get a clean bill of health and play better down the stretch.
Cutting both players does not seem like a realistic option for the Steelers this offseason. They might choose between one or the other heading into next season unless they lose Cam Sutton via free agency. Witherspoon seems like the player that you would cut with his injury issue and poor play as a starter.
Chuks Okorafor has not lived up to the contract he got last offseason
Getting better across the offensive line needs to be the biggest item on the Steelers to-do list this offseason. They need to protect Kenny Pickett and give him the best chance to succeed. Chukwuma Okorafor re-signed with the Steelers last offseason after he looked at free agency.
Pittsburgh inked him to a new three-year deal that saw him get market value after a questionable career up to that point. Okorafor is not the worst tackle in the NFL, but he has always left a lot out on the field. He has always been a project at right tackle and only got the job initially once injuries started to occur.
The beginning of the 2022 season was terrible for Okorafor and the rest of his teammates in the trenches. It took a while for things to turn around, but the offensive line started to play better as a group down the stretch. Okorafor would save the black and gold a hair under seven million if they would release him this offseason.
That is huge savings for a club that could use that money elsewhere. Investing into the offensive line needs to happen in the draft and taking a left tackle and moving Dan Moore Jr. over to the right side could fix some issues. Other than finding some depth at tackle in either free agency or the draft, cutting Okorafor would make sense for the Steelers.
The Steelers could open up a lot of spending cash if they release these players. Most of these recommendations are cap casualties because they have not lived up to their current contract status in one way or another.