The Steelers could try and bargain shop this offseason with some potential cap casualties looking to rebound with a new team.
Trying to find some pieces to your roster can get tricky during the offseason portion of the league year. Starting around this time of year provides cap situations that either binds a club or gives them a chance to add a lot of players to their roster. Those that have cap issues right now have a lot of work in front of them before they can address their problems.
Most of the teams listed in this article have cap concerns and will need to restructure contracts or release veterans from their current deals. They are looking to save money to potentially add talent at other portions of their roster. The Steelers need to open cap space of their own, but they can accomplish that and target some of these potential casualties soon.
Bud Dupree could make a return to the Steelers lineup this offseason
Bud Dupree left Pittsburgh for a massive deal with Tennessee a couple of seasons ago. He has not been able to keep up the same kind of success in his new environment for a multitude of reasons. T.J. Watt has an effect on everyone he plays with, and that has turned out to be the case for Dupree as well. The former first round selection of the Steelers had a slow start to his career before turning things around in his final two seasons with the club.
He was a massive free agent addition for the Titans, but they were taking a gamble on a player that did not perform well without Watt in the lineup. Add that issue with him coming off an ACL injury, and this contract spelled disaster from the word go. A return to Pittsburgh would be a great depth addition, but it is unknown if Dupree would accept a smaller role to try and get some stable footing back in the NFL.
Shaq Mason could be cut by the Buccaneers and be one of the best guards to sign
Tampa Bay is in a mound of trouble after having a terrible season that saw them get destroyed in the Wild Card game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Buccaneers could go from first in their division to one of its worst if the offseason plays out as bleak as it looks. Tom Brady could be gone, and some major decisions will need to be made with their current cap issue.
Not too many other clubs have as much of a cap space issue as the Bucs this offseason. They sit at nearly 55 million over the salary cap that the NFL holds, according to spotrac.com. Letting a handful of veterans go over the next couple of months seems like a necessary evil in front of their club.
Shaq Mason could be a cut that makes a ton of sense with his massive contract weighing heavily on Tampa. He brought some familiarity to Brady this past year after being traded from the New England Patriots. Mason is a proven veteran at guard, even though that entire offensive line did not have a great season in 2022.
The Steelers need a guard to come in and take over Kevin Dotson’s spot on the starting offensive line. Dotson has not been able to take a step forward as these coaches had hoped for. Mason could come in and supply a lot of starting experience on a cheaper deal than some of the other top guards might make over the next month or two.
Rasul Douglas could be a surprising cut after an off year in Green Bay
Something must change for the Packers in the upcoming season as they continue to become more irrelevant in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers has an unknown future in Green Bay and that could spark a massive overhaul of the roster. No matter what happens to their Hall of Fame quarterback, this team has some cap issues to deal with.
As we sit here today, this club is 16 million over the cap, but issues arise as to where raises need to be given out. Releasing some veterans could be on the docket for this organization as they try and navigate another tumultuous offseason. One name to keep an eye on could be Rasul Douglas as he could save over four million dollars from his release.
The duo of Douglas and Jaire Alexander has become one of the best in the NFL, even though they can play up and down at times. Douglas is only 27 years old and has graded out nicely over the past several seasons. His best year came a season ago, but his number of interceptions did not trail off too far.
Pittsburgh needs to be on the phone with this player if he gets released by the Packers. He is used to the cold weather, and he played his college ball in West Virginia. Even though that school is in another state, West Virginia University is considered another local talent center for the Steelers, which could mean a connection with Mike Tomlin.
Taylor Lewan could sign with the Steelers on a prove-it deal after his latest injury
Bud Dupree was brought up earlier on this list, but Tennessee is currently projected to be over the cap by 23 million. That is a killer number that will need some work to get under for the Titans. It is going to cause some uncomfortable business conversations to take place so this team can become compliant with NFL standards.
Another veteran that could be released from this club is Taylor Lewan. He injured his knee earlier this past season and it took him away from football. He is a leader of this group, so it will be a tough decision to make. The reality is this left tackle is not getting younger and has had some injury issues in the past.
Lewan is not the best tackle in the NFL, but he is one of the better players in his position. Speculation started running rampant after Lewan responded to an edit of him in a Steelers uniform, which caused fans to go crazy. If he is cut, it would make a lot of sense for both sides.
Pittsburgh needs some more leadership on offense and someone that can become a stable force for Kenny Pickett’s blindside. This lineman is a former first-round pick by the Titans in the 2014 NFL Draft and has become one of the better tackles in the league since then. A bounce-back contract could make sense as the 31-year-old recovers from his most recent injury.
The Steelers could look at these players if they become available this upcoming offseason. Each one would provide improvements to their lineup and could come at a cheaper price than some other options in free agency.