With the Steelers now only focused on the offseason, the first major event will happen in just over a month when the new league year begins and free agency opens. Pittsburgh historically has been timid when it comes to free agents, but there has been an uptick in bigger signings in recent years.
Also breaking precedent is the amount of cap space that the Steelers currently have. While there isn’t a set cap number for the 2025 season, current projections have the team sitting with nearly 40.5 million dollars in space. That can certainly go a long way in rebuilding this roster.
That doesn’t take into account that this team doesn’t have a quarterback and George Pickens, if kept, will need a large new deal to keep him happy. Even with the surplus of cap space, there are a lot of avenues that this team needs to take to gain some extra space.
Some of these moves are obvious, and while the large-cap savings aren’t needed on paper, they are a direct benefit from cutting some dead weight off this team. Other moves are more difficult to determine.
Depending on how the Steelers go about this, they could easily have a historically high amount of cap space to dabble with. Hopefully, the team will actually spend that money smartly.
Moves the Steelers will absolutely make:
Cut Preston Smith ($13.4 million saved)
Preston Smith was a savvy addition at the trade deadline. He provided solid edge depth and even found a rotational role as a pass-rushing defensive tackle when he was active. In a perfect world, you would welcome him back and keep the edge depth deep.
Unfortunately, Smith was extended during the end of his prime, so his salary this year is massive. If he was willing to play at a reduced salary, it would be one thing, but you can’t keep a fourth edge rusher at that price. He is a lock to be cut right now.
Cut Cole Holcomb ($6 million saved)
The Cole Holcomb story is an unfortunate one. He was playing at a high level in his first year with the Steelers before a devastating knee injury ended his season prematurely. He was never healthy enough to play this season, and at his salary, he seems like a probable cut.
It seems like the linebacker room has moved on without him though. The trio this year did well enough this year, and it seems like Holcomb has been quietly pushed out. Unless they have a clear plan for him, his time in Pittsburgh is over.
Cut Dean Lowry ($2.5 million saved)
The smallest cap savings on this list, but arguably the easiest cut. Dean Lowry looked like a smart veteran addition to serve as a rotational defensive end. That never really panned out though, as he was a healthy scratch for most of the season. Don’t overthink this, Lowry is as good as gone.
Moves Steelers are likely to make
Cut Larry Ogunjobi ($7 million saved)
The Larry Ogunjobi question luckily won’t linger that long: he has a roster bonus due at the beginning of the new league year so if he is cut it will be before then. His play has been disappointing and not worth the money, but the defensive line market is hot and costly.
I can see this going either way. This is a conservative team that is adverse to risk, so they might bite the bullet and keep him for one last year while adding some rookies to eventually take over. That said, it seems more than likely that he is cut this offseason.
Cut Cordarrelle Patterson ($2.8 million saved)
I toyed with putting Cordarrelle Patterson on the moves that are going to for sure happen, but Arthur Smith seems to like what he offers and with Najee Harris on his way out, you might want to keep some consistency in the room.
That said, he was brought in to be a spark on offense and as a returner, and he didn’t provide the Steelers with either. Kickoffs proved to be less of a factor even with the new rules in place. Teams tended to kick away from him and add in his general ineffectiveness and he seems like a probable cut.
Restructure Pat Freiermuth ($7.211 million saved)
While the Steelers are known to restructure deals, it might not be needed with the surplus of cap space they have. If they do any though, Pat Freirmuth seems like the next in line. He has enough time on his deal to maximize the savings and you get a healthy chunk of savings by doing so.
Moves Steelers have a fifty/fifty shot of making
Cut Minkah Fitzpatrick ($8.645 million saved)
It is hard to know what has caused the regression with Minkah Fitzpatrick, but he hasn’t been the same elite safety that you paid him to be. His play isn’t horrible, but he isn’t getting turnovers and his coverage was filled with mistakes.
Given the cooler market at the position, the team could opt to part ways with him because of his lack of impact. That said, he is a vested veteran and the team is comfortable with him. I’m inclined to say that they keep him, but it wouldn’t be shocking if the team cuts him to save the cap space.
Cut Montravius Adams ($2.25 million saved)
While this seems like a nonfactor as Montravius Adams is a rotational backup, I don’t see him getting cut right away this offseason. I do expect some notable turnover in the room with Ogunjobi and Lowry cut along with Isaiahh Loudermilk a potential free agent loss.
READ MORE: There is only one quarterback the Steelers can win with in 2025
While Adams isn’t exceptional, he is a steady backup who can do a bit of everything. His cap hit isn’t killing you, so it wouldn’t hurt to keep him at least through camp. If the Steelers do enough to not need him, cut him before the season. It just isn’t worth making that move right now.
Moves Steelers aren’t likely to make
Restructure Minkah Fitzpatrick ($7.123 million saved)
Fitzpatrick makes this list twice! While many point to his cap hit and claim that something has to happen, restructuring him seems like a massive oversight. Sure, you get some instant cap relief, but you continue to kick the can down the road.
Restructures are always on the table, but with a surplus of cap space already, this move feels unnecessary. If you are that upset with his salary, cut him. If you want him around for another season, swallow his current price tag and hope that he improves his play.
Restructure Alex Highsmith ($7.886 million saved)
While Alex Highsmith is far less at risk of being cut in the immediate future, restructuring his deal doesn’t make a lot of sense. They have the cap space to make some bigger moves already and more logical ways to free up additional space. Another restructure for him seems unneeded this offseason.
Cut Patrick Queen ($9.966 million saved)
The Patrick Queen experiment didn’t go as the team had hoped it would. He was signed to give this team a top linebacker that they haven’t had for years. Instead, he was a hot and cold player, and even his highs were lacking compared to what you would have hoped for.
That said, I think Mike Tomlin really likes Queen, and the team wants to keep the linebacker room consistent this offseason. He has a massive roster bonus due early in the offseason, so we will know the team's decision sooner than later.
There are a multitude of outlets to produce more cap space and this team should have near-record levels of cap space. If all of these moves are made (assuming Fitzpatrick is cut), the Steelers would have over $108 million in cap space.
I think it is logical that the team makes the first three moves on this list as well as cutting Ogunjobi and Patterson. I do think Fitzpatrick is kept and his deal remains untouched. No other notable cuts are made. As for Freiermuth, a restructure makes sense, so I will assume he gets his deal reworked.
This would lead to a still massive amount of cap space totaling nearly 80 million dollars. That can, hopefully, be used to find a quarterback, figure out the receiver room, and still address a variety of other positions. No matter what, this team should be spending big this offseason.