The offseason is always a time for teams to bolster their roster. Between free agency and the NFL Draft, roster shake-ups aren't uncommon. The new Pittsburgh Steelers front office has already shown that they aren't content with running it back with the roster this team had in 2022.
General Manager, Omar Khan, and Assistant GM, Andy Weidl, have already made more moves than expected during the 2023 free agency period. Now the NFL Draft is on the horizon, and Pittsburgh owns seven selections -- three of which will be inside the top 50 overall picks. With new talent soon to be added to the roster, here are four Steelers players who could get cut following the 2023 NFL Draft.
4. Steelers could cut OG Kendrick Green
This move seems destined to happen. Kendrick Green made the roster by the skin of his teeth in 2022, but he played so poorly during the preseason that I'm not sure he would have if he wasn't a former third-round pick. This year, it's an easy prediction to assume that Green will be gone.
I pleaded with the Steelers not to move Green back to guard, as he already struggled with power and anchoring ability at center. Things went from bad to worse in his second NFL season, and he could be left trying to find a new home soon.
I already thought this would be the case, but the Steelers are sure to add at least one offensive lineman in the NFL Draft. If another interior OL is added, you can bet your bottom dollar that Kendrick Green will get cut at some point after the draft.
3. Steelers could cut DT Montravius Adams
Because of a severe lack of depth and the regression of Tyson Alualu in his old age, Montravius Adams was asked to play far more snaps than Steelers fans had hoped they would see him on the field for in 2022. While his role as a nose tackle has still been limited since joining the team, Adams has recorded a respectable 452 snaps in 22 games with Pittsburgh.
However, his time in a significant role will prove to be short-lived. Though Alualu will likely retire and is no longer under contract, the Steelers made it a point to add two interior defenders during the 2023 free agency period in Breiden Fehoko and Armon Watts. Fehoko played nose tackle for the Chargers.
Additionally, the team brought back DT Larry Ogunjobi on a sizable contract in free agency. I fully expect that the Steelers aren't done yet. Their pre-draft visits and pro-day scouting trail show that they are still eyeing an interior defender -- possibly as early as day two.
One more addition to this group and Adams will almost certainly be cut. Adams wasn't very good in 2022 and the Steelers could $2.5 million if he is released.
2. Steelers could cut OG Kevin Dotson
Kendrick Green isn't the only guard the Steelers could part ways with following the NFL Draft. With a pair of guards joining the team in free agency with Nate Herbig and Isaac Seumalo, it's possible that there may not be room left for last year's starting left guard, Kevin Dotson.
Dotson hasn't been horrible for the Steelers, but he has been very inconsistent, and mental lapses have slowed his progress. Right now, James Daniels, Seumalo, and Herbig are all projected ahead of Dotson on the depth chart.
For this reason, some NFL analysts, like CBS Sports' Bryan DeArdo, have suggested that Pittsburgh could deal Dotson during the 2023 NFL Draft. If this doesn't happen, however, Dotson could be on his way out -- especially if they add another interior offensive lineman fairly early in the draft.
Considering the Steelers have used visits on IOL prospects like TCU's Steve Avila, Florida's O'Cyrus Torrence, and North Dakota State's Cody Mauch, it's clear that Pittsburgh wants to move in a different direction. Dotson won't be part of the future plans; it's just a matter of whether they cut him after the draft or try to carry him on the roster through the summer and see what happens.
1. Steelers could cut CB Ahkello Witherspoon
One player whose name has cooled off since before free agency started is Ahkello Witherspoon. The Steelers cornerback was initially thought by some to be a cut candidate during the 2023 offseason, as Pittsburgh could save $4 million with his release, per Over the Cap.
While Witherspoon is currently projected to start, this isn't out of the realm of possibility. Though Witherspoon is long with solid athletic traits, he could not seem to stay healthy in 2022, and when he did play, the results were less than ideal as he gave up several big touchdown receptions early in the season before landing on IR.
Now the Steelers could be looking at taking a cornerback as early as the 17th pick in the draft. Grabbing a plug-and-play starter to the tune of Joey Porter Jr. would essentially make Witherspoon expendable. The money they would save would help Pittsburgh sign roughly half of their 2023 draft class.
It's also worth noting that fellow CB Levi Wallace has the same cap number and the Steelers could save $4 million by getting out of his deal as well. Pittsburgh won't get rid of both cornerbacks, but one of these two could be cut if the Steelers take a cornerback early, and Witherspoon hasn't been able to stay on the field.