Countdown to Free Agency

I will just be curious to see if the Steelers are cheap enough to throw their hat in the ring again for an older QB on a league minimum contract.


Kirk Cousins just signed his 4 year $180 million deal last year, so if he is released in March he will be looking for a 1 year league minimum contract. Kirk Cousins is due a $10 million Roster bonus on March 10th, this bonus is not part of his guarantee, so the Falcons can at least save the $10 million if they trade or cut him before March 10th.

 

I was laughed off the site when I suggested Stafford and Kupp for a 1st round pick. I love the scenario because it immediately brings leadership to the offensive locker room.

I think with both Stafford and Kupp, the Steelers would be ready to immediately compete with KC, Buffalo, and Baltimore.

 

That 10 million is squat at this point, they are 11 plus million over the projected cap and if cut has a 65 million dead cap hit. They almost have to ride it through with hum this year, then do a 26 post may cut, unless they can find a trading partner and the cap hit is 27.5 million before June 1st, 12.5 after June 1st. The 10 million bonus will not affect the cap value if they trade or cut.

What gives you the insight that he would take a 1 million deal if cut? Russ did it, does not mean he would, do you dream this stuff up when your Madden game shuts down?

 

Well, it appears that isn't exactly true.

 

The differences are moot in reality, have no idea who this guy is, but if a guy has proven himself on special teams, can play his position situationally then the difference in the minimums is well worth it, if in camp the rookie shows promise and shows abilities comparable then you might go with youth.

 

If Atlanta were to trade him post-June 1 this year, they would have $12.5M in dead money while saving $27M against their cap.

They would then have $25M in dead money in 2026, but would still save $32.5M against the cap.

 

You clarified it better, but they are against the CAP as it is, cutting him would put them in instant CAP hell, they could likely trade him and make it work.

 

Cousins has a no trade clause in his contract. Cousin's is not going to give Atlanta anything but grief, because the way they surprised him on draft day last year with a 1st round QB; only weeks after he signed his contract.


Adam Schefter
Thus there now is a widespread expectation across the league that the Falcons will not be able to trade Cousins and will have to release him before March 17, when his $10 million roster bonus for the 2026 season comes due. There is no need for the Falcons to absorb any more costs for a quarterback whom they have paid $90 million for 14 games.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43081294/sources-falcons-expected-cut-kirk-cousins-10m-bonus-due

 

Because Mostert is a proven vet, and they wouldn't need to draft two RBs.

 

It's doable. They're a little screwed by his 2025 salary being guaranteed, and, should they designate him a post-June 1 cut, his $10M roster bonus for 2026 is also guaranteed. So if they go post-June 1, they incur $40M in dead money and see no change to their cap in 2025 (leaving them $11.5M over presently); and in 2026 they take on $35M in dead money and save $22.5M.

It's horribly inefficient (I wish I could throw that kind of money around), but it's not triggering a payout that would put them in the red - it just doesn't help them out of it, either. It's if they try to release him prior to June 1st they get socked - $65M in dead money and $25M more charged to this year's cap.

 

Read Thor's post above, if they release before Iune 1st the CAP hit will make that 10 million seem like nothing.

 

march 12 is the beginning of the new league year.

 

With this O line? Yeah right.

 

I think steelers should look to the Green bay packers for a trade. They have 4 receivers who would improve the receiver room. All 4 will be free agents in the next two season .2026 Dobbs and Watson and 2027 Reed and Wicks.
Would they take a 2026 condition 6rd or 7rd pick for Watson
Would a 4th get Dobbs or Reed
What would they want for on either Kraft or Musgrave
What are your thoughs

 

And hardly anything at WR as a group .. No running game .. Terrible play calling ...Terrible play designs ..

Why would any good QB really want to sign with this current Team ?

 

Steelers will end up with a QB like Carr, Minshew, D. Jones, M. Jones, Levis, etc... if they don't keep Fields or Wilson. Why would the Steelers want Rodgers or Stafford... and why would these old QBs want to play for the Steelers in their current condition?

 

[QUOTE="Brice, post: 1386434, member: 3107"]I was laughed off the site when I suggested Stafford and Kupp for a 1st round pick. I love the scenario because it immediately brings leadership to the offensive locker room.

I think with both Stafford and Kupp, the Steelers would be ready to immediately compete with KC, Buffalo, and Baltimore.[/QUOTE]

I admire your perseverance

 

They dont' need to draft 2.

Draft a RB
Sign a couple of undrafted rookies.

Use them until the break, find a new cog.

 

They need a #1 type RB ..........Someone who is Fast and has the frame to add power.. Exactly why I picked those guys in round # 2.....This Team never decides on a straight plan lately , not that its all bad , its just not a direction..

 

Thanks, Thor, for posting all these pictures.it makes me happy to see all these great Steelers....

 

I would take Matt Stafford in a second ,,sign that man up. Just hope he wouldn't get injured.

 

The Packers are my dad's team, so I'm relatively familiar with them.

Reed: Their best WR at preset. Packers aren't trading him away unless a team severely overpaid.

Dobbs: Probably the only viable option, for both sides. He was vocal with some issues over with how he was being used last year, so the Packers might be willing to trade him. That said, he still hasn't had that breakout campaign yet. His best season was two years ago when he posted 59/674/8. Not somebody I'd be giving a fourth to get.

Wicks: Flashes of talent, but has a case of the drops. Over two seasons he has a 9.0% drop rate - putting that in perspective, DJ was knocked for dropping too many balls and his was a 5.1%.

Watson: Can't stay on the field. Over three seasons he's suffered 10 injuries causing him to miss 13 games. Tore his ACL this January, so he'll likely miss the entirety of the 2025 season.

Neither Kraft nor Musgrave really interest me given the TEs we already have.

 

My pleasure. I had to wrestle it away from @jeh1856 .

 

I'm more interested in investing into the line and then using RB by committee.