2021 NFL Free Agency thread

It's in the accounting. Watt already accounts for $10m this year, all base salary. This can be converted to prorated bonus over the life of any extension he would sign. If you look at, say, Khalil Mack's six year extension in 2018, his contract was worth $141m with $90m in total guarantees, $60m of which was due at signing. The signing bonus was $34m.

For all the big dollars involved, Mack's 2018 cap hit was $13.8m. While the signing bonus is converted to equal prorated amounts over the life of the contract (like base salaries that are converted if performing restructures and extensions), the yearly base salary amounts are typically inked to best accommodate the team's accounting against the cap. Most often this results in relieving pressure off the immediate fiscal year.

So if the Steelers chose to give Watt that same six year extension now, they would start with around a $4.8m/yr hit in prorated bonus starting this season, extending through 2027. If they convert $9m of his 2021 base to bonus that rises to ~$6.2m/yr. So they would have extended him through 2027 and his cap hit in 2021 would actually be less ($7.2m) than it is now.

 

I feel like he could fill in some of what we lost with VW being gone

 

Honestly, after JJSS, the only guy on that list I'd consider is Williamson, if he'd sign cheap.

 

I wonder if Juju’s Tik Toking and etc is effecting his FA value.

 

RB Marlon Mack 1 year/ $2 million with Indy coming off a torn Achilles.

 

The Steelers will have over 140 million in cap space in 2022, keeping Watt won't be a problem.

 

I wasn't that impressed by the Browns defense, the first play of the game was a gift, a bad snap recovered for a TD. That defense also gave up over 500 yards passing.

 

I hope he doesn't go to the Bengals.

 

All quiet on the JuJu front, maybe he's negotiating with the Steelers , I don't think any WR has signed a long term big money contract this free agency period.

 

Looking like $11m per year or thereabouts is going to be the rate for Juju, way below what he would have been expecting I would think. I’m sure there has been interest but my guess is he is asking too much

 

Nobody within reach of the Steelers there really. I would love Jayon Brown but the money isn’t there.

Steelers will start signing guys to plug gaps in the coming weeks but I don’t expect any big names.

 

What about RB Damien Williams from the Chiefs?

Should be cheap after sitting out last year to care for his sick mother. It seemed like he was just about to be a late bloomer when Covid turned his world upside down.

 

For 16mil a year good riddance

 

This.



Remove that botched snap and I believe that game has a different outcome.

 

Over the cap has then currently at 82 million, thats with only 11 guys under contract. The number could go up with potential new media deal. and I agree TJ's money is there, but this team is in total transition,

 

Maybe they sign steve mclendon while they are at it

 

OTC has 20 players currently. Technically it could be considered 19 since Ben's void year is one of them.