Cutting these 5 players can save the Steelers 50 million

Back when Cowher was coaching the Steelers would cut a player a year earlier than anyone would want. They would typically fall on their face somewhere else and have a fat contract also. With that said I am sure Tomlin will insist we extend Heyward for 6 more years. Cam went to the press defending Tomlin so that Tomlin would do him a favor this offseason. While we are at it let’s give Tuit some more money.

 

I can't remember everything Cowher did, but he wasn't a perfect coach. He was just as stubborn as Tomlin.

 

As opposed to starting Levi Wallace all season long, no thanks. Rather have Petersen in there over Wallace any day. In saying that, the position needs an upgrade and I would definitely invest a first rounder to compliment JPJ, as the AFC North has some top heavy wrs

 

That's not true the defense was better when he's in the stats prove it.

 

Neither guy is a viable starter at cornerback at this point. Wallace was terrible this year. Peterson had some decent moments, but he just doesn't have the speed for the position and he doesn't tackle well enough to be much help at safety.

The team really needs two new starters, one at cornerback and one at strong safety. Losing Keanu Neal hurt, but staying healthy is his problem. They can't rely on him.

 

Cam has to accept a contract rework.
And the Front Office has to find a guy that can reduce Cam's workload.
TJ is probably next on the list - The Steelers are not a Super Bowl team and while TJ is a game wrecker, he does miss time. $30 mil is a big hit.

DJ and Pickens... I have to get with them and understand where they are going. It takes a team.
Both have had some knocks about that, maybe some was unwarranted but still, I need to know if they want to be part of the solution or the problem. We need some higher standards at leadership among the players.

Highsmith disappeared too much for my liking. I don't know what I'd do yet, but he is on my list of issues.

 

I think you start by releasing Alan Robinson and Chuks. While both are veterans, you can get more bang for your buck elsewhere.

Heyward has defied Father Time until recently. He has had some excellent seasons 2 and 3 years ago. I would hate to send him to the scrap heap after one injury plagued season. I would hope we could rework his contract, understanding he may only have a year or two left.

Johnson can stay, but needs a conversation on stepping up and being a leader. He needs to be a positive influence in the WR room.

 

Add Minkah to the list .
That dude is overpaid and overrated.

 

I assume you are basing that off of the most recent year, one in which he was injured.

Minkah is coming off a strong first four years with us, that being 2019 through 2022. He was All Pro three of those years.

 

This! Peterson is done and paying Mitch the Pick any money to be on this roster anymore would be a joke.

As far as DJ goes they might give him another year and spread the cap hit being way thin at the position.

Chuks as well needs to be released or maybe Khan pulls a fast one and trades him for something.

Cam has been a true professional but he is injury prone and injured all year and they need to get younger. My hope is he retires. If not they need him to take a pay cut or be extended to spread that cap hit out. They will not outright release him.

I believe Ogunjobi stays would be a 7 mill cap hit if released. They will draft a DE/DT early.

 

Ain't no one trading for him.
1. Declined severally
2. Age. And he admitted it's hard on him

Hopefully he retires. But if not, cut him.

 

He is pointing out the cost-benefit is not worth it. I tend to agree. He is prone to injury as all aging players are. Father time is never wrong.

 

Cam is washed definitely time to cut him the others I’m not so sure. Depends on who else we can get to replace them.

 

I'm on the record as wanting a complete re-build, so yes on anything ( including and maybe especially Watt) that gives us ability to aquire picks and lower cap hits.

I'm pushing all my chips in on Khan.

 

Peterson hasn't done much all year and got worse towards the end of the season, cut him.

For Cam to stay he should take a pay cut, if not cut him.

Chuck cut for sure, cut him.

Larry O didn't do much and could go either way

DJ probably needs to stay due to lack of quality receivers.

 

Pat Peterpan ( that don't fly)
Plump Pressley ( worst punter, and draft pick in last 5 years in the nfl)
Terrible Trubisky (he could maybe be a back-up in Canada)
Has been Heyward ( unless he would take a pay-cut)
Muff-snap Mason Cole (there has got to be a better rookie in the draft)

 

Our run defense without Cam in is a full yard per carry worse. That's dramatic. He took less snaps this year due to injury. We rotated in d-lineman more than ever this year. Cam is older ...he plays less snaps but he's still the best D-lineman on the roster by far . He's also the only good leader on the team.

 

Cam will not be traded

 

hmmmm - hard decisions.

Restructure Cam - platoon him 50% for 2 years?
Restructure and extend Larry O.
can cut the rest, but I'd try to trade DJ, he may have some value
need some WR badly, for sure
WR #1 or 2 for sure.....+ TALENT FA.....

 

Cowher / Donohue rarely (hardly ever) gave a guy a 3rd contract - that was the Steelers Way (that was admired by many....)

 

Yeah, lets cut our entire WR not named Pickens and our entire DL that's not a rookie. Good idea. LOL

 

I don't know what to do with Heyward. He is getting old, but is still a decent player. We just can't have him making the money he does next season. Gotta find a way around that.
Restructure Larry O, but I'd only do a 1 year extension. He's 30 as well and we cant really expect him to defy father time like Cam has
Alan and Chuks are the easy cuts here, as none of them are true "starters" and make more than 10 mil a year.
DJ would be the most foolish one to cut/trade. I'd extend him, but thats just me. If we trade or cut him it pretty much pigeon-holes us to take a WR in round 1. Pickens and DJ are ultra talented, Austin has shown a little but we just don't use him properly. Aside from that our WR room is bare. We can't afford to cast DJ out without a first round draft pick or signing Tee Higgins to big money.

 

We could cut Cam if we actually have someone to take his place, but we don't.

Loudermilk and Leal haven't done jack. You need to bring Cam back on a chepaer deal, and bring a new young guy in and hope he develops.

I still have hopes Leal can turn it around in year 3 though. With his athleticism, I don't understand what is keeping him off the field? Is he just not holding up in run defense, does he need to put on 15 pounds of muscle or something?

 

Regarding Cam:

1. They are not going to cut him. He's been a top talent, leader, and member of the community since he was drafted. The Steelers won't end their relationship in such a way unless something dramatically out of the norm were to occur.

2. Restructuring his contract to free cap space is relatively easy. They can simply add a couple of void years past 2024, convert $12M of his base to prorated bonus over the three years, and save $8M in 2024. Technically they wouldn't even need his permission since in that restructure he's not losing money or having it deferred; he would be getting the prorated money up front and quicker than if throughout the year via his weekly checks. If he then retires next offseason they could declare it post-June 1 and have the $8M in dead money from the void years split between 2025 and 2026.