Steelers 2025 Cap Space can’t be right, can it?

According to Sport Trac it says the Steelers have $99 Million in projected cap space for 2025.

Now it does not take into account any resigning like Friermuth, Heyward or Russell Wilson or Fields. It doesn’t have Daniels on their either. But I believe Daniels and Friermuth are the only two big internal signings and one of the QB’s of course provided they do well.

Even if we resign one of the QB’s and Daniels and Frieermuth and Heyward to a lesser extent we should still have plenty of cap space to to make one or two big splashes next year in Free Agency.

If we have another draft like the last two years and the QB’s play lights out we should certainly be able to pick up a high pedigree DL, WR or CB and draft the other two positions that we don’t fulfill in FA next year.

Hopefully we win a playoff game or two this year and build the foundation up and next year it truly is Super Bowl.

 

only 27 players under contract too.

 

Lots of expiring '24 contracts including Wilson, Fields, Harris, Warren (RFA), Freiermuth, Daniels, Herbig, Moore, Heyward, Roberts, Kazee, Jackson and a few other minor ones.

 

I’ll worry about next years salary cap in about 8 months

 

Thanks for this. I was about to go look.

 

Well that makes a difference but the important thing is the 27 under contract.

 

OK of those who do you keep? I will take RB and TE’s expiring contracts over OT, CB and WR any day. Obviously if we resign one of the QB’s thats going o take a decent chunk but still alot of these guys are replaceable or we already have pieces in place to replace them. I don’t think Heyward is going to cost that much to extend. Kazee is already replaced, Moore is already replaced. Roberts is sort of already replaced and would probably come back on the cheap. Herbig is sort of already replaced. RB’s are kind of a dime a dozen but even so they have more than enough to resign Wilson, Harris, Warren, Friermuth, Daniels and Heyward and probably add one or two high pedigree signings.

 

another thing...Heyward isnt exactly a young dude anymore...if, and thats a big IF, we do the impossible and win the whole damn thing, he may ride off into the sunset

 

After giving it more thought lets be practical about this.

1. Heyward if he doesn’t retire in all likely hood will not go anywhere else. The only reason he would come back and we would have him back is if he still has something left in the tank as a rotational piece and if he thinks we are close to Super Bowl capable. With that being said I could see a one or two year extension at a above vet minus for the position. At this point in his career he isn’t playing for the money but for championships. Only reason he comes back.

2. If Wilson lights it up I truly believe he is going to want to stay here. Why risk it and go elsewhere and possibly not be a fit. I could see him commanding 35 Mil a year.

3. I think we probably sign Najee’s fifth year which I think puts him at 15 Mil. If we let him get to the open market I do not see him commanding alot of interest. He is a certain back and alot of teams don’t value his skill set like we do.

4. Warren I would hate to lose but I can’t see us putting that much money into that position when it is so easy to get backs on the open market or draft RB’s in mid to late rounds.

5. Roberts at this point in his career would probably be thrilled to sign an extension for a little bit above vet minimum.

6. Freiermuth is replaceable. He is good but honestly he hasn’t lived up to the hype and he may not be a fit for this offense... we will see. I think he is going to be underutilized. Not because of the scheme but because of Wilson.

7. Daniels to me is a necessary resign and with the cap space we have more than enough to resign him.

The rest of the guys are easily replaceable.

The key is we still have Watt, Minchah, Pickens, Highsmith and a slew of other starters under contract. If Wilson or Fields nocks it out of the park I think we will happily sign them to an extension.

 

We haven't even finalized the roster for this season. A lot can change.

 

You can add a 2025 rookie class of 6-7 and a few UDFA’s to that 27 to make up roughly 37 under contract

Whatever happens they are in a good spot with the cap and will have a lot of flexibility

 

Not to avoid answering but the season needs to play out first. Guys rise and fall, get hurt, etc. And, of course, we don't know what anyone will cost.

Wilson, Fields - After the season, they will very likely sign 1 of them, let go the other. They'll need a backup (Allen is also a FA).
Harris likely gets paid and Warren is cheap another year (RFA).
Freiermuth - Does he stay healthy? Is he effective in Smith's offense? I'm 50/50 right now for keeping him.
Daniels, Herbig, Moore - Moore and Herig just got replaced. Daniels could get extended if McCormick doesn't impress.
Heyward - I think he's gone. My guess, 1st Rd. is DL next year. His $ will go nicely toward a QB deal. Could stay for 1yr/cheap.
Roberts - is Holcomb healthy? How does Wilson look?
Kazee - Probably gone. I think S is drafted in Rd 2-4 next year.
Jackson - Who knows? How's he play? How do Rush and Trice look? I think CB is drafted in Rd 2-4 next year.

 

This.

 

The Steelers at this point are a relatively young team. And they’re not paying any offensive superstars. So it makes sense they’d have some decent cap room.

 

I think your pretty spot on with the exception of Harris. I don’t think he is going to command alot of money on the open market. Better RB’s like Jacobs and Barkley didn’t command top dollar. I think he will realize that staying here with a revamped line and run game catered to him is worth taking less money.

 

That by itself is the reason. A team with no one signed for 2025 has over $200 mil in cap space. You can sign 11 $20 mil/yr players if they play both ways, play 60 min, and don’t get hurt.

 

Thats not true at all. Its all about who is signed and who isn’t.
They hav alot of good players signed up in that 27.

 

Oh, I meant paid by the Steelers. Because, you're right, RBs don't get much $ these days.