Who stays.. Who goes..... How are they replaced???

How much do you think he's willing to play for? I'd say no less than $10M, which would all come on next year's cap, which is already in terrible shape.

Not happening - the drafted Highsmith for this and he exceeded rookie expectations.

 

I don't remember a cap situation this dire. Only 35 guys under contract, over the cap, and they need to find several starters.

 

Slot corners are essentially starters in today's NFL, and Hilton is widely regarded as one of the best. He didn't sign on with Drew Rosenhaus to take a hometown discount with the Steelers.

 

Some of the local Pitt radio guys seem to be speculating Big Al may retire to pursue a different career?

 

No, this year is entirely different. Teams were expecting the cap to be around $200 million, not the $175 or so it's going to end up at. That is a massive difference that teams were not prepared for. On top of that, the Steelers have pushed a lot of salary up to this point. You can only do that so long before it comes due.

There's going to be a lot of roster changes

 

The 175 million isn't official, I also heard it could be 200 million.

 

I think it will be higher, too, but we're still over with 35 guys.

Gonna be a fun offseason.

 

Dobbs offers little to nothing. He has some athletic ability, but after a game or two a spy would be put on him and that would be that. Dobbs is no T. Hill, let alone Lamar.

You cannot put a 2nd tag that goes for 1 1/2 guaranteed money on a guy who may play 10 games or less, thats 22-24 million..insane.

 

The final Cap amount will tell the tale, but like you said we are at 202 million with only 35 guys. Cuts and restructures can get you money, but it still will take 25 -30 million for the remaining 18-20, rookie contracts, PS allotment, emergency fund,etc. I am sure they can make competitive offers to a couple of guys and get TJ signed...anything other than that is going to be tough.

 

Dobbs could most certainly have some specialty packages like Hill or Brissett. Given our epic struggles in short yardage, I don't know what it could have hurt.

Imagine Dobbs and McFarland running read option, with Ray-Ray in motion. Imagine Dobbs running QB sneaks.

Or we could just keep running delayed, shotgun draws.

 

Guess we will never know, but honestly seeing the line play on those and nearly every other short yardage play I do not think the success would be what you think. You still need the O line to perform, and we were getting manhandled all season.

 

We have the 24th pick. I could see us moving to save money and get more later picks, which would be cheaper. We have to complete the roster somehow and these type of cost cutting moves could help. Every little bit. We may also see guys like hawkins, isidora and leglue kept around to compete. Hawkins is a swing tackle. None of this is ideal but may become a necessity.

 

There's a separate pool for draft picks. Not against moving down for additional picks, but not saving too much from 24 to say 30s plus you pick up extra picks that will require salary too

Plus 1st rounders can sign 5 year deals vs 4.

Again, if no one there at 24 u like take calls move down a few spots

 

There was an aerial view of Ben on a 3rd or 4th and 1 in a recent game, he was under center, there was nobody in the A gap. Literally it looked like a NT and a 4-3 DE there was so much space. We threw a pass on that play.

Brady would have gained five yards.

 

But those extra picks are far cheaper and every spot you move down saves money. It all is tied to the cap even if it's a separate pool. Money will be tight. Even if some retire, you still owe salary as dead money and you have to fill that spot.

They just dumped trey edmunds. If pouncey retires fat still costs us money. We had 35 under contract and now 33. We need 20 added to field a team. I expect the next 2-3 years to be lean. That's the price we pay for giving it one more run with ben.

 

Well since Fichtner has been fired we will same await his predecessor. Not sure if Canada is ready but if he is he will be made OC

 

Not after they cut some players, they won't be over the cap.

 

that's also more they have to replace though.

 

They will do some restructures to create cap space, then they can fill out the roster.