Category Archives: Steelers Signings

David Decastro contract

Steelers Sign CB Shaquille Richardson

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The Steelers have signed another one of their draft picks this morning. Selected with the team’s first of two fifth round picks, Richardson is now under contract for four years. As I projected a couple weeks ago, Richardson’s 2014 cap number will likely be right around $467,513. The total value of his contract should be at or just about $2,410,052, with a signing bonus of $190,052.

If you’re not familiar with the number crunching behind rookie contracts, here’s a quick breakdown behind determining his 2014 cap number. To determine his 2014 cap hit, simply divide the signing bonus by 4. Signing bonuses are prorated across the life of the contract. Rookies carry a first year salary of $420,000. Add that to the $47,513, and you’re left with the $467,513 total from above.

With this signing, the team now has the last 5 of their 9 draft picks under contract. They still have cap space for more signings, but they will have an additional $8 Mil on Monday to pen the remaining picks to deals, which I expect them to do in fairly short order.

Cortez Allen contract

Steelers Sign Wesley Johnson And Jordan Zumwalt

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The Steelers have signed two more of their rookies to contracts today. Offensive lineman Wesley Johnson, who the team selected with their 5th round compensatory pick, and linebacker Jordan Zumwalt, who was picked in the 6th round.

Here are my estimates for their contract values from a couple weeks ago: http://thesteelersfans.com/2599/breaking-rookie-salaries-cap-implications/

As you can see, neither player’s 2014 cap hit will crack the top 51 right now. Johnson’s 2014 cap number will almost certainly be $456,140, and Zumwalt’s will be very close to $446,213. Johnson’s guaranteed signing bonus will be for $144,560, and Zumwalt’s will be very close to $104,852. Those signing bonuses are prorated over the life of their contracts. All rookie players are signed to four year deals.

The team can “afford” to sign more of their picks right now from a cap standpoint, but they may wait to do so until after June 1st. After Woodley’s $8 Mil drops off the books, expect the team to sign any remaining draft picks in short order.

Cortez Allen contract

Steelers Sign NT Daniel McCullers And TE Rob Blanchflower

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The Steelers have signed two of their draft picks to contracts today. These are the first rookie class signings the team has made this year. Many other teams wasted no time signing most of their rookies, moreso than in previous years, but the Steelers are never in a hurry to do so- salary cap limitations or not.

The signing of Rob Blanchflower and Daniel McCullers will not move the salary cap needle due to the rule of 51. You can see the estimates for the rookie pool here: http://thesteelersfans.com/2599/breaking-rookie-salaries-cap-implications/

The team is sitting with just over $300,000 in salary cap space at the time of this writing. If they wanted to, they could stay in cap compliance while signing more of their rookies, due to displacement of the top 51. Expect the team to move quickly to sign the remainder of the rookies shortly after June 1st, when LaMarr Woodley’s $8,000,000 comes off the books.

Cortez Allen contract

Breaking Down The Rookie Salaries And Cap Implications

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Now that the draft is behind us, it’s time to take a look at the rookie salaries and there implications on the 2014 salary cap. Many teams are wasting no time getting their rookies under contract, but don’t expect the Steelers to follow suit. There is no rush to do so, and the team will have plenty of cap space to work with once LaMarr Woodley’s $8,000,000 salary comes off the books on June 1st.

The team has a little over $300K in salary cap space at the time of this writing. While they probably won’t sign any of their rookies in the immediate future, they could easily sign most of them without having much impact on the 2014 cap. Here’s a breakdown estimating their contracts, and the impact on the 2014 Steelers salary cap. Remember, these are estimates, but there isn’t too much room for change.

[table]

Player, Total Value, Signing Bonus, 2014 Cap Hit

Ryan Shazier, “$9,507,198”, “$5,234,328”, “$1,728,582”

Stephon Tuitt, “$4,607,953”, “$1,733,000”, “$853,250”

Dri Archer, “$2,906,784”, “$506,376”, “$571,594”

Martavis Bryant, “$2,723,198”, “$439,220”, “$529,805”

Shaquille Richardson, “$2,410,052”, “$190,052”, “$467,513”

Wesley Johnson, “$2,364,560”, “$144,560”, “$456,140”

Jordan Zumwalt, “$2,324,852”, “$104,852”, “$446,213”

Daniel McCullers, “$2,298,680”, “$78,680”, “$439,670”

Rob Blanchflower, “$2,279,400”, “$59,400”, “$434,850”
[/table]

As it stands right now, the team could sign all of their picks except for Shazier and Tuitt, without having too much impact on the 2014 cap space they have currently remaining. During the offseason, only the team’s top 51 cap charges count towards the salary cap. This is also known as the rule of 51. Right now, the team’s 51st highest cap hit is Derek Moye at $495,000. As you can see from the numbers above, 5 of the rookie signings wouldn’t count towards the top 51.

Expect the NFL to soon announce that the Steelers 2014 rookie pool allocation is just under $5.9 Mil, but due to displacement of the top 51, they won’t need nearly that much cap room to cover the signings. After all is said and done, the rookie pool will only have an impact of $2.2 Mil in 2014 cap space.

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Steelers Sign 9 UDFAs, Host Others For Tryouts

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The Steelers have agreed to terms with 9 undrafted rookie free agents, and will host many others for workouts during the rookie mini-camp this weekend. There is currently no information available on their contracts or signing bonus money, but many of them will have signing bonuses in the $2K range, with 1 or 2 of them possibly having a signing bonus as high as $5K- $7,5K.

Here is the list of undrafted free agents the team has agreed to terms with.

  • Chris Elkins, C, Youngstown State
  • Eric Waters, TE, Missouri
  • Josh Mauro, DE, Stanford
  • Howard Jones, OLB, Shepard
  • Kaycee Ike, OT, UAB
  • Brendan Kay, QB, Cincinnati
  • Ethan Hemer, DE Wisconsin
  • Will Simmons, OL, East Carolina
  • Roy Philon, DT, Louisville

Here is the list of players the team will reportedly host for workouts. There likely will be some others that the team brings in to rookie mini-camp this weekend, as well.  These names have been acquired from agents, player’s reps, and media sources. They are subject to change and have mostly not been confirmed by the team.

Mike Franklin, DL, Shepard
Devon Carrington, S, Stanford
Jake DeMedal, S, St. Francis
Dillon Baxter, RB, Baker
Corey Brown, WR, Ohio State
Jordan Hall, RB, Ohio State
Steve Greene, OL, UConn

The UDFA names may not seem that important, but if history is any indicator, one of them stands a strong chance of making the final roster. Since Mike Tomlin has been head coach, an undrafted rookie free agent has made the week one roster 6 out of 7 times.

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Steelers Sign Punter Adam Podlesh To One Year Deal

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The Steelers have signed veteran punter Adam Podlesh to a one year deal.

Podlesh was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 4th round of the 2007 draft. He signed a $10 Mil deal with the Bears in 2011, but was a cap casualty 10 days ago. His performance in Chicago last year left much to be desired. The former Maryland standout finished 29th in the league with his 37.9 net average in 2013.

Look, I know most people aren’t going to do cartwheels over this signing, but it’s risk free, and Podlesh will add a leg in camp competing with Brad Wing this summer. His base salary will be for the minimum of $855,000, but will count only $570,000 towards the cap due to the veteran minimum benefit.

After displacing a low $495,000 salary from the top 51, his signing could potentially move the salary cap needle by as little as $75,000. That number could go up as much as $65,000 depending on the signing bonus. The signing will leave the Steelers with roughly $305,000-$240,000 in cap space.

Thanks for stopping by, and as always, be sure to share with your friends.

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Steelers Sign WR Darrius Heyward-Bey

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The Steelers announce that they have signed WR Darrius Heyward-Bey to a one year deal today.

It was reported earlier that the team would be hosting him for a workout. Heyward-Bey was signed by the Colts last year to a one year, $3 Mil deal. He struggled with injuries throughout the season, and also with showing reliable hands. The former Raiders first round pick has 69 career receptions totaling 2,380 yards, including 12 touchdowns.

While the terms of the deal obviously haven’t been disclosed yet, it would not surprise me if it were for the vet minimum with a small $65,000 signing bonus. It may be more than that, though. He was the fastest receiver in the 2009 draft class. He ran a 4.23 in 2006 in Maryland, and ran a 4.30 at the combine.

Darrius Heyward-Bey 40 yard dash.

LeGarrette_Blount

LeGarrette Blount Signs Two Year Deal With Steelers

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The Steelers have signed former Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount to a 2 year deal today. The veteran running back flew into Pittsburgh last night, and had his visit with the team today. Blount is 6’0″, 241 lbs and rushed for a total of 772 yards with 7 touchdowns last season. He had a tremendous game against the Colts during the playoffs, running for 166 yards and totalling 4 touchdowns.

The terms of the deal aren’t yet known of course, but the Steelers weren’t the only team interested in Blount. The Patriots were interested in re-signing him, and the Ravens were said to be interested before the news of Ray Rice’s indictment yesterday. Earlier today, there were reports of other unnamed teams expressing interest in the running back as well.

One Patriots beat writer reported that the Patriots wanted to retain him, but not at the price the Steelers were willing to go. Obviously, that doesn’t make a lot of sense as the Steelers have little cap room to work with. The Patriots aren’t exactly swimming in dough, but they have more room to play. Another Patriots beat writer reported that New England only offered him a one year deal.

Blount has rushed for 2,711 yards and 20 touchdowns, while averaging 4.7 yards per carry over his four NFL seasons. Blount is a sledge hammer of a back, and a good blocker, but won’t be a part of the passing game. He also brings experience as a kick returner, as some of you might recall from last year’s game in New England. One very interesting note: Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reports that Mike Tomlin recruited Blount personally, and was instrumental in his signing.

Thanks for stopping by, and as always, be sure to share with your friends.

Lance Moore Signs His 2 Year Deal Worth $3 Million

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Lance Moore has officially signed his two year deal, according to Steelers PR man Burt Lauten.

Moore’s two year contract has a total value of $3 Mil. The deal includes a $645,000 guaranteed signing bonus, with no other guarantees. His contract with the Saints that was voided called for $3.8 Mil in cash in 2014.

Here is a breakdown of his contract.

[table]

Player, Year, Base Salary, Signing Bonus, Salary Cap Number

“Moore, Lance”, 2014, “$855,000 “, “$322,500”, “$1,177,500”
“Moore, Lance”, 2015, “$1,500,000”, “$322,500”, “$1,822,500”
[/table]

As you might expect, the contract is a very terminable one if the need should arise after this season.

Steelers To Sign LB Arthur Moats To 1 Year Deal

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According to ProFootballTalk, the Steelers are signing linebacker Arthur Moats to a one year deal. According to Jerry Dulac, Moats met with Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin before they left for the league meetings in Florida.

Moats was slated to visit the team today, well…probably today, according to Alan Robinson yesterday.

The addition of Moats comes as a low risk move to add depth at the inside/outside linebacker positions. Moats was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 6th round of the 2010 draft. While playing most of his snaps as a DE and Sam LB in their scheme, he transitioned to inside linebacker last season, and proved to be a solid run blocker.

Moats, 26, has position versatility and is a solid special teams contributor. He started 12 games for the Bills last year, and of the 301 snaps he saw, he totaled 54 tackles.

This signing doesn’t particularly bode well for those hoping to see James Harrison return to the Steelers anytime soon.