are any starters expendable?

Slow down some of You. We have not seen a one of these guys in practice here....let alone play a game, and some want to get rid of people that have actually played real NFL football as starters. If I went by just last year's dream of how some said the picks would do.....we would have been in real trouble if we had gotten rid off the all the guys that's place everyone said they would be taking.
Example: Washington....I couldn't count the number of people that said He would be an instant game changer, and while some of that is not his fault....it still didn't happen....all I'm saying is.....slow the roll on getting rid of players we actually know that can play in the league.....at least until these new guys have at least practiced.

 

some chances will be taken, MANY chances have been taken

some here wonder (and cried) how can we survive without Kenny

you are correct - we have not seen any guys take snaps - but young players will play and start. T and C are almost guaranteed. We need low cost players to fund a handful of big priced players.

and if more chaff has to be CUT away to make room for a play-maker WR, I am ready for change. I'd like to win another playoff game sometime in this century! Go Big or Go Home

 

Don't cut off Your nose to spite your face to do it though. Don't forget how many players a year don't even make it to the regular season before they are hurt, or out for the season.

 

no disagreement.

you only have a roster of 53. but I think in general we are on the same page. i am open to take a few more chances with the young guys, I think.

 

To answer your original question - Are any Steelers expendable? Yes every Steeler is expendable. Should they trade promising young depth pieces like a Nick Herbig .... no. The only way you trade player to me is if they aren’t fit on your team because of scheme or for attitude reasons or if they are in the last year of their contract and you have a promising piece to replace them with and you want to get some draft capital back if you don’t plan on extending them. I am generally against trading a player but I felt like DJ had to go. He wasn’t good for the team off the field and it was starting to impact his play on the field. When you see effort being compromised by a players attitude that is a tell tale sign they need to be moved.

The only current player on the surface that fits the narrative I outlined above is possibly Friermuth. Is he still a fit in the new offense? Arthur smith values blocking TE’s who are multi dimensional and can receive. Pat is a good receiver but that part of his game may not be utilized to its fullest with Wilson at QB because he definitely does not throw to the TE alot. Can he and will he? That remains to be seen. Pat isn’t the greatest blocker. Can he and will he, that remains to be seen. Finally he is in the last year of his contract. If we don’t plan on resigning him does it makes sense to try to get something for him now? The draft has already passed so at this point probably not. My gut tells me let him play out the season and if he plays well and is a fit moving forward then you try to resign him before he hits FA but its a risk because he will probably want to test FA at that point. To me he is a good TE but he leaves me wanting more and I think relative to some of the other pieces he is replaceable in the draft. On the flip side he has good hands and unfortunately he has never really had good QB play or a good offense to showcase his talents. If this offense underserves him and his talents wether it is bad QB play, him not being a focus and him being relegated to blocking alot more then its probably not worth it to him or the Steelers to pursue a second contract. Why would we overpay for a position we don’t value and why wouldn’t he want to move on where he can truly thrive elsewhere. He reminds me of a Zach Ertz good but probably a notch below the elite TE’s like Kittle, Andrews, Kielce.

 

Guard/Center Nate Herbig is a $5.4 million cap hit for 2024. The Steelers save $4 million if released.

From what I am seeing they are saying that Mason McCormick can be your backup guard center combo that the Steelers always have. He was listed as South Dakota's backup center during his time there. Between Spencer Anderson and Mason McCormick the backup center spot should be covered, if the Steelers want to save $4 million.

 

Do you feel Arthur Smith will give him more?

 

I did not even look it up, but 4 round, first contract not enough to make that the reason.

 

The list the OP made as trade bait does not seem realistic, Muth may not be a great fit in Smith's system, but right now (when healthy) is the only TE with much experience, is probably the 2nd best receiver on the team. I have not even checked who is signed, but we in recent years been short at OLB, last year actually had a great compliment..I do not think they would trade Alex to try and fill one spot to leave us vulnerable as edge. Will Herbig eventually start, I do believe so, TJ is hitting 30, Herbig is in his 2nd year, so we will see.

As for the line I could see Moore getting traded, but not before they see what they have in the new guy and the depth under that.

 

Did you mean that McCormick being a quality backup long-term is a win or just for his rookie season? The latter makes sense. The former does not.

 

No one wondered how the team could survive without Pickett or cried about it. These fantasies of yours are sometimes mildly entertaining, but that's about it.

 

mycole pruitt has more starts and seasons in the nfl than friermuth.

 

You keep Moore or trade him, I don't see the point in cutting him.

 

I doubt they could get a 3rd for Moore, he's an average player in the last year of his contract.

 

Cap cost of $3.5 million, and you can save $3.3 million if you cut him.

I like Dan Moore competing with the rookie again this year at LT. But, if Dylan Cook is ready to be your swing and Fauntanu wins the job in training camp there is really no reason to keep Dan Moore on the roster. Unlike Broderick Jones last year, Fauntanu's LT experience may mean he is ready to be a week 1 start for the Steelers.

 

How does Moore make that much being a 4th rd pick?

 

That 4th year blows up.
Dan Moore | NFL | Spotrac.com

 

Rookie season. Although him becoming a high quality interior back up in the 4th round is far from a miss, though you'd like more.

 

The Steelers aren't hurting for cap space, I would keep him for veteran depth even if he's benched, unless he asks to be traded.

 

Yeah, but he's already lost that return spot as well

 

The only reason I mentioned a 3rd is he has been a starter on the left side since he has been here for better or worse. But if they get a 4th for him they get the original pick back which would be fine. 3+ mill cap savings as Brice posted.