If I'm the current GM here's what I would do...

[DP39]

As of today, here's what I would attempt regarding the Steelers 2023 FA signings, draft and final 53-man roster: (comments/critiques welcome)

What I would do (and a little of what I expect the Steelers to do). Overall, we get much better, deeper and younger.

Caveat: I drafted players based roughly on their current average spot (currently, some are all over the place or have a big range gap). Trades were made using close to an equal exchange of trade value chart points. If our Claypool trade was any indication, I assume our new draft guys will bring the PHI Wheel'n & Deal'n draft weekend attitude with them for a nice change (one can certainly hope).

Two trades: Trade back from pick #17 to #21 and receive #84, and also trade back from pick #32 to #39 and receive #92 scenario:

2023 Draft Class:

21 Brian Branch CB-S/S Alabama
39 Siaki Ika DT Baylor
49 Darnell Washington TE Georgia
80 Jack Campbell ILB Iowa
84T Jaylon Jones CB Texas A&M
92T Sedrick Van Pran C Georgia
119 Andrew Vorhees T/G USC
151 Karl Brooks DE Bowling Green
235 Viliami Fehoko EDGE San Jose ST
246 DeWayne McBride RB UAB

A few Priority UFAs:
Graham Barton T Duke
Charlie Jones WR Purdue
Demario Douglas WR Liberty U


Important Cuts (cap savings):

1. William Jackson CB ($12.75M)
2. Myles Jack ILB ($8M)
3. Mitchell Trubisky QB ($8M)
4. Ahkello Witherspoon CB ($4M)
5. Montravius Adams NT ($2.5M)
6. Gunner Olszewski WR ($2M)
7. Miles Killebrew S ($2M)
8. Arthur Maulet CB-S ($1.79M)
9. Kendrick Green C ($1M)
10. Emeke Egbule LB ($1M)

Cap Savings (~$43M) (also adds ~$10M to the Dead Cap - see below)

Restructure (cap savings):

Minkah Fitzpatrick ($9M) (may/may not be necessary)

Total Cap Savings of Cuts & Restructure = (~$52M)


Offers (7 new and 7 existing = 14 players total) (contract $):

QB2/3: G. Minshew ($3.5M), M. Rudolph ($2.3M)
FB1: D. Watt ($3M)
WR4/5: S. Sims ($2M), M. Boykin ($1M)
OT: Conor McDermott ($1.5M)
DE/NT: Zach Allen ($6M) Jarran Reed ($4M)
LB: David Long ($5M), Jamir Jones ($1M), Jabrill Peppers ($2.5M - fills M. Allen role)
S1/2: Ryan Neal ($2.5m), Damontae Kazee ($1.5M)
CB: Cam Sutton ($3.5M)


2023 Roster: New FA & Drafted (with group cap hit) (* Represents spot that could still be upgraded via remaining spare cap space or ** used to extend a current player.)

Offense (25)

QB(3): Pickett, Minshew, Rudolph = $9M
RB/FB(4): Harris, Warren, DeWayne McBride*, Watt = $8.25M
TE(3): Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Heyward = $4M
WR(6): Pickens, DJ, Austin, Sims, Boykin, Charlie Jones* = $22.5M
OL(9): Moore, Dotson, Cole, Daniels, Okorafor, Sedrick Van Pran, Andrew Vorhees, Conor McDermott ($1.5M), Graham Barton*, = $38.5M

Defense (25)

DL(7): Heyward, Siaki Ika, Zach Allen ($6.5M), Leal, L-Milk, Karl Brooks, Jarran Reed($4M) = $37.5M
LB(9): Watt, Highsmith**, Jones*($1M), Viliami Fehoko, David Long ($5M), Jack Campbell, Spillane($4M), Robinson, Jabrill Peppers ($2.5M) = $46M
DB(9): Fitzpatrick, Ryan Neal($2.5m), Kazee ($1.5M), Norwood, Wallace, Sutton($3.5M), Brian Branch, Jaylon Jones, Pierre* = $27.5M

SP(3)

K: Boswell = $5.64M
P: Harvin* = $.96M
LS: Kuntz* (or same cost replacement) = $1M


Total O (25) = ~ $82.25M
Total D (25) = ~ $111M
Total S (3) = ~ $7.6M
Total = $200.85M
Total Dead Cap = $16.5M
Total Cap = $217.35M (For all 53 players total. You only use the top 51 salaries, so subtract ~$1.5M for bottom 2 paid players)
Adjusted Total Cap = $215.85M

'23 Adjusted Salary Cap = $229.5M (including rollover)

Total Cap Space = $13.65M (still to work with after all moves)

[tbsteel]

Damn, that's an excellent and comprehensive post. Great stuff here.

[K_C_]

2 things jump out to me but they're pretty minor.

Rudolph ain't comin' back to Pittsburgh to be the 3rd stringer. No way. No how.

I do not believe for a second that Kazee will come back for 1.5 million. Someone will give him 3 million or more.

He played outstanding football in a relief role and could probably start multiple places.

[W&M_Steeler]

I am mystified by the William Jackson trade. What was the point? I wonder if they'll try to extend and restructure his contract, as obviously someone in the organization thinks he's awesome.

[Ice]

I am mystified by the William Jackson trade. What was the point? I wonder if they'll try to extend and restructure his contract, as obviously someone in the organization thinks he's awesome.

It's been such a weird, chaotic season, but not weird enough for that head scratcher to fly totally under the radar. Other than Tomlin finally getting his guy from the Artie Burns draft at an exorbitant cap hit, makes no sense whatsoever I bet they end up hanging onto him.

[K_C_]

I am mystified by the William Jackson trade. What was the point? I wonder if they'll try to extend and restructure his contract, as obviously someone in the organization thinks he's awesome.

DP39 has us cutting 3 corners, including Jackson.

I don't see that happening. Tomlin values experience too much.

Jackson might have to take a serious pay cut to remain in the NFL and it might be between he and Witherspoon to see who will come cheaper.

Even if we draft Branch, Maulet would probably come really cheap (he's no Mike Hilton) so I wouldn't be surprised to see him back also.

[Orangesteel]

I am mystified by the William Jackson trade. What was the point? I wonder if they'll try to extend and restructure his contract, as obviously someone in the organization thinks he's awesome.

I talked shit about the Jackson trade on Reddit and I was labeled an asshole.

I am an asshole but not because of that.

[R_S]

There is zero chance that many guys get cut. Zero

[Mick]

I am mystified by the William Jackson trade. What was the point? I wonder if they'll try to extend and restructure his contract, as obviously someone in the organization thinks he's awesome.

I talked shit about the Jackson trade on Reddit and I was labeled an asshole.

I am an asshole but not because of that.

we didn’t give up anything, and possibly even got a draft pick out of it. Not sure what the complaint is.

[Orangesteel]

Well done DP39 very good stuff there

[Orangesteel]

I am mystified by the William Jackson trade. What was the point? I wonder if they'll try to extend and restructure his contract, as obviously someone in the organization thinks he's awesome.

I talked shit about the Jackson trade on Reddit and I was labeled an asshole.

I am an asshole but not because of that.

we didn’t give up anything, and possibly even got a draft pick out of it. Not sure what the complaint is.

So they traded Jackson to us for nothing? What did they get?

[W&M_Steeler]

I talked shit about the Jackson trade on Reddit and I was labeled an asshole.

I am an asshole but not because of that.

we didn’t give up anything, and possibly even got a draft pick out of it. Not sure what the complaint is.

So they traded Jackson to us for nothing? What did they get?

I understood that the Steelers traded a 2025 6th and got Jackson and a 2025 7th. But why bother to trade for an injured guy Washington was going to cut, then pay him millions of dollars to do nothing? I'm not complaining, I just don't understand it.

[StillerDownSouth]

I read yesterday Steelers will have 4.5 million roughly roll over from unused cap this year. That should help sign a nice player or two.

[Mick]

I talked shit about the Jackson trade on Reddit and I was labeled an asshole.

I am an asshole but not because of that.

we didn’t give up anything, and possibly even got a draft pick out of it. Not sure what the complaint is.

So they traded Jackson to us for nothing? What did they get?

far as i can tell, what washington got was to unload the $1.5M of guaranteed 2022 salary money from his contract onto the steelers.

Didn’t affect either team from a football standpoint, but was basically Snyder trying to pick someone’s pocket as he walked out the door. And the Steelers organization naively didn’t imagine a front office for a team in the playoff hunt would be working around the clock at the trade deadline to unload a few dollars of guaranteed salary.

[Mick]

Cam Sutton will get more than twice that much, and Brian Branch isn’t good. But viewed as placeholder for “dynamic DB”, that’s fine for now.

[Charles Demarr]

Great analysis, but I think you're undervaluing Cam Sutton badly. He's getting $7-8 million a year. It might not be from the PS, but he's getting a nice contract. Also agree with KC on Kazee. He's probably closer to $3-4 million.

Well done, thank you.

[Steeldrama]

Brian Branch isn’t good.

Ohhh dude
So wrong
Brian Branch is VERY good

[Charles Demarr]

Brian Branch isn’t good.

Ohhh dude
So wrong
Brian Branch is VERY good

Agree, freak athlete that will light up the combine. He might be one of the most complete players in the draft.

I don't think he will even be on the board at pick 17.

[DP39]

Great analysis, but I think you're undervaluing Cam Sutton badly. He's getting $7-8 million a year. It might not be from the PS, but he's getting a nice contract. Also agree with KC on Kazee. He's probably closer to $3-4 million.

Well done, thank you.

Thanks, CD. I have the Steelers resigning Sutton to a multi-year contract with his first year cap hit being $3.5M or so. I agree he'll get closer to $7-8M, but, like all longer contracts they'll reduce the cap hit in year one -- hence the $3.5M cost.

As for Kazee, I don't know if he'll get a bigger offer or not, but he didn't have anyone offering him more than $1.187M this past offseason. So I'm inclined to think he'll settle for a 30% pay raise next year, at $1.5M. If it takes $3M, we could still do that with the cap money we have.

[DP39]

I read yesterday Steelers will have 4.5 million roughly roll over from unused cap this year. That should help sign a nice player or two.

Yep. Nice to have and I had included that in my analysis/'23 cap number already.

[DP39]

I am mystified by the William Jackson trade. What was the point? I wonder if they'll try to extend and restructure his contract, as obviously someone in the organization thinks he's awesome.

It's been such a weird, chaotic season, but not weird enough for that head scratcher to fly totally under the radar. Other than Tomlin finally getting his guy from the Artie Burns draft at an exorbitant cap hit, makes no sense whatsoever I bet they end up hanging onto him.

I'll add -- because others have mentioned it, we payed Jackson III $2.7M this past year and he was IR'd. I think we spent that money for several reasons: Hoping he could play for us then and as a hedge/negotiating tool against not having to overpay for Sutton next year.

I don't see them paying him $12.75M next year (I certainly wouldn't), but Tomlin does have his favorites, so who knows.

[DP39]

Brian Branch isn’t good.

Ohhh dude
So wrong
Brian Branch is VERY good

I also think Branch will be a pretty good slot CB and be a great multi-tool in sub packages -- not to mention a ST ace his first few years.

It's because he'll probably end up being a slot CB in the league that I have him being around until pick #21. I hope he is still there.

[DP39]

Cam Sutton will get more than twice that much, and Brian Branch isn’t good. But viewed as placeholder for “dynamic DB”, that’s fine for now.

My OP was too long so I didn't fill in the Sutton details: I have the Steelers resigning Sutton to a multi-year contract with his first year cap hit being $3.5M or so. I agree he'll get closer to $7-8M, but, like all longer contracts they'll reduce the cap hit in year one -- hence the $3.5M cost.

Branch is very good. I hope he's there at pick #21.

[anpsteel]

I am mystified by the William Jackson trade. What was the point? I wonder if they'll try to extend and restructure his contract, as obviously someone in the organization thinks he's awesome.

I talked shit about the Jackson trade on Reddit and I was labeled an asshole.

I am an asshole but not because of that.

The Reddit Steelers page is worse than the Steelers FB page, if that's even possible.

It's a huge group of people with seemingly zero understanding of football, and an absolute determination to wash tomlins balls.

[tbsteel]

Cam Sutton will get more than twice that much,

Yep, I bet Cam gets a deal averaging $7M+ a year. Higher than what Hilton got from Cincy.

[DP39]

we didn’t give up anything, and possibly even got a draft pick out of it. Not sure what the complaint is.

So they traded Jackson to us for nothing? What did they get?

I understood that the Steelers traded a 2025 6th and got Jackson and a 2025 7th. But why bother to trade for an injured guy Washington was going to cut, then pay him millions of dollars to do nothing? I'm not complaining, I just don't understand it.

The Jackson 3 (apparently minus Tito and Jermaine ) pick up would've been puzzling to me if not for our knowledge of Tomlin's pre-draft man-crush on him.

We payed Jackson III $2.7M this past year and he was IR'd. I think we spent that money for several reasons (aside from Tomlin's crush): Hoping he could play for us then, as a stating point for a renegotiation on a longer-term deal for him, and/or as a hedge/negotiating tool against not having to overpay for Sutton next year.

Not sure I would've done it, but I'm not Tomlin either. There's much that he does/doesn't do that I don't agree with.

[tbsteel]

Great analysis, but I think you're undervaluing Cam Sutton badly. He's getting $7-8 million a year. It might not be from the PS, but he's getting a nice contract. Also agree with KC on Kazee. He's probably closer to $3-4 million.

Well done, thank you.

Overlooked this post, but yeah I totally agree with both of those. Cam is going to get PAID. Dude is really good and the league knows. I doubt he's back.

[tbsteel]

we didn’t give up anything, and possibly even got a draft pick out of it. Not sure what the complaint is.

So they traded Jackson to us for nothing? What did they get?

I understood that the Steelers traded a 2025 6th and got Jackson and a 2025 7th. But why bother to trade for an injured guy Washington was going to cut, then pay him millions of dollars to do nothing? I'm not complaining, I just don't understand it.

The draft picks were conditional. When WJIII went on IR it voided the conditions of the draft pick swap, so no pick swap was then owed.

The only thing that was traded was the move of the money. We don't owe Washington any pick and they don't owe us a pick either.

WJIII will be cut since we'll save close to $13M on the cap. Perhaps they try to bring him back on a new deal if they liked what limited practice time they saw from him, but that seems unlikely.

[DP39]

Great analysis, but I think you're undervaluing Cam Sutton badly. He's getting $7-8 million a year. It might not be from the PS, but he's getting a nice contract. Also agree with KC on Kazee. He's probably closer to $3-4 million.

Well done, thank you.

Overlooked this post, but yeah I totally agree with both of those. Cam is going to get PAID. Dude is really good and the league knows. I doubt he's back.

My OP was too long, so I didn't fill in the Sutton deal details.

I have the Steelers resigning Sutton to a multi-year contract with his first year cap hit being ~$3.5M. I agree we'll sign him closer to $7-8M per year, but, like all longer contracts, they'll reduce the cap hit in year one -- hence only the $3.5M cap hit in '23.

[DP39]

So they traded Jackson to us for nothing? What did they get?

I understood that the Steelers traded a 2025 6th and got Jackson and a 2025 7th. But why bother to trade for an injured guy Washington was going to cut, then pay him millions of dollars to do nothing? I'm not complaining, I just don't understand it.

The draft picks were conditional. When WJIII went on IR it voided the conditions of the draft pick swap, so no pick swap was then owed.

The only thing that was traded was the move of the money. We don't owe Washington any pick and they don't owe us a pick either.

WJIII will be cut since we'll save close to $13M on the cap. Perhaps they try to bring him back on a new deal if they liked what limited practice time they saw from him, but that seems unlikely.

^This