FA in March

[steelmann58]

Will Omar be aggressive in FA? I am thinking he target at least 2 positions one might be S and either side of the line.

[Steelperch]

9th most cap space, no reason they shouldn’t spend on more over the hill veterans.

[Mick]

A few cuts, a few restructure/extensions, and we are over $100M going into FA.

[steelmann58]

Get younger in FA

[Dan Smith--BYU]

since you cant dump Watt, I think you have to deal Highsmith

[W&M_Steeler]

Will Omar be aggressive in FA? I am thinking he target at least 2 positions one might be S and either side of the line.

His top aggressive moves so far have been trading up for Brod and trading for DK Metcalf. Hopefully his next aggressive move is more successful. I'm starting to get a little skeptical about the Khan artist.

[Gonzo]

We could give cam a raise … so he can feed his family
And bring in 2 or 3 35year old WRs that Rodgers likes to run sharp 2 yard routs

[swissvale72]

since you cant dump Watt, I think you have to deal Highsmith

Hope not...solid when healthy

[Stosh-67]

Patriots turned more than half their roster over from last year.
30 new players, between FA and draft picks.

TJ $94 in dead cap and DK $49 in dead cap.
They going noweher withoyut eating alot of their dead cap.
Reworking their contracts....pushing money down the road may be the only oprtion to save 2026 cap.
Knopwing that dead cap will not be as bad with salary cap increases.

There are some obvious cap cuts to save money.
Jonnu Smith $10.8 salary, $3.8 dead if they cut = $7.0 million in savings.
Cant pay a #3 TE that money.
Replaced with a draft pick.

Rams #2, 3 and #4 TEs combined salary is less than $6 million. and they were all more important pieces to that team than Jonnu was to Steelers

I would not continue to pay Queen his money for being a Meh ILB. This is his last year of contract.
$17 million a year at ILB needs to be an impact player. Splash plays, etc. Not happening.
$17.19 salary, $3.86 dead if they cut = $13.33 million in savings
Replace with a draft pick and FA

Thats two no brainers for me....and $20+ million in savings in two players.

Malik Harrison.
Not gonna cut two of your ILBs'
This is his last year of his contract. $6.79 with 2.04 dead cap. = $4.75 savings. if they choose to cut him over Queen.
Maybe its a Queen cut and Harrison extention to reduce 2026 Cap. But only add a year or two, as he is not a Long Term answer at ILB.
He is an insurance on an ILB draft pick....or a place holder.
ZERO passes defended in the last 5 years....1 carreer PD in 6 seasons. 2 career sacks, 4 career QB hits. There is nothing that says sudden, or starter in his game. He's a top 10 paid guy on this team and 28. Played lkess than 3oo snaps. Does not add up.

DT, ILB, S, CB are draft needs on defense.
Hence, with Queen and Malik not being difference makers..........ILB should be one of the top 100 picks.


Cam Heyward.
Last year of contract with a $19.1 cap hit. $4.9 in dead = $14.25 in savings.
a big chunk of that, $12.95, is a roster bonus.......due the 2nd league day of 2026 ( which is? )
1. I do not see them cutting him.
2. He will be 37 in a few months.
3. Can not continue to pay him close to $20 per year.
4. If anything, I see an extension that keeps him playing for 2026 and 2027, that brings his 2026 cap hit down....with 2027 roster bonuses.

Ramsey.
That another big number. He not getting cut. Some contract he got.
$17.2 cap hit. $14.6 in dead.
Will still have $11 in dead cap this time next year.
And a 2028 cap hit of $31 million and still $7.3 in dead cap.....at 34.
I dont think you can even push money down the road.


Will have to probably re-work Highsmith and or Mooth to gain some additional space.

[franco32]

I agree we should be active, but it better be for players under 27-28. We have to get younger.

I want some combination of a WR, a move TE, a NT, ILB, CB, or S. Problem is...I don't love the FA class this year.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Have to make a serious play to keep Gainwell. They won't.

[tbsteel]

I would not continue to pay Queen his money for being a Meh ILB. This is his last year of contract.
$17 million a year at ILB needs to be an impact player. Splash plays, etc. Not happening.
$17.19 salary, $3.86 dead if they cut = $13.33 million in savings
Replace with a draft pick and FA

So you're going to cut the only ILB we have that can play?

Does everyone just forget that Payton Wilson essentially flopped last year and was phased out for Malik Harrison's worthless ass?

If they had any faith at all in Holcomb (they don't), then maybe. But no, Queen is an easy stay.

[franco32]

I would not continue to pay Queen his money for being a Meh ILB. This is his last year of contract.
$17 million a year at ILB needs to be an impact player. Splash plays, etc. Not happening.
$17.19 salary, $3.86 dead if they cut = $13.33 million in savings
Replace with a draft pick and FA

So you're going to cut the only ILB we have that can play?

Does everyone just forget that Payton Wilson essentially flopped last year and was phased out for Malik Harrison's worthless ass?

If they had any faith at all in Holcomb (they don't), then maybe. But no, Queen is an easy stay.

Payton could be great but we need a beast at NT to keep him cleaner. Without that, he'll never shed a guard cleanly.

[Mick]

I would not continue to pay Queen his money for being a Meh ILB. This is his last year of contract.
$17 million a year at ILB needs to be an impact player. Splash plays, etc. Not happening.
$17.19 salary, $3.86 dead if they cut = $13.33 million in savings
Replace with a draft pick and FA

So you're going to cut the only ILB we have that can play?

Does everyone just forget that Payton Wilson essentially flopped last year and was phased out for Malik Harrison's worthless ass?

If they had any faith at all in Holcomb (they don't), then maybe. But no, Queen is an easy stay.

pff ratings, massive grain of salt, pegged Wilson at a bad 53.9 vs. an abysmal 44 for queen, nigh worst in league.

If you want to keep your worst starter in the lineup despite one of the highest cap hits on the team and a very cuttable/low dead money contract, not sure what direction you propose to go in to improve. Maybe cut the good players on cheap contracts? Zig when everyone expects zag?

[AirRescueFF]

I would not continue to pay Queen his money for being a Meh ILB. This is his last year of contract.
$17 million a year at ILB needs to be an impact player. Splash plays, etc. Not happening.
$17.19 salary, $3.86 dead if they cut = $13.33 million in savings
Replace with a draft pick and FA

So you're going to cut the only ILB we have that can play?

Does everyone just forget that Payton Wilson essentially flopped last year and was phased out for Malik Harrison's worthless ass?

If they had any faith at all in Holcomb (they don't), then maybe. But no, Queen is an easy stay.

Payton could be great but we need a beast at NT to keep him cleaner. Without that, he'll never shed a guard cleanly.

Now that Tomlin and Austin are gone, perhaps they won't be so dismissive of the position and retarded with Benton.

[tbsteel]

I would not continue to pay Queen his money for being a Meh ILB. This is his last year of contract.
$17 million a year at ILB needs to be an impact player. Splash plays, etc. Not happening.
$17.19 salary, $3.86 dead if they cut = $13.33 million in savings
Replace with a draft pick and FA

So you're going to cut the only ILB we have that can play?

Does everyone just forget that Payton Wilson essentially flopped last year and was phased out for Malik Harrison's worthless ass?

If they had any faith at all in Holcomb (they don't), then maybe. But no, Queen is an easy stay.

pff ratings, massive grain of salt, pegged Wilson at a bad 53.9 vs. an abysmal 44 for queen, nigh worst in league.

If you want to keep your worst starter in the lineup despite one of the highest cap hits on the team and a very cuttable/low dead money contract, not sure what direction you propose to go in to improve. Maybe cut the good players on cheap contracts? Zig when everyone expects zag?

It's pretty clear who the Steelers thought were the most important LBs last year: Queen, Harrison, and then Wilson.

I hate defending the guy as I don't like him as both a player and a fake leader, but why would they cut him? Doesn't look like we really need the cap space and the Steelers notoriously don't create holes going into FA and the draft. If we had some heir apparent ready to take the reins? Sure. But we don't. Let him play out the last year of his contract, draft a guy here in April, and then hope some dumb team signs him to a nice deal in 2027 and we get a decent comp pick out of it, as opposed to nothing with a straight release.

[steelmann58]

Queen I agree let it play out and hope for the best

[955876]

I would not continue to pay Queen his money for being a Meh ILB. This is his last year of contract.
$17 million a year at ILB needs to be an impact player. Splash plays, etc. Not happening.
$17.19 salary, $3.86 dead if they cut = $13.33 million in savings
Replace with a draft pick and FA

So you're going to cut the only ILB we have that can play?

Does everyone just forget that Payton Wilson essentially flopped last year and was phased out for Malik Harrison's worthless ass?

If they had any faith at all in Holcomb (they don't), then maybe. But no, Queen is an easy stay.

Jibbs was awful at picking horseflesh.

[tbsteel]

Will Omar be aggressive in FA? I am thinking he target at least 2 positions one might be S and either side of the line.

Please edit the title of this topic from "FA" to "FAT" thanks!

...because Mike McCarthy is a fatso lard ass chunky beef boy.

[Who Dee Knee]

Will Omar be aggressive in FA? I am thinking he target at least 2 positions one might be S and either side of the line.

His top aggressive moves so far have been trading up for Brod and trading for DK Metcalf. Hopefully his next aggressive move is more successful. I'm starting to get a little skeptical about the Khan artist.

Trading Chase Claypool for what’s become a lockdown corner wasn’t aggressive?

[W&M_Steeler]

Will Omar be aggressive in FA? I am thinking he target at least 2 positions one might be S and either side of the line.

His top aggressive moves so far have been trading up for Brod and trading for DK Metcalf. Hopefully his next aggressive move is more successful. I'm starting to get a little skeptical about the Khan artist.

Trading Chase Claypool for what’s become a lockdown corner wasn’t aggressive?

He's still coasting on the Bears' stupidity? Trading Claypool wasn't in and of itself some bold move- finding a team dumb enough to give a 2nd for him was lucky. But even giving Khan due credit for that move, his more recent moves haven't worked out too well. He didn't get a Claypool-like return for Pickens. I'm getting a little concerned based on recent moves that Khan isn't as great as his reputation.

[Mick]

Yeah, other than the claypool trade our recent trade history has been pretty poor. Dotson for beans. Pickens for a future midrounder. Minkah for ramsey + jonnu looking like we lost as well. Sure could use a good OG, WR, and S right now.

[anpsteel]

If it were up to me, I would blow up the roster

But I’m pretty certain part of the reason McCarthy, was hired because he was committed to not doing just that.

Early priorities
Need a legitimate number one receiver that can run the complete route tree
Restructure DK Metcalf- with an eye on cutting him in 1 to 2 seasons

The team needs a left guard and a left tackle
Do you move McCormick to left guard which was his natural position coming out of college? If so, do you have a right guard on the roster?
Do you try to move Broderick Jones inside to left guard and keep Dylan Cook at left tackle?

My guess is they’ll find somebody in free agency to replace Semalu and let Cook and Jones battle for left tackle in camp. I do not give Jones his fifth year option.

You have three cornerbacks who need new contracts

Porter, Pierre, Samuel. Perfect world I would like all three back. But I don’t think they’re paying all three.

I’m a little concerned that James Pierre’s performance last year was contract motivated and he’s a little long in the tooth but I would try to re-sign him. I think Pierre brings the most value because he’s likely obtainable for a reasonable contract.

I think Porter’s gonna want way too much and he doesn’t make enough impact plays to pay him top five cornerback money

Asante Samuel jr is a quality slot corner and can bump outside in a pinch. Unfortunately, I don’t think they’ll re-sign him.

So cornerback is a priority in both free agency and the draft

They need a legitimate free safety. Paying Jalen Ramsey almost $18 million to be a marginal free safety is not an effective use of money.

This is another position. I think they’ll make a move for in free agency and also prioritize in the draft.

And unless they are going to change the structure of their standard nickel personnel package to include three down lineman, they need a real inside linebacker.

They need someone with the range and speed to cover, and the ability to shed and fill to stop the run

These are virtually impossible to find in free agency because they’re so valuable; so I imagine this position will be prioritized in the draft


In the category of wishful thinking

Apparently, Kenneth Walker is a free agent

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a running back with vision and speed?

The current tandem isn’t terrible, but I’m not sure they are going to pay gainwell enough to keep him

On the less is more side
Clearly, Jonu Smith has to go. See if you can trade him to a team that actually throws the ball to the tight end.

I would imagine Patrick Queen is probably a cap casualty post June 1
Same with Jalen Ramsey

They have to figure out what to do to keep Nick Herbig, unless they find somebody who’s willing to make a significant trade for him.

While you really don’t want to trade away young rising players, I’m not at all convinced he’s a three down linebacker or durable enough to make it through a season. He is significantly undersized.

Of course Watt’s albatross of a contract is a problem. But I don’t see them trading him so the only viable solution is restructuring to move some of that Hit further down the line.

Maybe the same with Cam; but his money is significantly more reasonable


Free agency priorities
FS
WR (I would make wide receiver, the top free agency priority, but the top wide receivers want way too much money and the Steelers aren’t going to pay two wide receivers $30 million each)
LG
CB

Draft priorities
WR
ILB
CB
DE

[steelmann58]

Think S is there first choice in FA