5 potential Steelers cap casualties
At this point, no Steelers fan should be surprised that the team is light on spending money. When you’re good at drafting and have a roster full of stars like the Steelers do, you tend to not have a surplus of cash. There’s a reason bad teams like the Browns tend to have a lot of cap space…
According to overthecap.com the Steelers currently have about $2.7M in cap space. That number ranks the Steelers as 3rd worst in the league regarding among all NFL teams. While the Steelers don’t necessarily need a lot of spending money thanks to their well-built roster, they will still likely want to bring in some new players in free agency as well as sign some of their players to new contracts and/or extensions.
While the cap limit will likely increase by $10M or so this offseason, the Steelers may still want to do some house cleaning in order to give them some more breathing room. Here are 5 players who could potentially be cap casualties, along with how much money the team would roughly save in 2018.
Mike Mitchell – $6.4M saved
The Steelers need to have some serious talks about what to do with safety Mike Mitchell. While he has been a reliable presence in the secondary for years, his play is noticeably starting to wane. More often than not you see Mitchell blowing his assignments and allowing big plays.
His level of play simply doesn’t warrant his contract at this point. If Mitchell would agree to a salary cut then I would be happy with his return, but otherwise, he needs to go.
Regardless of whether he stays or not, I anticipate the Steelers taking a safety in the top rounds of the 2018 draft. With a deep class this year, the Steelers should have no issues finding their new free safety.
William Gay – $1.8M saved
Another veteran in the secondary that’s noticeably lost a step, the Steelers would be wise parting ways with William Gay. I have nothing but respect for what Gay’s done in his career in Pittsburgh. Over the years when the cornerback play was struggling, Gay could always be counted on as a stable piece. Those days are gone though.
The Steelers already appear to have their top cornerbacks for 2018 set and Gay is no longer needed. In 2017 he was reduced to 4th on the depth chart, and in 2018 that role should be given to Cameron Sutton. Gay made some plays as the team backup cornerback and dimebacker, but his speed often made him a liability.
When taking into account his age, quality of play, and cap numbers, Gay should be an easy cut.
Coty Sensabaugh – $1.4M saved
Nobody should be upset by this. Cutting cornerback Coty Sensabaugh would have less to do with the money saved and more to do with him being bad. When Sensabaugh was thrust into a starting role in 2017, he flopped on all accounts and was a total liability. In the final games of the season, he wasn’t even active on game day.
The Steelers like having veteran backups in the secondary, but Sensabaugh is clearly not the answer.
J.J. Wilcox – $3.1M saved
The easiest decision on this list. Many were optimistic about J.J. Wilcox when the Steelers traded for him. The team needed safety depth badly and Wilcox had the reputation of a big hitter and solid veteran. Unfortunately, the Steelers lost this trade.
I’ve used the word liability a lot in this article, but it’s such an appropriate word. The worst part about Wilcox is that he couldn’t even contribute on special teams. He had consecutive games where he committed penalties, one which negated a kick return touchdown. Like Sensabaugh, the Steelers didn’t even have Wilcox on the active roster in the final games.
Luckily for the Steelers, they can cut Wilcox and have no dead money. This should be a no-brainer that will give the Steelers a nice chunk of change.
Vance McDonald – $4.3M saved
In contrast with Wilcox, this may be the hardest decision on the list. The Steelers traded for tight end Vance McDonald, but not for much. They swapped 4th and 5th round picks with the 49ers, and along with that small investment, cutting McDonald comes with no dead money. It would be a clean break cutting McDonald.
The Steelers must now decide if McDonald is worth the money. If you’re asking me, he is. McDonald proved to be a very dynamic player down the stretch. He not only excelled as a blocker, but he proved to be a serious threat in the passing game. In the Steelers loss to the Jaguars, McDonald ended the day with 10 receptions for 112 yards. That game McDonald displayed that flashed his hands, route running, and run after catch ability. McDonald struggled during the beginning of his tenure, but he came along very nicely near the end.
The flipside of the debate is if he is worth the money. McDonald struggled to stay healthy in Pittsburgh, only playing in 10 games during the regular season. Along with that, the team has Jesse James, who while isn’t as talented as McDonald, is an adequate starter. The Steelers must weigh if the risks are worth keeping McDonald in Pittsburgh for his potential upside.
