Wow, next year

[whatever]

We have 2,4,4,6 and 7th plus a comp pick.
We also have 3 million in cap space. That puts us 3rd to last. Half the league has 60-100 million in cap.

[whatever]

I see 24 million in savings by releasing Williams, Baron, Chick, Foster and McDonald but we will need to find starters for most of them and a few backups.

[winwithd]

I see 24 million in savings by releasing Williams, Baron, Chick, Foster and McDonald but we will need to find starters for most of them and a few backups.

And what if we add Grimble to that list?

[Buzz]

Probably save another $700,000 or so

[hawaiiansteel]

We also have 3 million in cap space. That puts us 3rd to last. Half the league has 60-100 million in cap.

don't we lose AB's cap hit next year?

[Northern_Blitz]

don't we lose AB's cap hit next year?

I believe so. We had to pull all his signing bonus money into this year. I think we're free of him next year

[Ernie]

you want to keep moncrief around? lol

[Northern_Blitz]

I guess we're betting hard that next year
1) Ben makes a full recovery
2) Mason shows he's legit

Or both.

Although if 1 and 2 don't pan out we may have high picks again.

[Oh wow]

I don’t think there are a lot of good QB’s next year in the draft.

Tua is the prize and IMO he doesn’t really play that well when the competition is legit.
Not sure if Hurts is coming out next year. He looks good in the Oklahoma system.

I think it’s either Ben or Mason next year.

[Eich]

I think it’s either Ben or Mason next year.

I'm OK with that. I think we can win with either QB when healthy. It's what we surround them with that I'm more concerned about.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

According to overthecap.com (which is where I usually go for cap info), the Steelers currently have $5.1M in space next season with 40 players under contract. That leaves the team needing 11 players with an average cap hit of about $463K if nothing else is done.....obviously something has to be done.

As for the players mentioned, the following savings would apply (with dead cap hit in parentheses):

Williams $968K ($6M)
Barron $5.25M ($2.875M)
Chick $5M ($1.1M)
Foster $4M ($1.6M)
McDonald $5.7M ($1.5M)
Grimble - not under contract next year
Moncrief $4M ($1.75M)

Based on these numbers:

Williams isn't going anywhere.
When I saw the Foster signing I figured it was a one year deal anyway. I think Finney or Johnson steps in next year.
Chick is out the door.
Unless Moncrief turns it around fast, he isn't seeing year two.
McDonald probably stays as the only real TE on the squad.
Barron was signed before the team knew that they would draft Bush. Too redundant for the price.

These moves alone would leave the team with approx. $23.35M in cap space needing to get 15 under contract (average $1.55M). Figure that the Steelers will have 6 draft picks, and at least 5 make the team with around $5M combined hit leaves $18M for 10 spots (average $1.8M).

Without making any bigger moves or contract restructures that means no big ticket moves. If you are thinking about big, bold moves then those to be considered might be:

Heyward - Many consider him underperforming what will be a $13.25M cap hit. Saves $9.5M with a dead money hit of around $3.75M.
Ben - If he is not healthy, and if the team does not project him as the starter moving forward, then they could suck up the huge $25M hit and save $8.5M. This is only considered if he is not going to be ready to play in 2020.
Either Alualu or McCullers - Saves $2.75M or $1.5M respectively. Depends how badly you need money and wanting to replace a backup lineman.

[phillyesq]

Next year will be tight for sure. Those numbers don't include Dupree of Hargrave, both of whom are free agents. Dupree is trash, but they need to replace him at OLB. Hargrave would need to be re-signed (which won't be cheap) or replaced. All of this with limited draft capital.

[Buzz]

Eagles just cut L.J. Fort -- which means we won't be getting a 3rd round comp pick for Bell ... unless we dump Moncrief before week 10.

[steelz09]

They aren't signing Hargrave. He's gone and will get paid by a 4-3 team. Huge mistake by the Steelers.

That's was a wasted draft pick.

Don't get me wrong, he's a good player but you can't spend that draft capital on a player and let him walk because he's underutilized and he knows it and will get paid significantly more by another team.

[Northern_Blitz]

They aren't signing Hargrave. He's gone and will get paid by a 4-3 team. Huge mistake by the Steelers.

That's was a wasted draft pick.

Don't get me wrong, he's a good player but you can't spend that draft capital on a player and let him walk because he's underutilized and he knows it and will get paid significantly more by another team.

The best play from an asset management standpoint is probably to try to trade him this year and pick up a draft pick.

We aren't going to pay him because we already have too much money tied up in the D-Line.

I'd say it's a win if we drafted him in the 3rd, got 4 good cheap years, then traded him for a reasonable pick.