Steelers could cash in thanks to big salary cap bump for 2025

The Steelers can use every penny of that extra salary cap next offseason.

As much as we all want to just sit back and enjoy the 2024 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers are eyeing a brutal offseason when it comes to contracts. There are multiple guys who will be looking for big paydays and when it comes to the salary cap, it always takes some manipulation.

But according to ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers and the rest of the NFL could see a nice bump according to buzz coming out of the owner’s meetings.

The NFL conducted its labor seminar during this week’s owners meetings in Irving, Texas,” Fowler wrote. “Team officials would have loved to walk away from the session with a set salary cap for 2025, but they didn’t get one. That usually comes closer to free agency. Still, a few team officials predicted that the cap would land around $275 million, roughly an 8% increase from the $255.4 million figure in 2024.

The Steelers have four positions to address in the offseason where this extra cap space can help. The front office needs to decide between Justin Fields and Russell Wilson as the quarterback of the future, whether they can afford running back Najee Harris and contract extensions for wide receiver George Pickens and edge defender T.J. Watt.

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15 Steelers free agents who remain unsigned

The Pittsburgh Steelers have put on a free agency show like they have never done before this offseason. Many critical voids have been filled, and things have been quiet with the NFL draft just over three weeks away. Pittsburgh has 15 free agents who …

Pittsburgh has 15 free agents who remain without a team — linebackers chief among them. Given how recent seasons have played out, it seems the Steelers can’t have enough quality depth there. Re-signing guys like Markus Golden and Kwon Alexander might be a smart move.

Here are the former Steelers players who could (or not) make their way back to the Steel City.

Steelers announce OL J.C. Hassenauer inked ERFA tender

G/C J.C. Hassenauer has signed his one-year exclusive rights free agent tender.

A very important piece of the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line depth is locked in for another season.

Offensive lineman J.C. Hassenauer signed his one-year exclusive rights free agent tender on Tuesday, the team announced.

Hassenauer was signed to the Steelers practice squad in 2019 and has been a mainstay since. Per Pro Football Reference, he’s played in 28 games over two seasons with seven starts.

OL J.C. Hassenauer has signed a one-year exclusive rights tender. @BordasLaw

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 12, 2022

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Three 2021 Steelers free agents that need extensions this offseason

The Steelers have several free agents to look at this offseason for beyond 2020.

With NFL free agency just days away, most teams are focused on what they need to do with their current crop of free agents. But with every team, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, you must always look ahead to the following year’s group of free agents in hopes of getting a few top-tier guys signed to extensions before they can hit the streets.

The Steelers don’t have much to work with in terms of salary cap this offseason but it doesn’t change their goals. It just means they have to get creative with their contracts to make it happen.

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Here are the top three guys the Steelers should try and lock up this offseason.

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

Despite having a down 2019, Smith-Schuster’s pedigree speaks for itself. With a healthy return of Ben Roethlisberger, you can be assured Smith-Schuster will have a huge bounceback season.

CB Joe Haden

Haden is the ageless wonder and seems to be playing his best football. The Steelers will have a tough decision to make if they want to extend him again and keep the cornerback unit in place.

CB Cam Sutton

As a backup plan, if the Steelers aren’t going to try to lock up Haden early, they might be able to get Sutton a long-term contract without overpaying. Sutton came on last season and only lost reps because of how good Mike Hilton is in the slot.

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4 Steelers who could be cap casualties in 2020

These four Steelers could soon become free agents.

The business of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 season has already started. Even though free agency hasn’t officially started, you can bet the front office is hard at work trying to sort out who stays and who goes this offseason.

Here are the four big cap casualties for this offseason.

LB Mark Barron – $5.2 million ($2.8 million dead cap)

Barron was signed as a free agent but has never played up to his contract. He often looks lost out there and his effort is low in comparison to his teammates. With more than $5 million in cap savings and Vince Williams already on the roster, it’s hard to see Barron staying.

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