The Pittsburgh Steelers enter the 2024 offseason roughly $13 million dollars over the cap. With a ton of needs coming up for next season, there will be several Steelers cap casualties in the coming months. We have compiled a list of the top seven potential cuts Omar Khan could make going forward:
1. Allen Robinson: Cap Savings $10 million
This was a done deal since the day the Steelers acquired Allen Robinson from the Rams last offseason. There was no way they were going to keep Robinson on nearly $12 million cap hit in 2024. After a full season of watching him play, it is even less likely. Cutting Allen Robinson is the easiest decision Omar Khan will make in this entire process.
2. Chuks Okorafor: Cap Savings $8 million
We don’t know what exactly Chuks Okorafor said to Mike Tomlin to get him benched midway through the season, but it was enough to seal his fate in Pittsburgh. Chuks did not sniff the field again the rest of the year. Khan will undoubtedly try his best to trade his former right tackle to any team willing to give up a day three pick. Either through trade or cut, Chuks Okorafor has played his last game as a memeber of this franchise.
3. Mason Cole: Cap Savings $4.6 million
This is a case where it’s more about the play on the field, than the actual salary cap implications. Although saving nealry $5 million against the cap doesn’t hurt. Mason Cole was a train wreck at center for this team all season. An upgrade is needed at this position, and the cap savings is an added bonus. Cole should be among the first of the Steelers cap casualties.
4. Mitch Trubisky: Cap Savings $3 million
It’s pretty clear Mitch Trubisky was a big mistake by the Steelers front office. They paid a substantial amount of money on a quarterback who failed miserably whenever given a chance to start. There will be significant dead cap here, but it’s not likely the Steelers even care at this point. They will take their $3 million in cap relief in 2024 and run.
5. Patrick Peterson: Cap Savings $7 million
To be honest, we are no sure which way the Steelers go with this one. Mike Tomlin really loves himself some Patrick Peterson despite his obvious shortcomings. Peterson is no longer a competent starting corner in this league. His audition at safety didn’t go so well either. On most teams a $7 million cap savings on a player like this would be a no-brainer.
6. Larry Ogunjobi: Cap Savings $6 million
How the Steelers fill out their defensive line room in 2024 will be fascinating. They have two bloated contracts on aging veterans Larry Ogunjobi, and Cam Heyward. They also have two free agents who were key rotational pieces in Armon Watts and Montravius Adams. Our best guess is at least one of those two is back, and Ogunjobi gets cut for cap relief. We go over the Steelers free agent list here:The Steelers 2024 free agent class: keep or cut bait
7. Damontae Kazee: Cap Savings $3 million
There’s a good argument we could have an entirely knew secondary in 2024 with the exceptions of Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Joey Porter Jr. Kazee showed flashes, but always regressed to just a replacement level player. The Steelers will certainly be looking to upgrade at safety, and the three million in savings will go a long way in making that happen.
Don’t forget to check out the latest episode of the Steelers Sanctuary Podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1981237/14366138-episode-72-oc-candidates-and-steelers-free-agents