We’ve heard all the usual suspects who could end up being on the list to be a Steelers cap casualty. Names like Larry Ogunjobi, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Cole Holcomb have all been discussed. Here’s one you may not have thought of. Starting left guard Isaac Seumalo may find himself on the chopping block before the start of free agency.
Isaac Seumalo signed a three year, $24 million dollar contract with the Steelers in 2023. He is about to enter the final season of that deal with a $10.1 cap hit. If the Steelers were to release Seumalo, they would earn a cap saving of over $8 million for 2025. The overall contract is not at all burdensome. But when you combine the potential cap savings, with mediocre play the Steelers are getting out of their starting left guard, it starts to make a lot of sense. Seumalo will turn 32 years old this season. He is coming off a very pedestrian 67 PFF graded 2024.
The Steelers will have one of the youngest offensive lines in the NFL in 2025. They are projected to start 3 second year players (Zach Frazier. Troy Fautanu, and Mason McCormick), and one third year player (Broderick Jones). Upgrading left guard with a premium free agent would go a long way in securing a strong line next season. Such a player could anchor the Steelers offensive line, giving the younger players someone who they can lean on during tough times.
Pittsburgh is estimated to have upwards of $60 million in cap space, and that’s before the additional eight million they’d have by moving on from Seumalo. Guard salaries have skyrocketed the last few years, so signing a top guy like Trey Smith would be expensive. With the overall lack of true quality free agents, the Steelers would be better off securing a top notch player in the trenches, rather than over spending on a wide receiver.
Don’t be surprised to read Isaac Seumalo’s name as a Steelers cap casualty in the coming weeks. His days as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers are numbered.
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Not a chance…Zeitler or Smith would cost more than double what they are paying Issac. The next group (Mekari, Jenkins, Scherff) are no better than Issac (see PFF who ranked Issac 26th which is not pedestrian by the way) and will cost more than he is getting now. They will stick with him, that was a team favorable contract when he signed it and is more so now.
You’re 26th is worse than pedestrian
Better than where this Blog ranks as far as Steelers Bloggers go!!!
Got you thinking, and replying. That the goal of a good blog. Stay tuned, I’ll have a lot more thought provoking articles to come