There is a good chance the Steelers might release safety Morgan Burnett this offseason.
According to one report, Burnett would like that, as well.
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport tweeted Saturday the safety wants to be released before the start of free agency after just one season with the Steelers.
Spoke with #Steelers S Morgan Burnett, who tells me he wants to be released from his deal before free agency. During his time in Pittsburgh, he felt he played out of position as a dime LB. Burnett, with 2 yrs left on his contract, wants a new start & a chance to play safety again
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 19, 2019
The Steelers were expected to lean in that direction after a season in which Burnett saw just 390 snaps after coming over from Green Bay as a free agent.
The Steelers signed Burnett, a nine-year veteran, to a three-year, $14.35-million contract in the offseason to help bolster their defense after releasing three safeties -- Mike Mitchell, Robert Golden and J.J. Wilcox -- after the 2017 season.
He was expected to hold down a starting job opposite Sean Davis. But the Steelers also selected safety Terrell Edmunds in the first round of the draft.
Burnett was injured for much of training camp and then missed five games in the early portion of the season, opening the door for Edmunds to become a full-time starter at strong safety.
That left Burnett playing a hybrid safety/linebacker position in the Steelers' sub packages. He finished the season with 30 tackles and six passes defended.
Burnett is due a base salary of $5 million in 2019 and counts $6.46 million against the Steelers' salary cap, a lot of money for a part-time player. The Steelers can save $3.6 million from his release pre-June 1 and $5 million if they choose to wait until after June 1 or designate him a June 1 release.