The rush to the start of the new league year begins to kick into high gear this week as teams return from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and scouts head out to some of the pro days at smaller schools that start to take place March 5.
For the Steelers, that means starting to contact potential unrestricted free agents to begin working out deals prior to the start of free agency when the new league year begins March 18.
Up first will be figuring out what to do with outside linebacker Bud Dupree. Teams could begin using the franchise tag last Thursday, a date that was pushed back two days by the NFL because of the vote that is taking place on a potential new CBA.
The results of that vote by the general membership of the NFLPA could be known as early as the end of this week. At least that is what the NFL is hoping.
If it stretches into next week, the league could choose to push back the start of the new league year slightly to give its teams more time to assess what a new CBA will mean for them in 2020 if it is approved as expected.
As it is, because of the adjustment in the franchise tag start date, the deadline to use the tag also has been shifted from March 10 to March 12.
Because a new CBA could affect -- even slightly -- how much salary cap space teams will have available to them. Current estimates sent out to teams late last week have the cap coming in for 2020 at around $200 million, up from $188.2 million in 2019. But a new CBA agreement will add to that cap, with some estimating that to be just a few million and others saying it could be much more than that.
For the Steelers, that's significant. The Steelers are at slightly over $201 million in expenditures for 2020, meaning they'll have to free up cap space even if the cap goes up significantly from the estimated $200 million.
That's one reason why the Steelers would like to work out a long-term extension with Dupree as opposed to using the tag. A long-term extension would keep Dupree's salary cap hit lower in 2020 than the tag. And with the new CBA pending, the league is waiting to announce exactly what the tag values will be.
But it will all happen quickly, which means the Steelers could start releasing players, perhaps as soon as this week.
Releasing guard Ramon Foster ($4 million in cap savings), linebacker Mark Barron ($5.25 million) and linebacker Anthony Chickillo ($5 million) would immediately clear $14.25 million in cap space.
The Steelers also typically restructure deals of current players to create cap space, as well, and could do so again this year, with corner Steven Nelson ($3.71 million in savings) and guard David DeCastro ($3.9 million) being prime candidates.
But how much space they'll need to clear will help determine all of that and whether the cuts and restructures need to go deeper.
If the Steelers release Foster, as expected, they'd like to bring back pending free agent interior lineman B.J. Finney. But if the cap doesn't rise as much as some anticipate or the CBA isn't approved, that might force them to allow Finney to move on.
It's especially important considering two of the other potential pieces on their offensive line, Matt Feiler and Zach Banner, are restricted free agents and must be tendered contract offers to retain their rights. An original round tender would be $2.14 million, but the Steelers have usually placed second-round restricted tenders on their players. That cost is $3.278 million this season.
But if the Steelers can't afford to keep Finney, they have to keep both Feiler -- their starting right tackle -- and Banner. Feiler would be in line to move inside to replace Foster at left guard, while Banner would be brought back to battle Chuks Okorafor for the right tackle spot.
Slot cornerback Mike Hilton also will be restricted, meaning the Steelers also would have to tender him an offer, likely costing them another $3.278 million if they choose to go that route.
The team met with several cornerbacks at the combine last week, meaning it could be leaning toward not making Hilton a tender offer. Hilton has split slot corner duties with Cam Sutton the past two seasons, though Hilton has seen more of the playing time.
The Steelers also must decide whether they will pick up the $5.5 million option for 2020 they hold on tight end Vance McDonald. The team seems intent on doing so, especially since backup Nick Vannett is scheduled to become a free agent.
Declining McDonald's option would leave Zach Gentry, who played sparingly as a rookie in 2019, as the only experienced tight end on the roster. Any potential replacement for McDonald would almost certainly eat up most of the $5.5 million they would save by not bringing him back.
There's a lot to sift through over the next couple of weeks, much of it depending on what happens with the CBA. But the action should come fast and furious.