The Steelers' signing of Trai Turner to just $3 million on the year was a steal that opened up plenty of opportunities in free agency for the the team.
Approximately $12 million is left for the team to use before the season ends, and even if they kept the normal approximate $5 million, that would leave an approximate $7 million to use in free agency.
These are unique circumstances due to the pandemic after the Steelers got $3 million for a guard like Turner, and the Jets signed a tackle like Morgan Moses for $3.6 million. Both would normally receive more money and are only signed to one-year deals so that each player could sign for larger deals when the NFL salary cap explodes in 2022.
Even if the team maintains its normal approximate $5 million in salary cap space to have during the season for injury emergencies, that leaves the Steelers with an approximate $7 million in salary cap space to spend.
Regardless of DeCastro being released any other developments, the Steelers' first priority must remain in free agency. I argued this point back in mid-May, and continue to maintain the argument until the team finds an edge rusher replacement other than Cassius Marsh and Quincy Roche.
Marsh as a free agent acquired late last season who didn't perform well in previous experience while Roche is the sixth-round draft pick rookie looking to earn a spot on the roster. While either could make surprise improvements, both are not reliable investments for the team to ignore the edge rusher position altogether.
T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith are a promising duo that can spark plenty of problems for offensive lines, but they need help. Even if both remain healthy for a full extended season of 17 games, the Steelers need reliable reserves at edge rusher to provide each of their top pass rushers with a chance to rest during games.
Justin Houston, Melvin Ingram and Trent Murphy are all edge defenders still available in free agency. Houston having eight sacks and playing all 16 game last season make him the biggest target and a clear priority for Kevin Colbert. But who the team does sign is a big question before the season begins.
YOUR TAKE: What's the Steelers' top signing priority?