After missing out on the playoffs in 2022, the Steelers have quite a bit to do this offseason to improve the team.
In order to make improvements at several different positions, and re-sign some key players headed for unrestricted free agency, the Steelers need to clear some salary cap space.
The NFL's expected salary cap for the 2023 season will be set at $225 million, and the Steelers are rolling over an additional $4,427,145 from 2022. If the NFL announces this number as the official cap in March, the Steelers' salary cap for 2023 will be $229,427,145.
As of the time this article is published, the Steelers sit around $3.2 million over that cap limit. That includes all of the active contracts, dead money and allotted money for draft picks.
But, there is no need to worry. Omar Khan knows how to work the salary cap. And one of the easiest ways to clear cap space is to shed contracts that not only clear the most cap space, but also come with the least amount of dead money.
Here are some players that are currently under contract for the 2023 season that the Steelers could opt out of to clear cap space, otherwise known as cap casualties:
WILLIAM JACKSON III
2023 Cap Hit: $12,176,471
Dead Money: $0
The Steelers acquired Jackson at the NFL's trade deadline last season, but never played a down for Pittsburgh. He came to town dealing with a back injury, and it put him on injured reserve until the final week of the season.
Mike Tomlin has liked Jackson since the Bengals sniped him in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and he could benefit much more playing in Pittsburgh's scheme that requires much more man coverage than he did during a rough time in Washington. However, he's simply not worth the massive cap hit, especially since it comes with no dead money.
The Steelers could bring him back on a much cheaper deal to solidify the cornerback position. But, the Steelers will need the $12 million in cap space first. This is the easiest call to make.
MITCH TRUBISKY
2023 Cap Hit: $10,625,000
Dead Money: $2,625,000
Trubisky came to Pittsburgh with the intention to start at quarterback after a season of sitting behind Josh Allen in Buffalo. While he began the season as the starter, he was supplanted by rookie Kenny Pickett midway through the fourth game of the season.
Trubisky wants the chance to start again, and there are spots for him to at least compete for a starting job elsewhere in the NFL. The Steelers still want a capable veteran behind Pickett, which Trubisky could do for one more season. However, $10.6 million is a heavy cap hit for someone whose primary duties on Sundays is holding a clipboard.
Realistically, the Steelers could cut him loose to save $8 million in cap space and sign a veteran backup -- perhaps Josh Dobbs -- at a much lower rate.
MYLES JACK
2023 Cap Hit: $11,250,000
Dead Money: $3,250,000
The Steelers need inside linebackers, and Jack is a solid starter when he's healthy. However, he spent much of the latter part of the season hampered by injuries, including a Grade-3 strain in his groin over the final four-plus weeks of the season. Health has been an issue for Jack in recent year, and an $11.25-million cap hit is an awfully big risk.
Pittsburgh might have to opt out of the current contract in order to clear $8 million in cap space. However, that would obviously risk him being exposed to the open market. It's a tough decision for the Steelers. Opting out of the contract would leave Mark Robinson as the only rostered inside linebacker who logged defensive snaps in 2022, and that's a dangerous spot to be in.
At the end of the day, whether they keep Jack or not, the large cap hit has to be dealt with.
LEVI WALLACE
2023 Cap Hit: $5,482,500
Dead Money: $1,482,500
On one hand, Wallace played 15 games for the Steelers, finished with the second-most snaps at cornerback behind Cam Sutton and was second on the team with four interceptions.
On the other hand, Wallace's overall performance was far too inconsistent. Dreadful performances against the Jets, Dolphins and home rematch with the Bengals highlight just how bad he could be while matchups against the Saints, Ravens and Browns in the season finale displayed just how good he could be.
His cap hit is heavy enough to at least make Khan think about opting out of the contract. Although, the cornerback position is so thin he may need something else lined up if he decides to pull the trigger on this one.
AHKELLO WITHERSPOON
2023 Cap Hit: $5,482,500
Dead Money: $1,482,500
After putting together a somewhat promising 2021 campaign, Witherspoon was unable to stay healthy in 2022. Hamstring injuries limited him to only four games, and in his final performance of the season, Witherspoon was torched by Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown in the Week 8 beatdown at Philadelphia.
Nevertheless, the Steelers like a healthy Witherspoon, but perhaps not at the $5.5-million cap hit. The Steelers could very realistically opt out of his contract and bring him back on a more team-friendly deal.
CHUKWUMA OKORAFOR
2023 Cap Hit: $13,083,333
Dead Money: $6,166,668
Much like cornerback, the Steelers don't have a lot of wiggle room in terms of cutting ties with players on the offensive line. That's even harder to do when the same group of five started together throughout all of 2022.
That being said, Okorafor is slated to be the highest-paid offensive lineman on the Steelers next season and deal the fifth-highest cap hit on the team. That's difficult to swallow when the folks at Pro Football Focus ranked him 64th of 84 qualifying tackles based on his 2022 performance, which included four penalties and three sacks allowed.
Okorafor might be a better candidate for a contract restructure rather than an actual cap casualty, but it's still a name worth considering to clear some space outright. Either way, with the needs at cornerback, defensive tackle, inside linebacker and even receiver, the Steelers can't afford this large of a cap hit for the quality provided.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If the Steelers opted out of all of the above contracts, that would clear nearly $40.1 million in cap space. In addition, names that carry lesser cap hits such as Gunner Olszewski, Miles Killebrew and Arthur Maulet could become cap casualties, though the savings wouldn't be nearly as impactful.
On top of whichever players end up cut loose, Khan and the Steelers could still restructure some of the larger contracts that belong to T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Diontae Johnson to clear even more space.
There's still some time until free agency begins in mid-March, but the Steelers will be getting started on their plan to improve the team very soon.
