Heading into the start of free agency, which began March 9, the Steelers had $50 million of space to add players. After adding the likes of Michael Pittman Jr., Jamel Dean, Rico Dowdle, Jaquan Brisker, Sebastian Joseph-Day and others, they now have $30.59 million in cap space remaining, the ninth-most in the NFL.
The 2026 cap hits for all new players, according to Spotrac:
• Pittman: $8.866 million • Dean: $5.5 million • Dowdle: $3.75 million • Brisker: $5.5 million • Joseph-Day: $3.65 million • Darnell Savage: $1.263 million
Tracking the cap immediately in the wake of signings is a fruitless endeavor. It doesn't give a clear picture of what the actual cap situation is. For example, Pittman was initially going to draw a $24 million cap hit on his old contract. So, cap-tracking websites left it there until the details of his new three-year, $59 million contract were made known. As you can see, the cap hit for 2026 is significantly lower.
This is why you wait a little bit of time. Just like in actual photography, it takes time for a photo to develop. If you do it too fast, it's not a clear picture. But, if you're patient, you'll see it clearly. And, even considering Spotrac's estimated $6.14 million cap hit for the 2026 draft class, the Steelers still have plenty of breathing room.
THE ASYLUM
Still plenty of cap space remaining
Heading into the start of free agency, which began March 9, the Steelers had $50 million of space to add players. After adding the likes of Michael Pittman Jr., Jamel Dean, Rico Dowdle, Jaquan Brisker, Sebastian Joseph-Day and others, they now have $30.59 million in cap space remaining, the ninth-most in the NFL.
The 2026 cap hits for all new players, according to Spotrac:
• Pittman: $8.866 million
• Dean: $5.5 million
• Dowdle: $3.75 million
• Brisker: $5.5 million
• Joseph-Day: $3.65 million
• Darnell Savage: $1.263 million
Tracking the cap immediately in the wake of signings is a fruitless endeavor. It doesn't give a clear picture of what the actual cap situation is. For example, Pittman was initially going to draw a $24 million cap hit on his old contract. So, cap-tracking websites left it there until the details of his new three-year, $59 million contract were made known. As you can see, the cap hit for 2026 is significantly lower.
This is why you wait a little bit of time. Just like in actual photography, it takes time for a photo to develop. If you do it too fast, it's not a clear picture. But, if you're patient, you'll see it clearly. And, even considering Spotrac's estimated $6.14 million cap hit for the 2026 draft class, the Steelers still have plenty of breathing room.
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