The next month or so will be a critical time for the Pittsburgh Steelers to dig themselves out of a relatively insignificant cap salary hole. Some will be cut and others restructured in order to give the team the necessary financial capability to make moves in free agency, as well as sign their draft picks. Several names have been tossed around such as William Jackson III, Mitch Trubisky, Myles Jack, among others. It's anyone's guess as to where the organization will go, but there is no doubt that moves will be made. Some are highly anticipated, while there may be a couple surprises along the way.
Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky warms up for a 2022 preseason game on the field at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Writers, bloggers and fans who pay attention to the franchise all have their own opinions as to how Pittsburgh should approach the off-season and Gregg Rosenthal, an analyst for the NFL's official website, released his opinions on what AFC teams around the league should do during the off-season. He started out with an obvious one for the Steelers.
Rosenthal is in agreement with the majority of the fan base in writing that the front office needs to award cornerback, Cameron Sutton with a third contract since being drafted six years ago:
"A third-round pick back in 2017, Sutton is a homegrown player who's coming off his best season at a position of need. He's set to be one of the top cornerbacks available in free agency, but the Steelers have a knack for keeping the guys they like at team-friendly prices."
Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton on the field prior to a 2022 preseason game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers Making An Unexpected Cut On The Offensive Line?
Rosenthal didn't stop there when focusing on what the Steelers need to potentially do this off-season. It wasn't the normal opinion of cutting Jackson and/or Trubisky. He didn't even suggest signing a big name free agent, but rather, pondered the idea of the organization parting ways with one (or two) of their five starting linemen from the 2022 season:
"Making some cuts on the offensive line (Chukwuma Okorafor? Kevin Dotson?) would open up some cap space."
This doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Could Dotson be replaced in free agency or the draft? Absolutely. That doesn't mean a starter from a season ago is going to be shown the door. Especially one still on his rookie contract. As far as Okorafor goes, he was arguably the most consistent big man up front and the left side of the line is way more of a concern as of now.
Steelers offensive lineman, Chukwuma Okorafor stands and looks in the distance at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA during 2022 training camp. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
The Steelers would have to have a complete overhaul in their offensive line room through free agency to consider cutting one, or even both of these guys. The position is likely to be addressed in the off-season, but the group was solid the second half of the season and too much has been invested into a young Okorafor, and both Gunner Olszewski and Dotson's cap savings would be in the $2 million range. Who do you think it getting the boot first?
Time will tell if the organization makes a surprising cut here, but the suggestion from Rosenthal is just that: a suggestion. Don't expect that to come to fruition in the next month.
Would you expect the Steelers to cut either Dotson, Okorafor, or both? Let us know in the comments below!
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