The Pittsburgh Steelers have begun to make roster moves just one day after the NFL season wrapped up. With the team reportedly $16 million over the 2024 salary cap, they were going to be forced to make moves and they've decided to start with them sooner rather than later.
%202023%20Camp%20Final%20with%20Logos/2L9A6805-544x306.jpg "Steelers Mitch Trubisky")
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Mitch Trubisky, who was the primary backup to Kenny Pickett in 2023, was benched after a three-game losing streak in favor of the third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph. Andrew Fillipponi from The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller reported the news live on 93.7 the Fan. Gerry Dulac from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has confirmed the report.
Steelers also releasing T Chuks Okorafor and P Pressley Harvin III, per sources
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) February 12, 2024
The former number two overall pick spent four seasons with the Chicago Bears with mixed success. He posted a 29-21 record in Chicago and led them to two playoff appearances, but was tarnished by the success of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson, who were selected after him in the 2017 NFL Draft. Trubisky spent 2021 backing up Josh Allen for the Buffalo Bills after the Bears gave up on him and played well in limited duty.
Trubisky attempted to resurrect his career as a starter for Pittsburgh in 2022. The Steelers drafted Pickett in the first round shortly after signing Trubisky. Pickett's arrival started the clock on his tenure as a starter, which ended just four games into his first season with the team. Trubisky posted a 2-5 record as a starter in the Steel City and has likely ended any chance of being a starting quarterback in the NFL in the foreseeable future.
Steelers Move On From Former Draft Picks
Chukwuma Okorafor and Pressley Harvin III were also announced as cap casualties moments later. Okorafor was the Steelers' starting right tackle until a mysterious sideline incident against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was benched in favor of rookie Broderick Jones. Okorafor had one year remaining on a three-year contract he inked during Kevin Colbert's final year as the Steelers general manager.
%202023%20Camp%20Final%20with%20Logos/2L9A5167-544x306.jpg "Steelers - Chuks Okorafor")
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: JSKO_PHOTO
The Steelers drafted Harvin in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He averaged 43.7 yards per punt, but was very inconsistent. The three moves will save the Steelers about $13 million in salary cap space.
Omar Khan still has work to do, and more names could follow. Pittsburgh is also expected to explore contract restructuring with TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Cam Heyward to free up more salary cap space before free agency.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Did any of these moves catch you off guard? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
#SteelerNation
