Steelers Potentially Planning For Big Move After Cole Holcomb Contract Restructure

Training camp is in full swing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. There is a different energy in 2024 as the quarterback room is completely revamped and someone not named Matt Canada will be leading the offensive coaching staff. Questions remain on both sides of the ball and one of the most pressing issues on defense is at inside linebacker. The team has plenty of depth, but concern remains surrounding Cole Holcomb, who is working his way back from a brutal knee injury. It's extremely possible that he doesn't play a snap in 2024, and even more likely that he isn't ready for the start of the regular season.

In the latest turn of events, NFL insider Aaron Wilson reported on Friday afternoon that Holcomb and the Steelers played around with his contract a little bit and made some adjustments.

All of the details haven't been announced by the team, but essentially, it seems as if Pittsburgh and Holcomb decided to cut his salary in half, but guaranteed it. This gives the linebacker financial security, but could save the franchise cap space for 2024. It's odd timing for the move and even more so if it is just relevant for the 2024 campaign.

Aside from the financial aspect, it also could secure Holcomb a spot on the team in 2024. Some believed that he may be cut at some point, but after agreeing to concessions when it comes to his contract, he could take the rest of the year to get fully healthy and hope that he is completely back to normal when offseason activities ramp up in 2025.

Any organization will do what it can to save money throughout the course of a season, but the Steelers already have a decent amount of cap space. Over The Cap has it at just under $16 million. If Pittsburgh decides to extend Pat Freiermuth, which is expected to happen any day now, his number wouldn't skyrocket in 2024, but rather, in the future.

The same would go for a potential Cameron Heyward deal. So that begs the question of why do it, other than the obvious of knowing Holcomb won't likely be playing in 2024. The Steelers still have one of the more uninteresting wide receiving rooms in the entire NFL. Murmurs have been going around for months about the team being connected to San Francisco 49ers wideout, Brandon Aiyuk. To make matters more interesting, Aiyuk allegedly isn't present at the Niners' Friday practice.

Aiyuk could be elsewhere signing a massive deal with the 49ers, but he also could be out of the building due to a trade happening soon. It's anyone's guess as to what could be going on out West, but a small little restructure for Holcomb is the slightest hint that something could be coming shortly for General Manager Omar Khan and the Steelers.

Steelers Approached Offseason As If Holcomb Wouldn't Return For 2024 Season

Holcomb's injury came in Week 8 of the 2023 season and for an inside linebacker, cutting and changing directions quickly are two very important traits that one needs to have. The franchise hasn't given too many updates on his status, and given the news on his contract from Wilson, the team could absolutely be preparing for him to miss the entirety of the 2024 campaign. Bringing in Patrick Queen and drafting Payton Wilson are two moves that foreshadowed this outcome for Holcomb.

The contract adjustment is rather small, but could be speaking to something much bigger. Cap space can always be found somewhere and this is another example of that, but the timing of it seems rather intriguing. It's completely possible this is a safe move by both parties so Holcomb can be retained if he can't play in 2024, but it could also point to something else going on behind the scenes that will come to light sooner rather than later.

Do you think that Khan is up to something? Let us know in the comments below!

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