Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats weighed in during his podcast The Arthur Moats Experience with Deke, on the potential cap casualties for his former team. Moats named who he thinks are the players most likely to be let go by the Steelers so they can free up cap space.
Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are in a better cap space situation than they have been in previous years and since the season is over, they are able to see how much is rolling over from 2022.
NFL teams recently declared unused 2022 cap space rollover amounts (below).
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 12, 2023
After the playoffs, the NFL will audit incentives, bonuses, etc by team. That figure will be added/subtracted to the number below.
The sum + the 2023 Salary Cap = each team's 2023 adjusted cap number. pic.twitter.com/GJC8E7EsrO
The Steelers have $4,427,145 remaining and that will be added to the 2023 projected amount of $225,000,000 giving them the ability to spend to approximately $229,427,145.
During the offseason, NFL teams have to play a bit of chess or perform a balancing act to keep the team under the cap number it can't exceed. One way they do that, according to Moats, is to weigh how well a player performed by how much that player costs the team. If the player brings enough value to the team, they may opt to restructure the player's contract.
Moats On Steelers Cap Casualties
Moats listed four players that he thinks are the most likely to be victims of the Steelers' salary cap limits. He ranked them in order of the most likely to get cut to the least.
#1 William Jackson III
The player that Moats feels is the most likely to be cut is William Jackson III. Stories have abounded for years that the Steelers wanted Jackson in the 2016 draft and missed out on him. They were able to pick him up from the Washington Commanders at the beginning of November. Jackson, however, was hampered by a back injury acquired in DC and did not play. In fact, he never even took the field for the black and gold.
Jackson's lack of playing time doesn't negate his hefty price tag. He is due $12.2 million this season unless he is released by March 19th. It seems likely that the Steelers will cut him loose.
#2 Ahkello Witherspoon
Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was traded to the Steelers in 2021 and showed promise. However, like Jackson, he was injured early in the 2022 season and did not play. The Steelers' defense, particularly after the bye week, showed that Witherspoon isn't a critical weapon, the secondary did just fine without him.
Witherspoon is the second most likely Steeler to fall victim to the cap according to Moats. If he is released, it will free up about $4 million in cap space.
Photo Credit: @JSKOPhoto
#3 Mitch Trubisky
Mitch Trubisky signed a two-year contract with the Steelers prior to the start of the 2022 season. The original plan seemed to be to allow the vet to lead the team while the rookie, Kenny Pickett, learned at his knee. However, the student surpassed the master, and Trusbisky was benched in Week 4.
Trubisky presents an interesting situation as he has a year left on his contract. There have been rumblings that he is not happy with how quickly he signed last season and he might demand a trade. Trubisky carries a cap hit of $10.6 million which makes him Moats the third most likely cap casualty.
Photo Credit: Grant Halverson/Getty Images
#4 Cam Heyward
The fourth player Moats lists is an absolute gut check, it is hard to even type it out.
Cam Heyward. How can that be, Cam is Pittsburgh football?
According to Moats, teams have to address these transactions from a business perspective, not an emotional one. Heyward, who is now 33 and is entering his 13th season, is under contract until 2024. The organization has to weigh his age and contributions on the field and compare them to how much money he will make. If Heyward is released it would free up about $10 million in cap space.
Moats said that he thinks that the Steelers will keep Heyward, he is more than just a powerful defender, he is the lifeblood of this young team. Heyward is the defensive captain of the team but his leadership skills are teamwide.
Steelers defensive lineman, Cameron Heyward (#97) stands on the field at Acrisure Stadium before a 2022 regular season game against the New York Jets. | Photo Credit: @JSKOPhoto
While the playoffs might be in full swing for some teams, the Steelers are busy focusing their energy on 2023. Who do you think will be released to free up cap space? Do you agree with Moats' list and the order? Comment below.
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