The business of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 season has already started. Even though free agency hasn’t officially started, you can bet the front office is hard at work trying to sort out who stays and who goes this offseason.
Here are the four big cap casualties for this offseason.
LB Mark Barron – $5.2 million ($2.8 million dead cap)
Barron was signed as a free agent but has never played up to his contract. He often looks lost out there and his effort is low in comparison to his teammates. With more than $5 million in cap savings and Vince Williams already on the roster, it’s hard to see Barron staying.
LB Anthony Chickillo – $5.0 million ($1.1 million)
The Steelers could find themselves woefully undermanned at outside linebacker if they cannot get Bud Dupree a new contract. But this should not change the Steelers cutting ties with Chickillo. with a cap savings of $5 million, there’s no reason to keep a player who is holding a spot on the depth chart on defense and only plays well on special teams.
TE Vance McDonald – $5.6 million ($1.4 million)
When things are going right for McDonald, he’s very good. But unfortunately there just isn’t enough good McDonald to justify paying him so much when the Steelers obviously are not going to utilize the tight end position.
G Ramon Foster – $4.0 million (1.5 million)
This one is tough because I write this based on the business of the NFL. Foster is one of the best guys in the league and a rock-solid football player. He’s built himself up from a UDFA to a quality starter. But with the salary cap being what it is, this one might be a foregone conclusion.
