The salary cap is a complicated animal. Teams that have learned how to manipulate the cap are always a step ahead of the rest of the NFL. Despite some massive salaries on the Pittsburgh Steelers, the front office does a great job of blending different types of contracts to keep the roster strong from top to bottom. Here are our five biggest salary cap bargains for the Steelers this season.
Safety | Minkah Fitzpatrick
When the Steelers traded for Fitzpatrick last season, a benefit lost in the trade was Fitzpatrick’s contract. Not only did the Steelers get one of the best safeties in the NFL for a bargain they also got a rookie contract with two seasons left on it. Fitzpatrick’s cap hit for 2020 is a paltry $1.975 million and 2021 is only $2.722 million.
Running back | Benny Snell Jr.
The NFL seems to be coming around to the idea of running backs not having a massive financial market. It’s an unfortunate position for those players to be in but with the continued evolution of the NFL offense, the notion of a workhorse running back who should be paid like one is fading.
This also means a player like Snell could find himself getting a significant role in the Steelers offense this season while at the same time costing Pittsburgh very little. Snell is every bit the talent James Conner is and is only on the books for $850,000 this season. Snell has three years left on his contract and with Conner a pending free agent might be a bargain for several more seasons.
Wide receiver | JuJu Smith-Schuster
We cannot forget that Smith-Schuster is only one year removed from a season where he hauled in 111 receptions. Smith-Schuster is in the final season of his rookie contract and Pittsburgh could get similar production this season with a cap hit of only $1.335 million. Granted a huge year would likely price him out of a second contract with the Steelers but clearly, Pittsburgh is all in for 2020.
Offensive tackle | Zach Banner
The Steelers are in the market for a new starting right tackle. If Matt Feiler slides inside to left guard, it should be Banner filling the void on the right side of the offensive line. If the Steelers can get a starting right tackle for only $1.75 million, it will be the latest Pittsburgh starting offensive lineman coming in and helping this team on the cheap.
Outside linebacker | T.J. Watt
This one is almost too easy. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year and are only paying him $2.945 million to do it. Watt is on the verge of getting a huge contract extension that will be more in line with his remarkable production. But for at least one more season he is the best defender on the best defense in the league while keeping it light on the salary cap.
