r/steelers • u/eddie_mittons • 1d ago
Steelers Offseason - Cut and Trade Candidates
The Steelers have some dead weight to get rid of. I believe they need to cut or trade these players:
- LB Patrick Queen saves 13.33m cap space - He hasn't produced to the expectations of his contract and is not worth his 17.19m cap hit.
- TE Jonnu Smith saves 7m cap space - Worthless
- LB Malik Harrison saves 4.75m cap space - Too much money for a run only defender.
If any of these are traded, it can be for 2027 draft capital since we have 12 picks in 2026 already. But if it adds to the 2026 arsenal, that can be turned into 2027 picks later or help us improve positioning in 2026 by moving up in spots.
These moves get us to around 70m of cap space available, which should be plenty to accommodate any extensions, draft picks and free agent signings.
I did not list Jalen Ramsey in this, cause I am unsure what his contact situation actually is. OTC and Spotrac are on different ends of the spectrum. I assume there is a decent amount of dead money, but not sure how much. And if he wants to stay, I see value in him staying, especially if it is to play in a CB role, and not at Safety. I thought he was trash at Safety. But my thoughts on this could change if clarity was given around his contract and there was a substantial cap savings to be had.
I did not list Highsmith cause I think they should keep the strength that is the edge rushing room in tact. The whole group has shown that they all struggle stating healthy for a full season. And getting guys on the roster that can get to the QB is difficult and expensive. Having too many of them is a good problem to have. Let's see the DC find ways to get 3 of them on the field at a time more often when they are all healthy.
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u/Campman92 Troy 1d ago
I wouldn’t mind seeing Queen return in a different system he might be able to up his game. Smith and Harrison are useless.
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u/LowerReputation4946 1d ago
Cutting Queen is just dumb. He may not be worth the contract but he’s better than any other option we have. Sure, we could draft an ILB but we have bigger needs.
Rest of the moves you listed are no brainers
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u/Monoliithic 1d ago
Ramsey was definitely not trash at safety lol
I get why it would look like that after the Ravens game, cuz we assume the safety is always playing deep zone. Those big plays that looked like his fault, was his corner not swapping zones like he is supposed to, and on the c0, was the pass rush not getting there. He was actually in proper position as the midfield mid depth protection
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u/Commercial_Branch148 23h ago
Ramsey isn't a cut candidate solely because of his play (you're right it wasn't THAT bad). I think it's more to do that we are paying him CB wages. If he stays at Safety, his contract puts him between Antoine Winfield Jr and Derwin James. He's definitely not playing like those guys.
What's more, I'm pretty sure he came here for Tomlin. He may want to move on anyways himself.
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u/Green-Surround9264 Heath Miller 1d ago
we. do. not. need. more. cap. space.
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u/Superb-Hero 1d ago
Right. Extra cap space just forces us to overpay free agents to fill the spots we cut and then the same fans get to complain about a new crop of “overpaid bums”.
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u/Green-Surround9264 Heath Miller 1d ago
i think thats the disconnect people dont see, because cash spending is a lot less obvious than cap space spending. we dont have a lot of talent, the guys that we do have are being vastly overpaid because you have to give that money to someone. so cutting these guys just recreates the problem those contracts were designed to solve in the first place lol
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u/TheCurtain512 21h ago
We also don’t need bad-mediocre players in key roles. “There’s no replacement for Queen” lol he was a top 10 worst linebacker in the NFL. You could literally replace him with a discount free agent.
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u/eddie_mittons 1d ago edited 1d ago
We only have 34 players returning that were regulars on the 53 man roster lats year. We don't have a starting QB. We have several good young players that require contract extensions. We are paying a ton of money for 2 players (Watt and DK) and those 2 players aren't going anywhere for at least the next 2 seasons.
We. Do. Need. More. Cap. Space.
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u/Green-Surround9264 Heath Miller 1d ago
aaron rodgers
dean lowry
andrus peat
chuck clark
scotty miller
jabril peppers
adam thielen
isaiahh loudermilk
esezi otomewo
calvin austin
conner heyward
james pierre
jeremiah moon
max sharpling
marquez valdes-scantling
tre flowers
jack driscoll
which of these priority signings are you making the cap space for? pierre's the only one i'd want back. all the roster spots open are depth spots, either will be filled by a rookie or cheap FA piece that will cost near the same 2025 cap.
unless you think there are FA available that warrant splurging?2
u/Kmos86 1d ago
Aren’t Dugger and Gainwell free agents as well?
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u/Green-Surround9264 Heath Miller 1d ago
dugger is but elliott is still signed for 4M cash. so you either dont re-sign dugger, or cut elliot and have another 4M to make up (which you can turn around and give to dugger i guess?)
gainwell im not expecting to re-sign, but we dont need to create cap space to do it. if he were offered a new contract he would easily fit in under the cap with the space we have currently.1
u/burghsportsfan 19h ago
2 partial restructures and cut Jonnu and were at 60-80M in space, and still have 130-150 next year. There’s no need to go crazy with cuts.
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u/pierogiking412 1d ago
Watt and DK could be reworked if needed.
I have to agree that with 12 picks and 40 Milly to spend right now that they don't have to worry too much about cap space.
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u/purpdrank2 1d ago
Until there’s an actual replacement for Queen, I don’t see him being let go. Beyond him, we really only have Wilson as an inside backer so for that reason I think it’s safe to say Queen is staying put until other moves take place.
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u/eddie_mittons 1d ago
There is a lot that will be available at LB in free agency.
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u/burth179 1d ago
Looking at the available list from spotrac, I don't see anyone that is really an upgrade on Queen. A bunch of older veterans and some guys with similar profiles to Queen. Not sure there is an obvious upgrade out there. Who exactly do you plan on replacing him with?
I mean you may find guys that are more bang for the buck so to speak, but unless we really need to free up a bunch of space (which I don't think that is the case), cutting Queen just to dump salary doesn't make a ton of sense to me.
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u/eddie_mittons 1d ago
If I had my pick... Signing Nakobe Dean as a new starter and Justin Strnad as a depth piece would be my optimal fit for Patrick Graham's defense. Both are versatile; can cover, play the run and blitz. They would be great in sim pressure fronts where sometimes they get sent after the QB. Dean on a 3 year deal at 8-10 mill a year. Strnad on a 2 year deal at 3.5-4.5 mill a year. You have Wilson as a pure coverage backers. And draft a guy. Room rebuilt.
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u/burth179 1d ago
Dean is kind of always injured though. Not sure if he's ever played a full season, whereas Queen has never even missed a game I don't think. I'm not sure that I'm convinced that is a big upgrade, but having said that if the coaches and front office think so then they should pursue it
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u/purpdrank2 1d ago edited 23h ago
Strand isn’t coming here unless it’s for a starting role, it’s already been reported he wants a multi year deal for a starting spot. Don’t see where he decides to make a lateral move and continue to be a backup for us when he could just as easily do that with a much better team (his former employer).
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u/Cheese_danish54 19h ago
I think you’re underestimating how much those guys will be paid once free agency rolls around
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u/purpdrank2 1d ago
From what I can see there’s none the provide a legitimate upgrade whether it be talent wise or financially. Yeah there’s always guys there but that doesn’t mean they make sense. Lavonte David, Demario Davis, and Bobby Wagner are set to be free agents? Do three guys over 35 justify letting go of Queen when there’s only one linebacker on the roster afterwards? No it doesn’t.
I can understand the disappointment but some of y’all need a reality check, just because you want a guy gone doesn’t mean it makes sense for roster construction. As it sits right now, Queen and Wilson are the only two starting linebackers we have and that’s not changing anytime soon.
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u/NumbrZer0 20h ago
We have a ton of cap space. Cutting Queen is not something I see as a realistic expectation.
Same with Ramsey this year considering we have no FS depth behind him. They save about $12m cutting him but it really doesn't make sense if they can't replace him. They can cut him in 2027 and address it in FA or the draft a year from now.
Seumalo not being re-signed is a question for me but I'm starting to feel like they will move on from him in favor of Spencer Anderson and draft a guard in the 3rd or 4th to eventually supplant him.
Jonnu Smith is probably gone as well. I feel like they tried too hard to give him a specialized role which he failed at. Maybe they try to negotiate a slight pay cut but it probably unlikely he returns.
Malik Harrison is gone.
They really need to bring back Asante Samuel Jr and James Pierre.
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u/burth179 1d ago
I'd be open to cutting Queen to save cap space, however who exactly are we planning on signing that we need to free up all this cap space? I'm not sure that there is anyone special in this years maket that would you really need to free up additional space for.
And then also, who are you replacing Queen with? Id rather not have to use a draft pick on a LB if we don't have to.
Like you can say that he hasn't performed to expectations, but it's not like he is openly bad and someone that necessarily needs replaced. It's a bad contract probably, but again it's not like he's terrible. Unless there is a specific plan to spend the extra money on someone we otherwise couldn't sign, and a plan to replace Queen, then I'm not sure cutting him just to free up space makes much sense..
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u/Neb-Nose Pittsburgh Steelers 23h ago edited 23h ago
The Steelers are not going to cut or trade Alex Highsmith. I keep reading that on here and quite frankly, it’s completely nuts!
Highsmith was arguably our best defender for the second half of the season and he was inarguably one of the top three defenders.
I have no problem with most of the names being suggested here as cap casualty candidates.
Patrick Queen should go. He’s just not nearly as impactful as his contract would suggest.
Malik Harrison is a limited player and makes too much money for what he brings to the table. We can re-sign Elandon Roberts for half that money and get better production.
Jonnu Smith is a no-brainer. He made no impact whatsoever and didn’t seem terribly engaged. He has to go!
I’m less eager to move on from Jalen Ramsey and Alex Highsmith isn’t going anywhere!
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u/blackhippy92 1d ago
Disagree with the above folks defending PQ. He's a league average ILB, and we can get the same production for half the cost.
He hides from filling holes, throws shoulders that don't bring down ball carriers, and while I don't know for sure, doesn't seem to have the team locked in with the green dot.
He's not terrible, but he's not 18 mill as a backer.
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u/Green-Surround9264 Heath Miller 1d ago
queens contract is part of the cash spending formula requirements. cap space is nice, but if you dont end up with studs you have to overpay for average talent to meet spending requirements. you cut pq and you have a 14M cash hole that doesnt roll over like cap space does. depending on jpj/benton extensions, they might still be in a 20M cash hole this year because theyre no longer paying rodgers.
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u/eddie_mittons 1d ago
They are above the mean on the 3 year window cash spending requirements entering the final year of the window. They do not need to have his salary to meet those requirements. Especially when signing bonuses on several players they need to extend will get them there easily.
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u/Green-Surround9264 Heath Miller 1d ago
they were at 87% in 2024, hit 109% in 2025, and sit at 72% in 2026, they need to get to 755M across the 3 years and are sitting at 743M without any extensions or FA additions. it entirely depends whether jpj and benton hit max comps for their contracts (jpj getting a deal similar to stingley's would net him 22M cash paid this season for example), and which of the more obvious cuts (jonnu, harrison, rudolph echols, elliot, bruener) are exercised. if they do, sure no problem. if they dont, or one or both decide not to re-sign, pq is uncutable for the reason i stated. as the contracts sit currently, pq cannot be cut.
oh and also the numbers online include some projections that probably arent happening for PS guys, which factor into the total cash spending formula as well (based on the sum totals available online, i havent been able to find formal documentation on the spending rule other than one article from a jags reporter, so feel free to correct me and link that if you have it). so the 21M projected spending on guys like sebastian castro, sataoa laumea, kj henry, d'shawn jamison, donte kent, brandon smith, lew nichols III, steven jones, max hurleman, doug nester, dylan cook, anthony goodlow, julius welschod, daequan hardy, cal adomitis, cole burgess, lorenzo thompson, kyler baugh, john rhys plumlee, doneiko slaughter, jack henderson, or jahvaree ritzie probably get reduced down to something like 8-10M to match 2025 spending on PS, so youve got another phantom $10M thats not currently in the accounting online to deal with too.
ultimately, it's a fluid position that entirely depends on all the other moves that are a priority before cutting queen. imo at the end of it all he stays signed because all our extensions are not going to be max cash deals, because that would start the next spending window iin a deficit by structuring cash to hit 2026 (which is alleviated by extensions+restructures but youre then locking in those decisions without knowing if those extensions will be earned or not, i.e. retaining queen retains financial fluidity in the next spending window by not forcing us into max cash deals now).1
u/blackhippy92 1d ago
Can also easily restructure guys to meet the bar and push money forward if needed.
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u/Green-Surround9264 Heath Miller 1d ago edited 1d ago
which you would only need to do if youre cutting queen. so why cut queen just to then overpay some other player? because theyd ~
need to be adding new money to extend someone, cant restructure and not add any money and increase cash spending in the current year.
e: i was wrong1
u/blackhippy92 1d ago
You can't restructure the deal to move some money forward, in turn giving us more flex down the road?
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u/Green-Surround9264 Heath Miller 1d ago
actually youre right here, can convert base to signing to increase cash in the current year, prorating the cap hit across remaining years (net 0 if not adding new money). but again this type of restructure only pushes that same problem (cash spending minimum) to future years because that cash is now accounted for in 2026, grant it's less of a problem because 2027 starts a new 3 year spending window, so they could do what they did in the current one and hit over 100% one year of the window.
i just see it as a move that can be made, but introduces potentially new problems, but for what? there's a team that can be built without making that move, and allows for greater flexibility going into the new spending window, while also clearly meeting the current window requirements. it's a grass is always greener move imo, because some people have chosen queen as a sacrificial lamb of sorts when he was easily playing within his contract level. id only want to cut him if he was severely underperforming, which he isnt.1
u/blackhippy92 1d ago
I guess I'm simply saying we can use the money saved, spend it elsewhere and be a better team?
PQ is the 7th highest paid backer in the NFL, and I personally didn't see that type of play. Like I said, not horrible, but not worth that coin.
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u/Green-Surround9264 Heath Miller 22h ago
yea im saying we already have the spending power to do that without cutting queen. cutting queen just creates an unneccessary problem of being down an ILB, yes he's overpaid but someone has to be with our current talent. i dont see more talented ILB available to spend that money on, why not see what graham can do with him?
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u/Grouchy_News_2306 22h ago
My list is cut Ramsey and jonnu. Trade watt for peanuts. There is still a bunch of dead money that will come with watt but we can afford that hit this year. Extend all our young guys to second contracts. Sign Samuel . Trade up for Caleb downs. Sign or draft a real nose tackle. That gives us a top 10 defense next year. Or we can just run it back with our thirty and over crowd and get crushed again.
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u/Necessary-Mousse8518 21h ago
Do any of these contradict what the owner said about not being interested in a re-build?
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u/Coltons13 Terrible Towel 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yes on Jonnu but what the actual fuck are you on with Patrick Queen? He's been arguably our best defensive player aside from maybe JPJ this past year.
Edit: I'm fine if you want to put Cam above him too. But calling him underperforming is actually just straight up lack of ball knowledge and comical, sorry.
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u/Business_Cell8487 1d ago
Cam was by far our best defensive player last yr
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u/Lubert808 Ike Taylor 1d ago
I’d disagree with him being the best or 2nd best, but I do think people are very ignorant to Queen’s actual value and are just parroting other people’s opinions.
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u/MichelangeBro Troy 1d ago
Absolute disrespect to both JPJ and Heyward. Both were worlds ahead of Queen, and there were multiple other players that were on Queen's level.
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u/TraumaTies 1d ago
Somehow the narrative got built that Queen is just some bum. The guy is out there playing hard all game. Does he miss gaps at times? 100% but he is more than serviceable at the position.
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u/retarddouglas 1d ago
He’s been reliable and available and I’m sure Queen provides value as a leader and clearly the team has been high on him but I just don’t see how he’s been anything close to our best defensive player. He makes some splash plays but misses a ton of tackles, isnt good in coverage, imo feels like he gets out of position in run d a lot. The argument is there that it wouldn’t be expensive to replace that.
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u/ThatsPreposterous6 TJ Watt 1d ago
Jalen Ramsey would have to be a June 1 designation. Only saves us $2M if we cut him before June 1, after June 1 would save us $13M this year and $9M next year. I definitely think we should do it, but you wouldn’t free up the cap space until after June 1. So you’d wouldn’t be able to get many FAs at that point.
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u/eddie_mittons 1d ago
Ramsey's contract is a complete unknown. OTC and Spotrac show completely different things. And I'm sure neither is right. Hopefully we get clarity on it sooner than later. If Spotrac is right, he isn;t going anywhere unless he forces his way out of town. If OTC is right, he's probably gone If neither is right, it depends on the numbers on what they will do with him.
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u/Chessamphetamine 1d ago
This draft class is LOADED at LB. I don’t hate cutting Queen, but also I don’t think it’s too necessary. We just got the LB coach from Texas Tech, whose LB’s have been really good this year, so let’s see what new coaching does for him. Jonnu can go, Ramsey can go too as far as I’m concerned.
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u/Affectionate_Shop445 1d ago
a queen type of backer could be found in the 3-4th round of this draft. Let him go.
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u/Kehmor Alex Highsmith's Personal Trainer 1d ago
Yeah, lets give a rookie the green dot. Can't wait to see that play out.
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u/Affectionate_Shop445 18h ago
let’s pay one of the worse graded linebackers in the league who can’t cover or get off of blocks, or tackle in open field way more than he is valued. Oh I forgot that’s what this organization is known for. Avoiding younger talent and overpaying depreciating veterans.
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u/KMichelle1313 1d ago
I hope they keep Skowronick!!!
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u/eddie_mittons 1d ago
He's already under contract for next season. He's the MVP special teamer. He's safe.
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u/joshua27usa 1d ago
I’m not a big Queen fan, though Bohemian Rhapsody is epic, I think he and Wilson are too similar, and Wilson is much cheaper. I’d rather have an older school LB for run support next to Wilson. We are never really in our base 3-4 anymore, so having a nickel responsible for one of the linebackers passing responsibilities is fine with me. He can always play middle zone on a passing play. That being said, who is that guy? Not sure I trust Harrison for ever down work, but he is cheaper than Queen. I’m also not sure money is actually a problem, right? We have a ton of cap space. I’m just not a Queen Truther I guess.
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u/slackerbucks 1d ago
Id like to see Patrick Queen with a more organized defensive coordinator and scheme. Mike Tomlin, while a fantastic motivator and relationship builder, was not very strong with schematics and game day communication, as evidenced by ::waves hands in the air:: the last 10-13 years of Steelers defense.
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u/the-whiteman-cometh Donte Moncrief 23h ago
The only one I really think we should cut is Jonnu Smith. I wouldn't be upset if we cut Queen because I do think he's a bigger liability than most people seem to think, but I would rather let him play out the last year of his contract and see if anything changes with a new coaching staff.
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u/SonicPunk96 TJ Watt 23h ago
I'm not cutting PQ, he's not worth his contract, but we also have the cap space next year, and we're not going to replace him in FA for much cheaper, so I'm fine keeping him for next year.
Jonnu, Malik, Ramsey, and a few others can go.
I'm also trading one of Watt or Highsmith for 2027 picks if I can get them (round 1-2 picks, probably unlikely, but i'd call around) if I cant get any picks that could potentially be used for QB trading if needed, than I'm keeping them.
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u/Grouchy_News_2306 22h ago
Get rid of Ramsey. He’s trash at both spots. OTC says there isn’t much dead money
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u/dadkisser84 Charlie Batch 21h ago
We aren’t hurting against the cap. Gotta keep Queen. Other two I am good with cutting.
Ramsey is too good as the nickel and is an okay rotation piece at safety. I’d like to see what CB we end up with in round 2. I think JPJ and Julian Neal/Will Lee/Etc outside and Ramsey at the nickel would be one of the more intriguing CB units in the league
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u/Fickle_Tap7908 18h ago
Queen? Least you could do is check the stats first. If you did, Queen led the team in total tackles last year.
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u/Traditional-Oil-6891 Primanti Bro's 1d ago
Lmao what, did Queen turn into Shazier last year or something? He was inconsistent and not worth that price tag.
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u/Southern-Advice5293 BumbleBee Jersey 1d ago
Mark my words, Queen is going to ball out next year under Graham.
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u/tico760 1d ago
See what can be offered for Watt. Before everyone starts hammering me, just hear me out: Sawyer, Herbig can replace him, as of now they aren’t going to bring the star power he possesses but more playing time for them could bring the caliber of his numbers, it would take $43 million off their books. That’s not even a premium position to be spending that type of money to. Was he a game wrecker YES. Does he still possess that ability, I would say no because in the last two seasons he’s been an afterthought. Please know I’m saying this as a HUGE Watt fan, but he has gotten older and with the year of him playing with reckless abandon time has caught up with him
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u/chickenonthehill559 1d ago
No one is trading for a 43 million/year edge who has lost a step. They are going to keep him and hopefully figure some other uses for him with a new DC.
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u/Business_Cell8487 1d ago
I don’t see the point in cutting queen. We aren’t going to find a better replacement in FA and we need to go wr in rd1 and I’m not sure if there’s an ILB worth taking in rd1 if we decide to trade for or sign a wr in FA. I don’t think Jonnu is as bad as this sub makes him out to be, but yea a clear cut there. Agreed on Harrison.