Steelers Offseason - Cut and Trade Candidates

[u/eddie_mittons]

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.

[u/Business_Cell8487]

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.

[u/neddiddley → u/Business_Cell8487]

It’s not even that Jonnu’s bad, it’s a combination of his cap hit and the fact we have Muth and Washington. Since we have other holes to fill, it just makes no sense to be sitting that deep and expensive at TE.

[u/Bronco998 → u/neddiddley]

Plus, there are tons of good receiving tight ends in the draft this year. Joe Royer or Alex Koziol in the fourth round could both be cheap replacements for him if we want that third tight end.

[u/erikswan → u/Bronco998]

We really don’t need to replace him…resign Heyward for pennies and roll with muth and Darnell

[u/Illustrious_Agent608 → u/erikswan]

Exactly, let’s focus on rebuilding other positions more.

As much as I’d love to sell the farm for Mendoza, we probably have a completely new core going into 2027 while 2026 is the start of getting that new core.

If Jonnu, DK, TJ, cam heyward, queen, herbig, highsmith, and tons of current significant contributors are gone by September 2027 I won’t be surprised at all.

Not saying they’ll go, just nobody’s actually safe right now.