Big Ben’s decision will determine what the Steelers are capable of in free agency.
PITTSBURGH – With an empty field in front of them, $ 55.72 million in contracts were on the Heinz Field bench. Post season Pittsburgh Steelers was shorter than anyone in the organization expected when he lost the wild card game to Cleveland Browns Sunday.
And with the retreat approaching their future, perhaps sooner than they had anticipated, it could be the last time the fullback Ben Roethlisberger, 38, and center Maurkice Pouncey, 31, share a bench together.
Everyone has one year left on their contract, but both, especially Roethlisberger and his position in the salary cap of 41.2 million is the biggest enigma out of season the Steelers are facing. Pittsburgh needs to build for the future while being tied to its past.
A team known for its stability will be challenged this spring by the cost of the salary cap for veterans, forcing Steelers to carry out a complete reconstruction or another round of extensions and restructuring postpone payroll taxes for another year and keep Roethlisberger’s window open to a Super Bowl
“It’s very difficult,” the defensive striker said. Cameron Heyward. “Every year, the team looks completely different. I thank him that everyone in the locker room came to work, sacrificed, and their families. It wasn’t our year. We did great things, but we didn’t reach our goal. It hurts me to know that we will lose players. “
The Steelers, led by Executive Omar Khan, They are known for their ability to restructure contracts and distribute extension fees. However, this task is becoming increasingly difficult with players in the last years of their careers and with a lower capitalization.
Without any restructuring, veterans Roethlisberger, Pouncey, Heyward, David DeCastro, Stephon Tuitt, Joe Haden and Steve Nelson take 71% of a projected salary cap of $ 182.4 million, reduced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s entirely possible for me to leave next year,” Heyward said after Sunday’s loss. “I do not know what to expect. We are in unexplored territory, to say the least, and changes need to be made. This is part of the game. We all need to deal with this. “
Roethlisberger’s salary alone represents more than 40% of the 2021 ceiling, a significant cost for a team with 19 unrestricted free agents and a smaller hand with limited exclusive rights.
Of those free agents, five started at least one game in attack and five in defense. There are two more pillars of special equipment, inclusive Jordan Berry.
JuJu Smith-Schuster is scheduled to enter the market for the first time in his career, but on Sunday night he expressed a desire to stay in Pittsburgh.
“I would like to stay. I built a solid foundation. I like coach (Mike) Tomlin and coach Ike (Hilliard), everyone around me. They helped change the way I was. “
But the Steelers may not be able to keep him.
Even without retaining any of the free agents, it is estimated that the Steelers will exceed the limit by almost 31 million, with 35 players on the roster, according to the roster management system. ESPN. That means free agents like Smith-Schuster, Mike HiltonCam Sutton or even Bud Dupree will probably go.
The most Steele could reduce Roethlisberger’s success in 2021 is $ 19 million, either through a pension or an extension with a restructuring to distribute his base salary and list bonus. However, the allocation of $ 22.5 million? This money is spent and is money that cannot be used to strengthen the necessary emergency areas, such as the offensive line, running back and positions inside the defender for the start.
Roethlisberger noted after the match that he had not decided on his future, although a previous report Adam Schefter of ESPN, stressed that the defender intends to fulfill his last year of contract. Big Ben’s decision will determine how much – or how little – the Steelers are able to make in the free agency.