The 2025 NFL Draft will get underway two weeks from as we speak and the Pittsburgh Steelers presently have 75 gamers below contract following the current re-signing of T Calvin Anderson. With the Anderson contract particulars now identified and with the 2025 useless cash cost for former WR Mike Williams accounted for, it’s time to replace the staff’s wage cap scenario as soon as once more.
As of Thursday morning, the Steelers are $32,365,766 below the cap in terms of their Rule of 51 quantity. That quantity matches the NFLPA public wage cap web page now that it has lastly instituted the Rule of 51 as of Thursday morning.
Whereas the Steelers have nicely greater than $30 million in 2025 wage cap area proper now, we’re nonetheless ready to see how a lot of which may probably be used on QB Aaron Rodgers, who continues to be anticipated to signal with the staff sooner or later. Moreover, the Steelers are prone to prolong OLB T.J. Watt’s contract sooner or later in the course of the offseason and such a transaction ought to decrease his 2025 wage cap cost of $30,418,695 considerably.
As much as this a part of the offseason, the Steelers have but to restructure any participant contracts to unlock further wage cap area. Whereas I don’t assume the staff will finally have to restructure any contracts for the rest of the offseason, there are two major gamers who’re targets for such transactions in TE Pat Freiermuth ($7,211,250) and OLB Alex Highsmith ($7,886,667).
The Steelers have a number of forthcoming wage cap prices that may finally must be absorbed by the beginning of the 2025 common season. These are pretty straightforward to roughly predict. I’ve predicted these forthcoming prices, which embody the offset of the 2025 draft class signings, a full observe squad, offseason exercise bonuses, 52nd and 53rd gamers, offseason damage settlements, and in-season area buffer, totaling out to $15,737,131, or roughly proper round $16 million. This implies the Steelers have $16,628,635 in projected efficient wage cap area as of Thursday morning.
It will likely be fascinating to see if the Steelers wind up getting contract extensions completed with gamers not named Watt this offseason. S DeShon Elliott may be a candidate for one sooner or later. Whereas I don’t assume it finally occurs, it’s no less than believable that WR George Pickens might additionally signal a contract extension this offseason. Moreover, it’s life like that Okay Chris Boswell might obtain a money elevate for 2025 later this offseason. Ought to such a elevate occur, and never be a part of a contract extension, Boswell’s present 2025 wage cap cost might rise somewhat bit.
When the Steelers lastly set up their Week 1 53-man roster, somewhat extra 2025 wage cap area may be created relying on gamers presently inside the Rule of 51 having their contracts terminated.
From wage cap and money spending standpoints as we sit right here two weeks out from the 2025 NFL Draft, the Steelers are in nice form. Clearly, the following huge domino to observe fall is said to the signing of Rodgers, if certainly that finally occurs. If any vital extensions, signings, or terminations occur forward of the draft getting underway, I’ll as soon as once more present one other full wage cap replace.
