The Steelers, along with the rest of the NFL, are preparing for the start of the 2020 regular season. When the season starts, and what it will look like, are unknowns at this time. Will fans be in stadiums or will the league take a bath on the usual revenue gained from having fans in attendance?
Regardless of how it looks, teams still are doing work to sign players and get their finances in order prior to the start of the regular season. This is especially true for the Steelers organization, who won't negotiate any contracts once the season begins.
Before going any further, it is worth noting how much space the team currently has remaining, as it pertains to the 2020 salary cap (all numbers are courtesy of OverTheCap.com):
Team Cap Space: $5,702,794
Some fans might see the above amount and think it is an improvement for the usual cap-strapped Steelers, but this number doesn't include the amount it will cost to sign their six-player rookie class. How much will that cost?
Rookie Class Cost: $4,872,493
Do the math, and you realized just how close the Steelers are to the cap. But all is not lost, the team has options. They could always restructure contracts to a player such as David DeCastro, but to really create more space would be to give one, or more, players a new contract to decrease their cap hit in 2020.
There are plenty of players who would like to get a new contract prior to the start of next season, but only a few will get an offer from the team before the regular season begins. Here is a list of players who should be in line for a new deal. They are prioritized based on their current salary cap hit, as well as their past performance determining whether they should receive a new deal.
Cam Heyward
Current cap hit: $13,251,250
Heyward is the defensive captain, and the leader of the Steelers. Giving him a new contract not only would keep him within the organization for the rest of his professional career, but would also significantly decrease his salary cap hit for 2020. Heyward has played at an All-Pro level for the majority of his second contract, and the Steelers would be wise to get him signed prior to the season starting. Heyward should be the Steelers' top priority.
Bud Dupree
Current cap hit: $15,828,000
Having Dupree on the list probably won't be something fans approve of, but his guaranteed $15 million cap hit is steep. Dupree and T.J. Watt provide those bookend pass rushers the Steelers love having on defense, and getting Dupree a long-term contract would help decrease that $15 million number and keep the defense stellar for years to come. With that said, it is doubtful the Steelers are capable of giving both Heyward and Dupree new contracts before the start of next season.
Matt Feiler
Current cap hit: $3,259,000
Feiler is the most versatile player on the Steelers' offensive line, and it isn't even debatable. His ability to play tackle and guard, at a high level, makes him extremely valuable to the offense. Feiler signed his second round tender this offseason, and the Steelers can give him a new contract to nullify the tender and increase his overall value, all while keeping his cap hit in 2020 low. Feiler deserves a contract to help solidify the line in the future.
Mike Hilton
Current cap hit: $3,259,000
Like Feiler, Hilton signed his second year tender this offseason, but the odds of him getting a new deal anytime soon are slim. Hilton has proven valuable to the defense, but he could have priced himself out of town with the slot cornerback market skyrocketing over the past few years. One player to also consider in this equation is Cam Sutton, who also is going to be a free agent after the 2020 season, and could be a lot cheaper than Hilton. Sutton's versatility, and price tag, could equate to him getting the new deal over Hilton, but if the Steelers value Hilton they can absolutely extend a new deal to keep him in black-and-gold for the long term.
These moves would not just help the Steelers remain successful at key positions, but would also help the team's dreadful salary cap situation.
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