Javon Hargrave's tricky contract

[Hunter Homistek]

Got another one from Dale Lolley for you today. It's an interesting look at the Steelers' D-line situation (contractually) and it paints a ... not-so-great picture for the future. Hargrave is crazy cheap right now on his rookie deal. Heyward and Tuitt make up 18.4% of the team's salary cap hit for 2019. When it's Hargrave's time to get paid ... look out!

Anyway, Dale puts it much better than I can. You can read his full breakdown right here.

Side note: You do need to be a subscriber to read this one in full. TO THAT END, we've launched an official deal with Steeler Nation where you get 50% off a one-year subscription (good for the entire Steelers season and more). It's just $20 through the link AND Steeler Nation gets $10 of that. We're trying to give back and help the entire Steelers community grow and thrive. This, we think, will help accomplish that.

Get the deal right here.

 

[Steelerfan81]

The Steelers have some tough decisions to make, and some cap room to make. I wonder if they will try to pile a bunch of money into the cap free year that most see coming with the CBA set to expire.

I like Tuitt but he's been vastly overpaid since he signed that contract. Wish we wouldn't of given him so much.

 

[Drink IRON City]

T^hanks for the heads up on boith the article and the subscription.

I think the entire NFL has been leaning to capitalizing on the play of cheap rookie contracts. It's not a bad thing and it does make the rookie sort of have to prove it before being paid millions before the first snap (helps alleviate high paid busts). All that said I bet the new CBA will have a negotiating point on just the rookie salary and length of contract. Like it or NOT, the owners are going to have to commit more overall money to the salary cap than what the current CBA allows. I don't claim to be a cap expert or CBA guru but I do know that the STEELERS do have a lot of $$coin$$ invbested in their "DL" and it isn't getting younger so a hard look at restructure of both Cam & Stephone might be in the works.


Thanks for your input Hunter and I enjoy your post(s) along the way.





Salute the nation

 

[SteelerSask2]

They would have paid Bell and Browns contract was huge. Hard to believe this team could be up against the cap. I personally dont believe Hargrave is worth s big contract. In fact I wouldn't have a problem with drafting a true nose.

 

[Drink IRON City]

I think we have $$$21 mil dead big titties money on this year's cap. That will free up some but I think Ryan has 8mill against the cap also, maybe I'm not remembering Ryan's part right???



Salute the nation

 

[SteelerSask2]

I believe Shazier is off the books. He has a 400k salary.

 

[Ike Kelly]

Got another one from Dale Lolley for you today. It's an interesting look at the Steelers' D-line situation (contractually) and it paints a ... not-so-great picture for the future. Hargrave is crazy cheap right now on his rookie deal. Heyward and Tuitt make up 18.4% of the team's salary cap hit for 2019. When it's Hargrave's time to get paid ... look out!

Hunter, I know Dale really encapsulates the situation pretty well in his article; however, with the fact that SB’s 22 mil won’t be on the book and the cap is expected to go up another 10 mil, should this not provide ample room to resign these guys coming off their first contract and Joe?

I like what I’ve heard from Layne, but I don’t expect anything until year two or three at the latest.


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[Hoot]

Thanks Hunter - good article.
Also, Dale did a piece a few days ago about the AB impact on the cap situation. He went further than just the dead money.

 

[Coryea]

I like Tuitt, but he has the 3rd highest cap hit on the team behind Ben and Cam. He is a solid player, but not nearly consistent enough to have that kind of cap hit. I think they viewed Tuitt the way they did young AB, gave him a contract on what they thought he'd turn into, but Tuitt hasn't lived up to that yet.
Tuitt only plays 66% of the snaps, he is vastly overpaid.
Hargrave only played 44% of the snaps this past season, you can't give him big money if that's all the more he's going to play.

 

[SteelerFan448]

The Steelers are in decent shape in terms of contract extensions for this year. Hargrave, Hilton, and Haden are the names in question and while I'd love to see all get new deals, I don't think they're all necessary either. Hargrave and Hilton are both part time players and shouldn't command top dollar. Haden has really helped our secondary, but he is at the point of his career where age is a concern and the Steelers have a highly paid veteran on the opposite side. Ideally you get at least one done this offseason, but I could see them letting all three hit the open market.

 

[F83]

before giving him a new deal they need to determine whether we will stay 3-4 or incorporate some 4-3 because then Hargrave gives you versatility as both a DT and DE, and Tuitt in a 4-3 would want as the anchor as a LE while cam would be the NG and Hargrave the 3 T and if you keep Dupree you can rotate him at times as a stand up and 2 hand in DE.
Can also use Watt at times as DE.

 

[Vader]

before giving him a new deal they need to determine whether we will stay 3-4 or incorporate some 4-3 because then Hargrave gives you versatility as both a DT and DE, and Tuitt in a 4-3 would want as the anchor as a LE while cam would be the NG and Hargrave the 3 T and if you keep Dupree you can rotate him at times as a stand up and 2 hand in DE.
Can also use Watt at times as DE.

I haven't looked it up but they probably play more 2 DL fronts than they do 4 DL fronts.

 

[Coryea]

I haven't looked it up but they probably play more 2 DL fronts than they do 4 DL fronts.

You don't have to look that up, that's 100000% true.

 

[Coryea]

The Steelers are in decent shape in terms of contract extensions for this year. Hargrave, Hilton, and Haden are the names in question and while I'd love to see all get new deals, I don't think they're all necessary either. Hargrave and Hilton are both part time players and shouldn't command top dollar. Haden has really helped our secondary, but he is at the point of his career where age is a concern and the Steelers have a highly paid veteran on the opposite side. Ideally you get at least one done this offseason, but I could see them letting all three hit the open market.

If Davis doesn't do anything this year, wouldn't mind sliding Haden over to FS at some point.

 

[21STEELERS21]

Problem for Steelers is Hargrave is only a part-time player for them and would be a full-time player on a 4-3 team. A 4-3 team can afford to pay him more
because he offers them more production.

 

[SteelerSask2]

Problem for Steelers is Hargrave is only a part-time player for them and would be a full-time player on a 4-3 team. A 4-3 team can afford to pay him more
because he offers them more production.

Nail on the head. Let him walk. Easily replaced.
PS. Couldn't they excercise an option on him like they did with Spuds Dupree to keep him for one more while they draft a DT/ NT in the second or third.

 

[Coryea]

Problem for Steelers is Hargrave is only a part-time player for them and would be a full-time player on a 4-3 team. A 4-3 team can afford to pay him more
because he offers them more production.

The bigger problem for the Steelers is that Tomlin doesn't ******* see the obvious, that he should be a full time player, along with Tuitt, and carry an extra Dlinemen to rotate through, the defense should rarely be without 3 DLinemen on the field.

 

[F83]

I haven't looked it up but they probably play more 2 DL fronts than they do 4 DL fronts.

I will break by 50 inch if I see heavy 2-4-5 3-2-6 I can live with but not 2-4-5 u need 3-3-5 as well

 

[bermudasteel]

I like Tuitt, but he has the 3rd highest cap hit on the team behind Ben and Cam. He is a solid player, but not nearly consistent enough to have that kind of cap hit. I think they viewed Tuitt the way they did young AB, gave him a contract on what they thought he'd turn into, but Tuitt hasn't lived up to that yet.
Tuitt only plays 66% of the snaps, he is vastly overpaid.
Hargrave only played 44% of the snaps this past season, you can't give him big money if that's all the more he's going to play.

Isaiah Buggs says, "hi"...

 

[bermudasteel]

Letting Hargrave walk would be a HUGE mistake. The kid is coming into his own - REMEMBER THIS - Keith Butler is still putting his stamp on this defense. Since he's (Coach Butler) been here, we've been in the top 2 for sacks over the past two seasons. Hargrave has had his share of those sacks - and he truly doesn't need to be on the field for 3 downs because they rotate Tuitt inside w/ Heyward and have the OLBs on the edges (not my favorite front)...

Enter I. Buggs - kids, you're in for a treat this year!!! MORE PRESSURE from the inside and Buggs is a run-stopper. Should Tuitt walk - we'll be fine w/ Hargrave, Heyward and Buggs up front.

 

[Vader]

Letting Hargrave walk would be a HUGE mistake. The kid is coming into his own - REMEMBER THIS - Keith Butler is still putting his stamp on this defense. Since he's (Coach Butler) been here, we've been in the top 2 for sacks over the past two seasons. Hargrave has had his share of those sacks - and he truly doesn't need to be on the field for 3 downs because they rotate Tuitt inside w/ Heyward and have the OLBs on the edges (not my favorite front)...

Enter I. Buggs - kids, you're in for a treat this year!!! MORE PRESSURE from the inside and Buggs is a run-stopper. Should Tuitt walk - we'll be fine w/ Hargrave, Heyward and Buggs up front.

Butler has had less and less control of this defense since he started. Tomlin has even taken over much of the play calling. Now with Butler taking over the LBs Tomlin will have more control of the defense. This isn't Butler's defense... it's Tomlin's.

 

[SteelChip]

Butler has had less and less control of this defense since he started. Tomlin has even taken over much of the play calling. Now with Butler taking over the LBs Tomlin will have more control of the defense. This isn't Butler's defense... it's Tomlin's.

At one point in time I would have debated that statement but this last year the clues were floating to the surface more and more. In my opinion anyway.

 

[SteelerFan448]

If Davis doesn't do anything this year, wouldn't mind sliding Haden over to FS at some point.

Is it bad that I completely forgot about Davis?

 

[F83]

butler did a great job developing LB's into our system its just the bums that couldn't hit the field (Zo, Davis, JJ cut) Hopefully with nelson and if burns rebounds a or layne is able to play the cover 2 works well

 

[Ike Kelly]

Nail on the head. Let him walk. Easily replaced.
PS. Couldn't they excercise an option on him like they did with Spuds Dupree to keep him for one more while they draft a DT/ NT in the second or third.

Nope. Option year is only for 1st rounders. Expect that to be removed on the next CBA


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