A little misleading....
First, that doesn't include David DeCastro and us picking up his rookie "option year" for $7 million.
Second, that doesn't include anything for Cameron Heyward. I'm pretty sure we're either going to work out a new deal or franchise tag him. Same thing for our starting LT (Kelvin Beachem) and starting LG (Ramon Foster) and starting NT (McLendon) and starting CB (William Gay).
The only player currently on the books for 2016 that won't be on the team is Polamalu so that saves $5.75 million.
Finally, in addition to not counting starters DeCatro, Heyward, Beachem, McLendon, Gay and Foster, the total is still only for THIRTY (30) players total out of a needed 53 to make a roster.
Even if you say each of the 23 players needed only costs $500,000 each that's using up $11.5 million of the so-called "available funds". And we know that's not going to happen.
Overall, 2016 looks similar to this year but should have a lot less dead money (no more Woodley). We should be in overall good shape to fill in what is becoming a LOT of holes on the team and because of below average drafting we will have to enter the free agent market more aggressively than we've seen in Pittsburgh for probably a decade plus.
This is a complete result of fewer players from 2007-2009 draft classes being on the roster making 2nd contract dollars and the final remnants of the Cohwer-era players finally gone (only Miller and Roethlisberger are left in their 3rd contracts).