Free agency could cost us 3 starters and a lot of depth in 2016

[Coach]

I'd defer to those who follow the salary cap closely, but word is right now we are 3.5 million over the cap. As Colbert aptly put it, it won't take much to get the Steelers in compliance. Sure we cut Cortez Allen, and Suisham and re-work a few deals. This might only leave the Steelers enough money to sign the rookies and the cheapest veteran free agents.

Net-net, we are going to have thinner depth and will be promoting backups or rookies / 2nd years players to fill the holes.

The players in bold were starters last year. Others like Spence or Cockrell were very good role players


Steve McLendon He's better than McCullers, and likely gone.

Cam Thomas - Not a major loss but our depth at DL is an issue

Ramon Foster He was a solid and cheap player for years. Someone will offer him a better deal.

Bruce Gradkowski - Likely not asked back due to lack of funds. Jones is the backup...again

Antwon Blake - I'm pretty sure some guys on the board will help him pack.

Robert Golden - I like this kid's game. He's also a free agent and other teams might pick him up. I hope the Steelers give him a fair offer.

Will Johnson - Likely gone

William Gay - Will be a huge loss

Will Allen - Losing a lot of experience. Might stay if Golden leaves.

Michael Vick - I hope the Steelers cut him on well before August 26th. Why August 26th, it's national dog day. Vick can;t play anymore. No need to keep this guy around

Clifton Geathers - Meh

Darrius Heyward-Bey - A nice 4th WR. # Trade Wheaton for a 3rd if possible. We need to fill in the holes.

David Nelson - Meh

Byron Stingily - Meh

Doug Legursky - Likely not asked back.

Jordan Todman - He showed something late.

Sean Spence - A very good backup, I think he could start for a few teams. We can't afford to keep him, I think.

Brandon Boykin - He says he wants to stay. What players say and do depends on the money.

Terence Garvin - Tomlin likes him

Kelvin Beachum Color him gone. No way we can afford him


The potential good news? The Steelers should get quite a few compensatory draft picks in 2017. Possibly as many as 4 of them because we aren't spending much in free agency.
Trading down this year to pick up more draft picks is something I hope for.

 

[Litos]

Please do your homework before posting:
- Mike Adams is on contract for next season, cap hit: 1017k
- Roosevelt Nix is on contract for next season cap hit: 525k
- Ross Cockrell was already signed for next season, cap hit 600k
- Hubbard, under contract, cap hit 600k

Now to the other bolded players:
- I do agree that Beachum is probably gone, but he was not the starter last season, so not that big of a loss in perspective
- Will Allen is past his prime which wasn´t that great either, I rather keep Golden and draft a rookie with a high pick
- McClendon is not a hot commodity in FA, he might stay
- Gay is not young and is not that athletic, his skills are best served in a scheme like ours, he'll probably stay and for less than 6 millions a year
- Foster is like Gay, not young and not athletic so he won't cost much to keep, If we want to keep him
- Blake, who cares about Blake? I'd like him to stay at vet minimun for the 5th CB spot

 

[Coach]

Fixed the names.

 

[Litos]

Fixed the names.

the names? you mean the players you thought were FAs because you just like to post without researching

 

[Coach]

the names? you mean the players you thought were FAs because you just like to post without researching

The names on post one are the free agents. Sorry if I didn't see the news that Hubbard was re-signed.

Show me how you spend 5 million with the leftover free agents. I'll check in later.

 

[Litos]

The names on post one are the free agents. Sorry if I didn't see the news that Hubbard was re-signed.

Show me how you spend 5 million with the leftover free agents. I'll check in later.

i was showing you just how wrong your initial post was. And there will be more than 5 millions available, period.

 

[Coach]

i was showing you just how wrong your initial post was. And there will be more than 5 millions available, period.

You said that twice. Let's say there is 6 million in cap space to spend. Who do you think we can retain?

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Boykin did not say he wants to stay Coach. What he said is that we would be open to returning, big difference. He merely stated that he wasn't against returning to the Steelers, which many of us here thought he would be given the non usage of our best CB on the roster. He made a pc statement which is what intelligent players do when seeking their next contract.

That said his upside and age will make him a higher commodity on the open market than Gay, and he will likely command more $.

I think Gay returns and unfortunately we will probably resign Blake as well (ugh). That would give us Gay/Cockrell/Golson/Blake and probably a draft pick fighting it out with Grant for the last spot. I would much rather they also offer McCain whatever money they are willing to spend on Blake before offering Blake a contract to upgrade the depth. Add a S through the draft and maybe give Grant a try there as well if he is on the outs in the numbers game. Unfortunately I have a feeling we lose Golden Boykin and are left with Allen at vet min as the stop gap.

 

[Coach]

Fiji,

Lebeau is very familiar with Gay. The Titans are way under the cap according to the website I read. And one of their needs is a corner.

Connecting the dots, it makes sense.

If the Steelers lose Gay, their 30th ranked pass defense will go from bad to worse. While being ranked 30th of 32 teams is bad, its worse when you consider the defense faced 7 backup QB's in the 2015 season.

I'm with you on McCain. He's a solid #3 CB...better than Blake. As for Boykin I tend to think he's leaving. He did not play often here, and likley thinks its hurting him in free agency. I mean the Steelers played Blake and Cockrell ( Re-signed thanks ) over him last year.

 

[Litos]

You said that twice. Let's say there is 6 million in cap space to spend. Who do you think we can retain?

here it goes again:

- Cut Cortez Allen post June 1st, that covers the rookie class

- Restructure Timmons with an extension of 3 more years (would he accept 20M for 3 Years with a signing bonus of 6M?), prorate some of that 2016 money (8 millions) and keep it low on the signing bonus of the new contract so that if his abilities decline he could be cut in the final year (2019) with a low cap hit (2M from the prorated bonus + 2M from the signing bonus). That saves 8 millions

- Heath cap hit will be 4 millions and he will be in his last year, maybe extend him for a couple more and reduce his cap number to 2M. That saves 2M
- Heyward can be given a prorated bonus of about 8 millions which would reduce his cap hit next year from 10.400.000 to 2.400.000, keep in mind that this will increase 2 millions each year left on his contract: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. The biggest hit would be 2018 with 13.400.000 (which might mean peanuts by then). There you save 8M
- DeCastro is also in his final year, you have to extend him and try to prorate some os those 8M cap hit of next season to future years. Maybe 6 millions more there

That's 24 millions of cap space without counting Cortez Allen's cut or restructuring Ben.

Who would I re-sign?
- Gay 3 years, 12 M, 3M next year hit, 4M on 2017 and 5M on 2018. 5M guaranteed. That's more than fair value and he can be cut after 2017 without serious cap damage
- Golden, 2 years 3,5M
- McClendon: not sure on this one, 2 years 6M?
- Foster: 2 years, 5M. If he wants more I move Pouncey to LG and start fister Wallace at C. I bet Pouncey next to Villanueva would help his development a lot

The rest of them can be kept or not and it wouldn't really affect the team much salary wise as they could be kept at vet minimun. I'll miss Spence but he probably gets a better contract than we can offer him to be a backup when having already Vince Williams under contract and Garvin been groomed for a while and probably way cheaper

That's what? 10 Millions there of cap hit for 3 starters and Golden who can hold the fort while a rookie develops? Then I'd go for a mid level CB (6M cap hit), another S (4M hit), a vet DE, a vet OLB.

Well that's it, eager to read your opinion on this ramble

 

[ETL75]

Don't forget about either trading or cutting Suisham, which could save a few more $million. I'd be real good with Boswell going forward.

 

[Litos]

Don't forget about either trading or cutting Suisham, which could save a few more $million. I'd be real good with Boswell going forward.

Sushi is under contract until 2018, he'd cost us:
- 1.7M next season in dead cap and would open up 1.8M
- 1,14M on 2017
- 570K on 2018

We should really try to trade him for a 6th rounder

 

[kev4heels]

here it goes again:

- Cut Cortez Allen post June 1st, that covers the rookie class

- Restructure Timmons with an extension of 3 more years (would he accept 20M for 3 Years with a signing bonus of 6M?), prorate some of that 2016 money (8 millions) and keep it low on the signing bonus of the new contract so that if his abilities decline he could be cut in the final year (2019) with a low cap hit (2M from the prorated bonus + 2M from the signing bonus). That saves 8 millions

- Heath cap hit will be 4 millions and he will be in his last year, maybe extend him for a couple more and reduce his cap number to 2M. That saves 2M
- Heyward can be given a prorated bonus of about 8 millions which would reduce his cap hit next year from 10.400.000 to 2.400.000, keep in mind that this will increase 2 millions each year left on his contract: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. The biggest hit would be 2018 with 13.400.000 (which might mean peanuts by then). There you save 8M
- Timmons is due 15.000.000 on his final year (due to previous prorated bonuses). If cut he would save 8,75M but cost the rest and you lose a starter and proven solid player. I'd extend him for
- DeCastro is also in his final year, you have to extend him and try to prorate some os those 8M cap hit of next season to future years. Maybe 6 millions more there

That's 24 millions of cap space without counting Cortez Allen's cut or restructuring Ben.

Who would I re-sign?
- Gay 3 years, 12 M, 3M next year hit, 4M on 2017 and 5M on 2018. 5M guaranteed. That's more than fair value and he can be cut after 2017 without serious cap damage
- Golden, 2 years 3,5M
- McClendon: not sure on this one, 2 years 6M?
- Foster: 2 years, 5M. If he wants more I move Pouncey to LG and start fister Wallace at C. I bet Pouncey next to Villanueva would help his development a lot

The rest of them can be kept or not and it wouldn't really affect the team much salary wise as they could be kept at vet minimun. I'll miss Spence but he probably gets a better contract than we can offer him to be a backup when having already Vince Williams under contract and Garvin been groomed for a while and probably way cheaper

That's what? 10 Millions there of cap hit for 3 starters and Golden who can hold the fort while a rookie develops? Then I'd go for a mid level CB (6M cap hit), another S (4M hit), a vet DE, a vet OLB.

Well that's it, eager to read your opinion on this ramble

I think he answered your question Joel. LOL

 

[kev4heels]

Only thing I would change Litos is to go after a good CB or S.
Instead of bringing in two decent guys, I go after Trumaine Johnson at CB or Eric Berry at S.
I think the latter is a pipe dream. But, for 10mil, he could be had.
That way the draft need only require CB or S, OLB, and DL. Throw a TE or G in if desired.

Nice allocations though. Like your thinking. Not sure the Steelers do all of the restructures...but, I wish they would.
This is Ben's time with a fantastic offense. The defense is a few pieces away. Time to do what is needed in the short term instead of planning for the future.

 

[Litos]

Only thing I would change Litos is to go after a good CB or S.
Instead of bringing in two decent guys, I go after Trumaine Johnson at CB or Eric Berry at S.
I think the latter is a pipe dream. But, for 10mil, he could be had.
That way the draft need only require CB or S, OLB, and DL. Throw a TE or G in if desired.

Nice allocations though. Like your thinking. Not sure the Steelers do all of the restructures...but, I wish they would.
This is Ben's time with a fantastic offense. The defense is a few pieces away. Time to do what is needed in the short term instead of planning for the future.

yes you are right, but knowing this FO way of acting I doubt we go for the Home Run unfortunately. If it did happen I'd rather it be a CB than S as the chance to get a rookie CB contributing on his first year with such a high pick are slim to none

 

[SteelerAl]

What a "Coach" thread this is! The initial post is riddled with errors, he thinks we are $3.5 million over the cap (wrong) and he has no concept that we can create more cap space with the type of simple contract restructurings that we do EVERY year. How can someone who spends so much type on a Steelers message board know so little?

 

[FordFairLane]

Yeah, I agree we are not in as bad of cap shape as it looks. I feel McLendon probably gets a bigger deal elsewhere and when I say elsewhere I mean New England. I feel Gay won't be as coveted but probably pursued by Tennessee. I also think we can offer him enough to stay. Blake I just have a feeling will come back and mostly because no one wants him but Tomlin. That said I feel Cockrell and Gay would start and Golson will play nickel. Blake comes in as a dime guy at best and maybe the #1 backup since he knows all three CB positions which does have some value. I have a feeling we go OL or DL in the draft in the first then get a safety and CB not too far after.

 

[antdrewjosh]

I myself want Blake back for depth and special teams

 

[SteelerFan448]

That isn't a particularly impressive list of players. No outstanding starters on the list and while Beachum would be a loss, they survived this year without him. None of the backups will be in high demand, particularly the defenders. If the pass defense can be one of the worst in the league with those guys, they can be one of the worst without them. Maybe some fresh blood and a change of scenery for potential free agents would do some good.