PITTSBURGH — The Steelers finished the season strong with seven victories in their final nine games to finish 9-8. The future looks bright with the emergence of some rookies on offense that should be ready to take some big steps in their development next season, most notably quarterback Kenny Pickett and receiver George Pickens. They were the Steelers' first two picks in the 2022 draft and were big factors in the team winning as many games as it did down the stretch.
With Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren under contract at running back and tight end Pat Freiermuth and receiver Diontae Johnson also under contract for the next two years, the Steelers don't lack for talent at the skill positions.
The Steelers need the offense to be better next season because they have a strong but aging defense that is running out of time to play for a championship. T.J. Watt is one of the best players in the NFL, and he's missed the postseason three times in his six-year NFL career. The Steelers are failing him by wasting his prime years. The same goes for Minkah Fitzpatrick, who has made the playoffs twice in his four seasons with the team. Cam Heyward, who will turn 34 in May, has missed the postseason five times in his 12-year career.
The Steelers aren't rebuilding in 2023. They're in position to return to the playoffs if they make a few shrewd moves in the offseason.
The Steelers have roughly $17 million in cap space now and will have much more when the new league year begins in March. They already know they won't have William Jackson III's $12.75 million cap hit on the books. If he does return to the Steelers, it will be under terms of a new and reduced contract. And general manager Omar Khan will have an opportunity to create more space to sign pending Steelers free agents and outside free agents.
Here are some of the decisions he faces in the coming weeks:
— ILB Myles Jack — Jack had a groin injury late in the season that led to him being on the field less. The injury opened the door for Robert Spillane and Mark Robinson, and they helped the Steelers earn wins down the stretch. What the Steelers have to decide is if Jack is still an impactful player worth the $11.2 million cap hit he'll be on the books for next season. They can save $8 million on their cap by cutting him. Given Jack's production when healthy — he led the team in tackles with 104 — and the lack of depth at the position, the Steelers might not have a choice. Decision: Keep him.
— QB Mitch Trubisky — Trubisky is under contract for one more year, but he's a $10.2 million cap hit. The Steelers can save $8 million on their cap if they cut him or trade him. The question is whether they can sign someone with his skills for less money to be the backup. Decision: Cut him.
— CB Ahkello Witherspoon: He signed a two-year, $8 million deal last spring but played in just four games due to a nagging hamstring injury. When he did play, he was among the worst corners in the league. Opposing quarterbacks completed 76% of the passes thrown his way and had a 126 quarterback rating when targeting him. When you factor in that the Steelers can save $4 million on their cap if they cut him, it's a no-brainer. Decision: Cut him.
— CB Levi Wallace — He signed an identical two-year, $8 million deal, and while he had his ups and downs, he was trending in the right direction by season's end. He was second on the team with four interceptions and would fit best as the No. 3 corner. Decision: Keep him.
— K Chris Boswell — The last time Boswell had a bad season, the Steelers withheld his $2 million roster bonus that was due in mid-March and pushed it back until after the final preseason game. Boswell agreed and had one of his best seasons in 2019. He was good in 2020 and 2021, too, but he was just 20 of 28 last season. The Steelers could ask him to do that again, but if he declines, the Steelers have to absorb a $5.6 million dead cap hit, and then they'd have to go find a kicker. Decision: Keep him and hope 2022 was a one-year blip.
— WR Gunner Olszewski — He lost his job as punt returner early in the season and played sparingly on offense. With Calvin Austin III and Steven Sims playing similar roles, there's no reason to keep him. There's no dead cap hit if they cut him, and they can save $2 million on their cap. Decision: Cut him.
The Steelers have 18 unrestricted free agents they have to make decisions on in the next couple of months:
— DL Larry Ogunjobi — The Steelers signed him to a one-year, $8 million prove-it deal, and he started 16 games after he failed a physical with the Bears last spring. He's a good player when he's healthy, but he turns 29 this summer and has a significant injury history. He proved he can stay on the field this year despite being a regular on the injury report and not practicing very much. Will he want to recoup the $40 million he lost out on when the Bears decided against signing him, or will he be comfortable returning to the Steelers on a similar deal? Decision: Sign him for around $20 million over two years.
— ILB Devin Bush — The writing has been on the wall for Bush since May when the Steelers did not pick up the option on his rookie contract. It was marked in bold print late in the season when he played 10 snaps in the final two games. He'll go down as one of the biggest draft busts of former GM Kevin Colbert's tenure, but his ACL injury in 2020 played a big role in the decline in his play. Decision: Let him walk.
— ILB Robert Spillane — All the Steelers do is try to replace him, and all Spillane does is show up and continue to get on the field. By the end of the season, Spillane was a full-time starter and was productive as a starter. The Steelers need to address inside linebacker, but Spillane is valuable on the right kind of deal. Decision: Sign him.
— CB Cam Sutton — He's a starting outside corner with the versatility to play in the slot, which makes him a valuable member of the secondary. He just played out the final year of a two-year contract that paid him $9 million. Doing another two-year deal for around $12 million makes sense. He turns 28 next month and remains in his prime. Decision: Sign him.
— S Terrell Edmunds — Edmunds played in 15 games and had 70 tackles but no interceptions, fumble recoveries or forced fumbles. He went through free agency last year and had minimal interest. He re-signed for one year and $2.3 million. Decision: Sign him if he wants to come back for $3 million to $4 million per year on a short-term deal.
— S Damontae Kazee — Had two interceptions in 273 defensive snaps after returning from an arm injury. He's a good player, but he turns 30 this summer. Decision: Sign him to another one-year deal.
— QB Mason Rudolph — He's as good as gone. Decision: Let him walk.
— FB Derek Watt — Watt scored two touchdowns and was effective in short-yardage situations, but he was not as effective on special teams. He made just three solo tackles all season (down from 13 last season). Plus, he's 30. Unless he wants to come back for the league minimum, the Steelers have to find players to improve their special teams this offseason. Decision: Let him walk.
— DL Tyson Alualu — It was a nice six-year run, but it's time to move on. Alualu, who turns 36 in May, lost his starting job early in the season and played sparingly after that. Decision: Let him walk.
— OLB Malik Reed — Reed was acquired because the Steelers weren't happy with their outside linebacker depth entering the season. He had one sack and 25 tackles in nearly 400 snaps before he was a healthy scratch in the final two games. The Steelers went with Jamir Jones instead as their backup outside linebacker, and they'll look to bring in a better player to be the backup in 2023. Decision: Let him walk.
— DL Chris Wormley — He's 29 and suffered a late-season ACL injury. Decision: Potential early to midseason signing if his rehab goes well.
— ILB Marcus Allen — The Steelers paid Allen $2.54 million to make 12 tackles and to take bad penalties on special teams. They can find someone else to be the personal protector on the punt team and for much less money. Decision: Let him walk.
— OL Trent Scott — Only played in extra linemen packages because neither tackle was injured all season. If the Steelers draft a left tackle early, Dan Moore Jr. becomes the swing tackle, so his future with the Steelers is iffy. Decision: Let him walk.
— OL Jesse Davis — Dressed for 14 games because Kendrick Green was not ready to be a backup. He turns 32 in the summer, and the Steelers can add younger depth behind their starters. Decision: Let him walk.
— S Karl Joseph — Was having a good camp before he picked up a season-ending ankle injury, but he turns 30 in September. Decision: Sign him to compete for a roster spot.
— WR Miles Boykin — He's a good special-teams player the Steelers should consider bringing back for the league minimum. Decision: Sign him.
— RB Benny Snell — Snell fell to third on the depth chart, so he's likely to seek employment where he has more of an opportunity to play. Decision: Let him walk.
— TE Zach Gentry — Gentry is a good blocker who played nearly half the offensive snaps as the Steelers leaned on two-tight-end sets. He also contributed 19 catches for 132 yards. Decision: Sign him.
