The Pittsburgh Steelers put the biggest dent in their salary cap situation yet with Friday’s release of veteran wide receiver Allen Robinson II.
The Steelers cleared $10 million in one fell swoop releasing Robinson. They did add a $1.9 million dead salary cap hit. There was not traditional roster displacement, as the Steelers immediately signed nose tackle Breiden Fehoko after releasing Robinson. Assuming Fehoko is making the veteran minimum, the Steelers will have netted over $9 million in the exchange.
The Steelers had been trying to bring Robinson back a reduced salary cap hit, and still could, but for now, they will be in the market for a starting slot wide receiver, in addition to their other needs.
After the move, the Steelers have about $25.4 million in 2024 offseason salary cap space, according to Steelers Now‘s estimate.
That number can be misleading. Before the start of the 2024 regular season, they will need to pay workout bonuses, sign their rookie class, account for the 52nd and 53rd players on the roster, sign a practice squad, account for players on the injured reserve and leave space for in-season acquisitions.
But for the first time this offseason, the Steelers figure to have enough room to fulfill all their offseason salary obligations. They have a functional $5.4 million in salary cap space to spend on free agents when the signing period opens next Wednesday — or before in the case of quarterback Russell Wilson, who was previously released.
They have several avenues of achieving further savings, as the team can cut, restructure, or extend the contract of several veteran players, including Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Alex Highsmith.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 2024 SALARY CAP BREAKDOWN
| Functional 2024 cap space (est.) | $5,440,798 | T.J. Watt | $30,418,694 |
| Cam Heyward | $22,406,250 | ||
| Estimated 2024 NFL salary cap | $255,400,000 | Minkah Fitzpatrick | $21,355,000 |
| Steelers 2023 salary cap rollover | $2,340,191 | Diontae Johnson | $15,833,334 |
| Steelers 2024 salary cap (est.) | $257,740,191 | Alex Highsmith | $13,933,000 |
| Larry Ogunjobi | $13,283,333 | ||
| Top 51 salaries | $217,487,213 | James Daniels | $11,166,668 |
| Dead cap hits | $14,842,153 | Isaac Seumalo | $10,191,666 |
| Cole Holcomb | $7,640,000 | ||
| Offseason cap space (est.) | $25,410,825 | Nate Herbig | $5,460,000 |
| Chris Boswell | $4,720,000 | ||
| Draft pool | $3,232,827 | Elandon Roberts | $4,667,500 |
| End of rule of 51 | $1,830,000 | Najee Harris | $4,151,460 |
| Practice squad (est.) | $4,000,000 | Damontae Kazee | $3,875,000 |
| In-season buffer/injured reserve (est.) | $10,000,00 | Kenny Pickett | $3,836,701 |
| Workout bonuses (placeholder) | $907,200 | Broderick Jones | $3,778,719 |
| Dan Moore Jr. | $3,235,000 | ||
| Joey Porter Jr. | $2,185,988 | ||
| Pat Freiermuth | $1,918,057 | ||
| George Pickens | $1,841,506 | ||
| Keeanu Benton | $1,666,619 | ||
| DeMarvin Leal | $1,414,608 | ||
| Darnell Washington | $1,216,798 | ||
| Isaiahh Loudermilk | $1,135,072 | ||
| Calvin Austin III | $1,111,084 | ||
| Nick Herbig | $1,083,231 | ||
| Denzel Mims | $1,055,000 | ||
| Connor Heyward | $1,023,806 | ||
| Mark Robinson | $1,013,089 | ||
| Jaylen Warren | $989,000 | ||
| Luq Barcoo | $985,000 | ||
| Marquez Callaway | $985,000 | ||
| Breiden Fehoko (est) | $985,000 | ||
| Dez Fitzpatrick | $985,000 | ||
| Thomas Graham Jr. | $985,000 | ||
| Kyron Johnson | $985,000 | ||
| Jonathan Marshall | $985,000 | ||
| Josiah Scott | $985,000 | ||
| Spencer Anderson | $934,446 | ||
| Kalon Barnes | $915,000 | ||
| Dylan Cook | $915,000 | ||
| Jalen Elliott | $915,000 | ||
| Devery Hamilton | $915,000 | ||
| Nate Meadors | $915,000 | ||
| Ryan McCollum | $915,000 | ||
| Jeremiah Moon | $915,000 | ||
| Darius Rush | $915,000 | ||
| Trenton Thompson | $915,000 | ||
| Rodney Williams II | $915,000 | ||
| Cory Trice | $816,109 | ||
| Tyler Beach | $795,000 |
Salary figures from Steelers Now sources, the NFLPA, and OvertheCap.com.
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