Based on public remarks and actions, the pittsburgh steelers seem to be content with giving kenny pickett another chance at becoming their next quarterback. But that hasn’t stopped the national media from speculating about upgrades they could make, and the biggest splash they could make this offseason would be the addition of vikings quarterback kirk cousins. Cousins has improved as a quarterback since coming off of a torn achilles injury, and he is unquestionably the best option on the market.
But that does not mean pittsburgh is interested, as they want to give pickett another chance and have publicly stated their intention to re-sign mason rudolph. Cousins’ top landing team, the steelers, was named by sports illustrated on thursday. “the steelers need a proven quarterback, and they have plenty to offer cousins with a talented group of skill players and a mentor in mike tomlin, who has had a great season in 17 years. Outside of the 49ers, the steelers make the most sense roster wise, and they could make a good financial deal. Pittsburgh’s cap space problems aren’t as severe as san francisco’s, because the steelers can cut a handful of veteran players who aren’t in their long-term plans.
The steelers can cut wide receiver allen robinson to easily create $10 million in cap space, for example. They’re now $13.8 million more than their salary cap, according to the article. Cousins wants $90 million in a two-year deal, according to charley walters of the pioneer press. “bozz now is that it will take $90 million for two years, despite the fact that he has yet to fully recover from achilles surgery in november,” walters wrote. With the releases of mitch trubisky and chuks okorafor, pittsburgh cleared up some cap space.
Okorafor made the biggest leap, opening up $8.75 million in cap space, while trubisky’s departure saved the team $2.9 million. Harvin, who was still on his first day, didn’t contribute much cap savings in his release. Since relegation, the steelers are now about $5.4 million over the salary cap heading into free agency, so they still have work to do to become salary cap compliant.
