The Pittsburgh Steelers are now into the offseason, following a year in which they had high hopes for Super Bowl success, but ultimately fell short of even reaching the postseason at 8-8. It was a tumultuous season, both on the field and within the roster, and the months to follow figure to have some drama as well, especially in light of the team’s failure to improve upon the year before.
The team made some bold moves over the course of the past year, and some areas of the roster look quite a bit different than they did a year ago, or even at the start of the regular season. Whether due to injuries or otherwise, a lot has transpired, and we’re left to wonder how much more will change prior to September.
How will Ben Roethlisberger’s rehab progress as he winds toward recovery from an elbow injury that cost him almost the entire season? What about some of the key young players, some of whom have already impressed, others still needing quite a bit of growth? Will there be changes to the coaching staff? The front office? Who will they not retain in free agency, and whom might they bring in?
These are the sorts of questions among many others that we have been exploring on a daily basis and will continue to do so. Football has become a year-round pastime and there is always a question to be asked, though there is rarely a concrete answer, as I’ve learned in my years of doing this.
Question: Will Ramon Foster be a salary cap casualty this offseason?
In terms of longstanding veterans, 11-year left guard Ramon Foster is clearly on the top of the list in terms of those who find themselves in a more vulnerable position than they have in some time. Really, Foster has not had reason to be concerned about job security for quite a while.
However, with the team likely tight against the cap in the same offseason in which they hope to retain the services of a quality starting pass rusher, he will be a prime candidate for release—a virtual guarantee should they re-sign B.J. Finney—following those who are a virtual given such as Anthony Chickillo and Mark Barron.
Foster comes with a $4 million base salary in 2020, and should the front office find that cap space useful, it could spell the end for the 34-year-old as he looks to continue his career. His earlier comments at the end of the season certainly seemed to suggest that he has every intention of playing next season whether it’s with the Steelers or with another team, but obviously he would prefer to stay here.
