We’re through the first big wave of 2023 free agency and the Pittsburgh Steelers have done their part when it comes to signing several unrestricted free agents from other teams. With the ink now dry on all the players’ contracts, I can update you as to where the Steelers sit from a 2023 salary cap perspective entering Monday.
Currently, the Steelers are expected to be $11,255,152 under the cap with 63 players under contract. The latest player added to the roster, guard Isaac Seumalo, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles, is expected to carry a 2023 salary cap charge of $3,443,333 after agreeing to a three-year, $24 million contract.
The Steelers have already restructured the contract of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and while they are likely to do the same with outside linebacker T.J. Watt, that’s now likely to happen later in the offseason. The team is also now past roster bonus dates for four players who were set to receive them this past week: wide receiver Diontae Johnson, center Mason Cole, kicker Chris Boswell, and tackle Chukwuma Okorafor.
Moving forward in free agency and the offseason, we’re sure to see the Steelers re-sign a few more of their own unrestricted free agents and possibly even to veteran benefit contracts. Additionally, the team sure could stand to add a cheap tackle or two ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, especially with them only having two, Okorafor and Dan Moore Jr., under contract at this point.
With the addition of two free agent guards this offseason, the status of guard Kevin Dotson now must be questioned moving forward. Dotson is scheduled to earn a base salary of $2.743 million in 2023 and thus he might now be a trade candidate.
The Steelers will likely extend the contract of outside linebacker Alex Highsmith at some point before Week 1 but that’s not likely to happen until closer to the start of training camp.
As of this Monday morning, the Steelers have a long list of their own unrestricted free agents who remain unsigned. That list includes safety Terrell Edmunds, defensive end Chris Wormley, defensive tackle Tyson Alualu, inside linebacker Marcus Allen, safety Karl Joseph, tight end Zach Gentry, fullback Derek Watt, quarterback Mason Rudolph, wide receiver Miles Boykin, running back Benny Snell Jr., tackle Trent Scott, and guard Jesse Davis.
The Steelers entered the start of the 2023 NFL league year on Wednesday $10,409,318 under the cap and they are now almost back to that starting point once again.
