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The Pittsburgh Steelers, along with 19 other NFL franchises, are onto the offseason and the preparations which take place during this time. Some of the biggest decisions a team has to make in the offseason is what to do with players who could stay or go via free agency.
Are they worth the money?
Would their pay match their production?
Or is it best to just let the player walk and find new pastures next season?
For the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Unrestricted Free Agents (UFAs) there aren’t as many tough decisions as many might think. During this brief exercise, keep in my the Steelers will have roughly $5 million in salary cap space once Ben Roethlisberger’s 2020 contract kicks in. How do you play? You look at the player, think about overall value to the team, salary cap implications and then predict whether the player will stay, or go.
Stay or Go?
B.J. Finney
Finney is an extremely versatile player for the Steelers, but as a perennial backup since being undrafted out of Kansas State, Finney will want a place where he can start. Can’t blame him for that, and would be shocked to see him back in 2020.
Go
Vance McDonald
The Steelers have a Club Option on McDonald’s deal next season, and while I can’t seem to find how much this option for 2020 would cost the team, there is no way I am paying him anywhere near the $6.5 million he cost the team in 2019. McDonald showed a ton of frustration this season, and I see the Steelers moving on.
Go
Artie Burns
Might be the easiest decision of them all. Burns already packed up his stuff and told teammates goodbye.
Go
Sean Davis
Another easy decision. With Minkah Fitzpatrick on the team there is no need for Davis. However, the former 2nd round pick will find a home somewhere. Just not Pittsburgh.
Go
Bud Dupree
I would love to keep Dupree, but am not sure how the Steelers could afford him and still be able to keep other players. As was mentioned on our Standard is the Standard podcast, you can hear it in the player below, do you really want to tie up a large chunk of your eventual cap space in your edge pass rushers, when T.J. Watt gets done with his rookie deal? I would franchise tag Dupree, and if you can’t come to terms on a long-term deal you get him for one more year before letting him walk.
Stay
Javon Hagrave
I don’t see how there is any way the Steelers can keep both Dupree and Hargrave. I feel it is a one or the other situation. In this regard, the Steelers let Hargrave walk. Hopefully Hargrave finds a team who is going to utilize him better than the Steelers have.
Go
Ryan Shazier
Shazier’s contract from 2018 tolled to 2019, and the Steelers didn’t have to make the extremely tough decision last year. But they will this year. Shazier is part of the family, but will the Steelers sign Shazier again to a veteran minimum deal, then place him on the Reserved/IR list? Or will they try to hire him as someone on staff? The toughest decision on the list, in my opinion.
Stay, somehow
Kameron Canaday
Are long snappers a dime a dozen? Don’t tell that to the fans who are still bitter over the Colin Holba draft pick, but Canaday seems to do a good job with the duties. No need to change things up just yet.
Stay
So, what do you think will take place between these UFAs? Let us know in the comment section below!