Notice: Undefined offset: 1 in /home/digit572/adidasblog.com/wp-content/themes/jnews/class/ContentTag.php on line 86
[ad_1]
PITTSBURGH — The primary spherical of the 2021 NFL Draft will likely be pivotal within the construct of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line.
On Wednesday, Steelers normal supervisor Kevin Colbert joined a convention name with reporters to debate a variety of matters. As he prepares to construct this workforce for the 2021 season, there is a clear concern on how a lot the Steelers can do beneath a decent wage cap state of affairs.
One main problem that must be addressed is the offensive line. The Steelers will lose Maurkice Pouncey (retirement) and presumably Matt Feiler and Alejandro Villanueva as their contracts expire on March 17.
“I do not know the place the free company half will go for each Matt and Al,” Colbert stated. “We all know Maurkice will not be again with us. How that comes collectively, it is going to be ongoing.”
The GM gave perception into the place the Steelers are contemplating going in the case of placing collectively a beginning offensive line for subsequent season. With an estimated $15 million to create earlier than they break even in cap house, Colbert stated Pittsburgh is trying on the NFL Draft to land prospects.
“The draft itself, it’s stronger on the sort out place than it’s on the inside,” Colbert stated. “Heart and guard, historically, shouldn’t be a really sturdy group. In any draft, the tackles are unusually deep this yr. I feel we will add gamers by means of the draft.”
He did admit the Steelers will look to maintain their gamers first, which means Villanueva and Feiler will not less than be spoken to when negotiations start. Nonetheless, it is a tough state of affairs to say resigning two offensive linemen who struggled in 2020 is a better precedence than names like Bud Dupree, Mike Hilton and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Colbert additionally stated the Steelers will look in free company for solutions to the offensive line. The workforce stays within the strategy of deciding the way forward for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who at the moment carries a $41.25 million cap hit into the season.
Colbert, together with Artwork Rooney II, was clear that Roethlisberger’s return means he’ll have to decrease his cap hit for the season, liberating up cap house for the Steelers.
“Hopefully, there’s a approach we might try to work out and do what’s greatest for the group and do what’s greatest for Ben,” Colbert stated. “And hopefully, he’ll be capable of do this and really feel the identical approach we do. However there’s loads of work that must be carried out. Not solely with Ben, however simply with the entire unrestricted free agent class and our entire cap state of affairs as properly.”
The Steelers have 24 gamers set to hit the open market this offseason.
Noah Strackbein is a Writer with AllSteelers. Observe Noah on Twitter @NoahStrack, and AllSteelers @si_steelers.
[ad_2]
Source link