The Steelers did not chose JuJu Smith-Schuster over Steven Nelson

It’s a story that simply gained’t appear to go away. For some motive, two very completely different gamers at completely different positions on the alternative sides of the ball with very completely different contract conditions are being in contrast to one another in an “either-or” scenario. Aside from the very fact the information broke concerning the Pittsburgh Steelers permitting cornerback Steve Nelson to hunt a commerce solely minutes earlier than the report of JuJu Smith-Schuster signing a contract for the 2021 season, these two strikes by the Steelers have comparatively nothing in frequent.

But the 2 participant’s scenario appear to be unfairly linked.

When these two tales broke, it made sense to consider that they have been in some way associated. They have been presumably the largest strikes the Steelers have linked to them thus far this offseason they usually have been reported inside quarter-hour of one another, so it it’s solely pure to consider they’re associated. The preliminary numbers even appear to line as much as make these strikes equal. After all, when the intricacies of the numbers come out saying in any other case, it’s typically a good suggestion to depart the false narrative behind and transfer ahead with the right data.

Sure, JuJu Smith-Schuster signed a one-year deal for $8 million. Sure, Steven Nelson would save the Steelers $8.25 million towards the 2021 wage cap ought to he be traded or launched. However these numbers, and others concerned, are usually not what they appear.

Due to the void years, JuJu Smith-Schuster‘s wage cap hit for 2021 is just $2.4 million and really solely modified the Steelers wage cap by $1.74 million after factoring in roster displacement. If the studies are true, Zach Banner’s 2021 wage cap hit is increased than that of JuJu Smith-Schuster. An argument may very well be made that if anybody value Nelson his job, it will be Banner. But the wage cap hit after displacement for each Banner and Smith-Schuster mixed is simply over half of the $7.59 million financial savings that Steelers would have after roster displacement with out Nelson on the workforce.

So who’s in charge for the Steelers presumably parting methods with Steven Nelson? It’s easy. Steven Nelson.

Sure, an argument may very well be made the Steelers are selecting Joe Haden over Steven Nelson. However all of the wage strikes haven’t performed out but to know if that is truly the case. All we do know is it the Steelers knew a $14.42 million wage cap hit for 2021 was an excessive amount of to take into the season with Nelson. This didn’t essentially imply the Steelers solely possibility was to maneuver on from their beginning cornerback. In truth, we’re not precisely positive what brought on the 2 events to wish to go in numerous instructions.

Whether or not or not the Steelers signed JuJu Smith-Schuster, Zach Banner, and even Joe Haeg didn’t immediately lead to Steven Nelson apparently being on his method out of Pittsburgh. It was the wage cap scenario, and the necessity to cut back Nelsons quantity for 2021 no matter different strikes. We don’t know if the Steelers seemed to increase Nelson to be able to decrease his $8.25 million wage which may very well be unfold out over a number of years. There’s a great likelihood they tried to, but it surely simply looks as if the 2 events couldn’t come collectively or Nelson’s present and future worth.

Right here is the last word take a look at if the 2 strikes are associated: If Steven Nelson would have agreed to a contract extension to decrease his wage cap quantity for 2021, it will have had no bearing on whether or not or not the Steelers have been capable of signal JuJu Smith-Schuster. Likewise, had Smith-Schuster selected to take certainly one of his different high quality provides relatively than return to Pittsburgh, it nonetheless wouldn’t change the truth that Steelers wanted to do one thing with Nelson’s contract. The Steelers nonetheless must clear a whole lot of cap house by the autumn regardless that they’re presently below the $182.5 million set forth by the NFL. Contract extensions and restructures comparable to Nelson’s, together with different strikes, are going to be crucial in some unspecified time in the future.

When working this take a look at to see if these strikes would have occurred independently of the opposite, it’s fairly obvious these two conditions are usually not linked as they might have occurred whatever the different. The Steelers have been going to want to search out extra cap house for 2021. The Steelers have been going to proceed to signal free brokers to construct their roster for subsequent season. To line one particular participant’s addition to a different participant’s doable subtraction, particularly when they don’t seem to be on the similar place, merely isn’t truthful.

In the end, the Steelers doubtlessly parting methods with Steven Nelson doesn’t have something to do with JuJu Smith-Schuster or some other particular free brokers the workforce has signed. It in the end comes right down to the numbers, and the Steelers merely can’t have too many base salaries over a specific amount counting in direction of the 2021 wage cap.

The Steelers selected to signal JuJu Smith-Schuster for the 2021 season. The Steelers selected to permit Steven Nelson to hunt a commerce. Each strikes are the Steelers merely doing enterprise within the offseason. It wasn’t an “either-or” scenario any greater than the opposite strikes the Steelers have made.

UPDATE: Since this text was printed, Steven Nelson has been formally launched by the Steelers.