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Expiring Contracts and Contract Extensions - Discussion

deljzc

deljzc

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So.....

We have a LOT of expiring contracts in 2027. Many on the undrafted and year-to-year guys are kind of typical, but as with every year... we normally have some tough decisions on which "rookie contracts" or veterans we like to extend before they have a chance to hit unrestricted free agency.

These are the players that fall into this category:

QB Mason Rudolph (in a 2-year, $7.5M deal)
TE Jonnu Smith (extended into 2026, set to make $7M )
TE Darnell Washington (final year of 4-year rookie contract as a 3rd rounder)

WR Bennett Skowronek (final year of 2-year deal, making $2.225M)
OL Spencer Anderson (final year of 4-year rookie contract as a 7th rounder)
OL Broderick Jones (final year of 4-year roookie contract as a first rounder, we have option for 1-year deal at around $17.5M if we want it for 2027)
OL Calvin Anderson (final year of free agent deal, making around $2M)

DL Cameron Heyward (final year of big extension, roster bonus for 2026 of $12.950M roster bonus in March, base salary of $1.3M)
DL Keeanu Benton (final year of 4-year rookie contract as 2nd rounder)

LB Nick Herbig (final year of 4-year rookie contract as 4th rounder)
LB Malik Harrison (final year of free agent contract, set to make $4.750M this year)
LB Patrick Queen (final year of free agent contract, roster bonus of $2.5M + base salary of $10.830M for 2026)

CB Joey Porter Jr. (final year of rookie contract as 2nd rounder)
CB Brandin Echols (final year of free agent contract, making $3M this year)
CB Corey Trice (final year of 4-year rookie contract as 7th rounder)

K Chris Boswell (final year of deal, scheduled to make $3.120M this year)

That's a lot of guys of make decisions on who to extend. Any thoughts on who is a MUST SIGN, SHOULD SIGN, LET PLAY OUT, CUT?
 
QB Mason Rudolph - LET PLAY OUT
-QB is such a ? I could see Rudolph being the starter, backup, or cut.

TE Jonnu Smith - CUT
-Smith pretty much had a career average year aside from yards (blame his garbage route tree from the offensive design). I have no clue what anyone saw in Smith thinking he could fill the void of not having a WR2. Freiermuth and Washington are both better players.

TE Darnell Washington - SHOULD SIGN
-Washington is a dude, a hard-nosed football player. He's not a star, but a guy you win with who has improved in all aspects of his game.

WR Bennett Skowronek - SHOULD SIGN
-Top special teams player who's more than capable as a WR5, good blocker too.

OL Spencer Anderson - SHOULD SIGN
-OL depth is hard to find and Anderson at least has a defined role and is at least an adequate backup for multiple positions.

OL Broderick Jones - LET PLAY OUT
-This one is tough. Jones was improving as the season went on, but his lapses are real bad. I don't want a new coach to be locked into a player who may not be the long-term answer. Make Jones earn it on the field.

OL Calvin Anderson - LET PLAY OUT
-Unlike Spencer, he doesn't have the same defined role and he's not the strongest backup.

DL Cameron Heyward - SHOULD SIGN
-Between Tomlin retiring and probably some hard feelings over last year's hold out, I'm not sure if he will. Normally for a player this old I would say no, but at the right price, Heyward is a bit of unicorn playing at an elite level this deep into his career.

DL Keeanu Benton - SHOULD SIGN
-There's still untapped potential here and I don't think he'll cost too much.

LB Nick Herbig - MUST SIGN
-Highsmith and Herbig were probably both ahead of Watt this season. Pass rushers are tough to find and Herbig's first step is elite.

LB Malik Harrison - CUT
-I want size and toughness at ILB, I just think the Steelers need an upgrade.

LB Patrick Queen - CUT
-James Harrison said the Steelers let go of Patrick Queen in one of his podcasts (does he already know something we don't?). Besides that, Queen hasn't lived up to his contract.

CB Joey Porter Jr. - MUST SIGN
-Porter was flat out good this season. Best cornerback since Ike Taylor.

CB Brandin Echols - SHOULD SIGN
-He impressed and for the right price, I keep that CB depth in place.

CB Corey Trice - CUT
-He can't stay on the field.

K Chris Boswell - MUST SIGN
-Keep one of the best kickers in the league.
 
Regarding the draftees, sign Washington, Spencer Anderson, Keanu Benton, Herbig and Porter Jr.

From those whi came as free agents: sign Boswell, Echols, Skowronek.
Cut Jonnu Smith and Malik Harrison. Let the rest play it out
 
SteelerFan448 said:
QB Mason Rudolph - LET PLAY OUT
-QB is such a ? I could see Rudolph being the starter, backup, or cut.

TE Jonnu Smith - CUT
-Smith pretty much had a career average year aside from yards (blame his garbage route tree from the offensive design). I have no clue what anyone saw in Smith thinking he could fill the void of not having a WR2. Freiermuth and Washington are both better players.

TE Darnell Washington - SHOULD SIGN
-Washington is a dude, a hard-nosed football player. He's not a star, but a guy you win with who has improved in all aspects of his game.

WR Bennett Skowronek - SHOULD SIGN
-Top special teams player who's more than capable as a WR5, good blocker too.

OL Spencer Anderson - SHOULD SIGN
-OL depth is hard to find and Anderson at least has a defined role and is at least an adequate backup for multiple positions.

OL Broderick Jones - LET PLAY OUT
-This one is tough. Jones was improving as the season went on, but his lapses are real bad. I don't want a new coach to be locked into a player who may not be the long-term answer. Make Jones earn it on the field.

OL Calvin Anderson - LET PLAY OUT
-Unlike Spencer, he doesn't have the same defined role and he's not the strongest backup.

DL Cameron Heyward - SHOULD SIGN
-Between Tomlin retiring and probably some hard feelings over last year's hold out, I'm not sure if he will. Normally for a player this old I would say no, but at the right price, Heyward is a bit of unicorn playing at an elite level this deep into his career.

DL Keeanu Benton - SHOULD SIGN
-There's still untapped potential here and I don't think he'll cost too much.

LB Nick Herbig - MUST SIGN
-Highsmith and Herbig were probably both ahead of Watt this season. Pass rushers are tough to find and Herbig's first step is elite.

LB Malik Harrison - CUT
-I want size and toughness at ILB, I just think the Steelers need an upgrade.

LB Patrick Queen - CUT
-James Harrison said the Steelers let go of Patrick Queen in one of his podcasts (does he already know something we don't?). Besides that, Queen hasn't lived up to his contract.

CB Joey Porter Jr. - MUST SIGN
-Porter was flat out good this season. Best cornerback since Ike Taylor.

CB Brandin Echols - SHOULD SIGN
-He impressed and for the right price, I keep that CB depth in place.

CB Corey Trice - CUT
-He can't stay on the field.

K Chris Boswell - MUST SIGN
-Keep one of the best kickers in the league.
Click to expand...
I’m agree with you here! I’d also add Kenny Gainwell to the list of must sign. I like him paired with Jaylen Warren.
 
WindyCitySteel said:
Meh. Both are RBBC/backups. We need another Bussy or Bell, not a stable of Eric Pegrams.
Click to expand...



We have a Caleb Johnson. Both Warren & Gainwell are not star RBs, they need contracts reflecting that.
I think Warren’s is friendly currently.

EDIT:
Bozwell needs to be re-signed, but not as highest kicker in the nfl. He is aging, showed some vulnerability during the season.



Salute the nation
 
Last edited:
Drink IRON City said:
We have a Caleb Johnson. Both Warren & Gainwell are not star RBs, they need contracts reflecting that.

EDIT:
Bozwell needs to be re-signed, but not as highest kicker in the nfl. He is aging, showed some vulnerability during the season.



Salute the nation
Click to expand...
Gainwell was the best WR on the team this year.
 
SteelBuckeye said:
Gainwell was the best WR on the team this year.
Click to expand...



We can’t sign him as a WR, he is a RB depth.

It also shows we need to address that WR room, big time.

Roman Wilson may be a part of the room, but the other 3-8 are easily replaced and hardly what is considered depth. Calvin Austin is included in the 3-8, R.Wilson is an unknown due to the preempted coaching regime.


Salute the nation
 
QB Mason Rudolph (in a 2-year, $7.5M deal) Play out deal
TE Jonnu Smith (extended into 2026, set to make $7M ) Cut
TE Darnell Washington (final year of 4-year rookie contract as a 3rd rounder)Should sign

WR Bennett Skowronek (final year of 2-year deal, making $2.225M) Play out deal
OL Spencer Anderson (final year of 4-year rookie contract as a 7th rounder) Extend if the money is right
OL Broderick Jones (final year of 4-year roookie contract as a first rounder, we have option for 1-year deal at around $17.5M if we want it for 2027) Play out deal and extend after 2026 if he locks down starting left tackle
OL Calvin Anderson (final year of free agent deal, making around $2M) I don't know enough about him

DL Cameron Heyward (final year of big extension, roster bonus for 2026 of $12.950M roster bonus in March, base salary of $1.3M) Play out deal
DL Keeanu Benton (final year of 4-year rookie contract as 2nd rounder) Sign to backended contract so Steelers can cut after 2027 season if play doesn't lift under new coaches and scheme

LB Nick Herbig (final year of 4-year rookie contract as 4th rounder) Must sign
LB Malik Harrison (final year of free agent contract, set to make $4.750M this year) Cut
LB Patrick Queen (final year of free agent contract, roster bonus of $2.5M + base salary of $10.830M for 2026) Play out

CB Joey Porter Jr. (final year of rookie contract as 2nd rounder) Must sign
CB Brandin Echols (final year of free agent contract, making $3M this year) Play out
CB Corey Trice (final year of 4-year rookie contract as 7th rounder) Play out - possible cut if they draft a cornerback.

K Chris Boswell (final year of deal, scheduled to make $3.120M this year) Should sign

That's a lot of guys of make decisions on who to extend. Any thoughts on who is a MUST SIGN, SHOULD SIGN, LET PLAY OUT, CUT?


You left out Jalen Ramsey final year $19.5m - Pay cut or roster cut.
 
SteelBuckeye said:
Gainwell was the best WR on the team this year.
Click to expand...
Gainwell was the best offensive player this year. By all accounts a positive locker room guy and great teammate. He should be resigned. If we can sign Art Smith rejects, we can sign Gainwell.
 
TheDudeAbides said:
Gainwell was the best offensive player this year. By all accounts a positive locker room guy and great teammate. He should be resigned. If we can sign Art Smith rejects, we can sign Gainwell.
Click to expand...
I don’t know why a new coach wouldn’t want his return. I have a feeling he would welcome it too.
 
probs depends on who the new HC want. dont know the direction he will want to go toward
 
Cut Jones, Queen, Smith

Trade Ramsey and Watt

Re-sign Washington, Harrison, Boswell
 
Skott said:
Cut Jones, Queen, Smith

Trade Ramsey and Watt

Re-sign Washington, Harrison, Boswell
Click to expand...
Jones contract is fully guaranteed so no point cutting him, as there are no cap savings. If you have to pay him anyway and don't see him as the starter, may as well still keep him as backup.
 
Aussie_Steeler said:
Gainwell is a free agent this year, this was a list of players going into the last year of their contract.
Click to expand...
It stated contract extensions and expiring contracts!
Is his contract not expiring?
Hello McFly!
 
steelhurt said:
It stated contract extensions and expiring contracts!
Is his contract not expiring?
Hello McFly!
Click to expand...
First sentence "We have a LOT of expiring contracts in 2027". If it was referring to contracts expiring 2026 there were about 20 other players missing. You must have been looking in the mirror when you said "Hello McFly!".
 
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Isn't James Pierre a FA?

He played great when given an opportunity this season, but will be 30 in 2026.

I'm a little surprised he's that old, as it doesn't seem like the Steelers signed him out of college that long ago.

It kind of feels like Pierre was someone who the Steelers should have been playing more in recent years instead of going out and signing aging star CBs like Ramsey, Slay and Patrick Peterson.
 
You offer Gainwell a similar deal as Warren got. Don't mess with that backfield rotation.

But, the new coach will definitely have a say in this one.
 
Man that's alot of bodies.
 
WindyCitySteel said:
Meh. Both are RBBC/backups. We need another Bussy or Bell, not a stable of Eric Pegrams.
Click to expand...
Hard disagree. We have no "Bussy or Bell" on our roster right now, Gainwell is a very crafty player that a good OC can use in a multitude of ways. The Steelers should make an honest push to keep him in the building
 
Omar10213245 said:
Hard disagree. We have no "Bussy or Bell" on our roster right now, Gainwell is a very crafty player that a good OC can use in a multitude of ways. The Steelers should make an honest push to keep him in the building
Click to expand...

That and teams do not really need a feature back to have a great offense anymore. It's been that way for awhile now.

It's obviously a huge plus to have one on the roster, but having two decent backs to rotate behind a good, consistent OL will get the job done.
 
Omar10213245 said:
Hard disagree. We have no "Bussy or Bell" on our roster right now, Gainwell is a very crafty player that a good OC can use in a multitude of ways. The Steelers should make an honest push to keep him in the building
Click to expand...
Also, with Kaleb in the room too, we shouldn't be investing draft picks in RBs
 
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