Steelers Are Looking To Get Their Money Back; Likely To Release These Players According To Pittsburgh Insider

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a bit of a frustrating end to their 2023 season. After what appeared to be a strong preseason performance by the offense, the Steelers seemed unable to get anything going during the regular season. They were fortunate that their defense was able to keep them in enough games for the team to finish the regular season 10-7. 

They even rallied at the end of the season to win their final three games, with quarterback Mason Rudolph starring as the unlikely hero. Unfortunately, they were not able to win in the postseason, losing the Wild Card game to the Buffalo Bills. Now they are thrust into the offseason earlier than they wanted and will have to start facing those difficult postseason decisions. Those decisions include who to keep and who to let go. 

Two reporters from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Chris Carter and Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo, discuss who they believe will stay and who will go. On a recent episode of Carter's show, The North Shore Drive Podcast, he asked Fittipaldo about some of the more questionable veterans on the roster, including Chukwuma Okorafor and Patrick Peterson.   

Will The Steelers Let Go Of Okorafor And Peterson?

The first player Carter brings up is Okorafor, who was benched this past season for disciplinary reasons, but stayed on the bench because rookie Broderick Jones outplayed him. It is more than just having Jones perform better, Carter reminded listeners that Okorafor is a $11.8 million cap hit. 

Carter doesn't see the Steelers taking that kind of hit for backup offensive linemen and noted that they would free up about $8.75 million. That makes this a no-brainer for the Steelers. Fittipaldo agrees and Carter asked him what other moves he expects the Steelers to make to clear up cap space for 2024. 

"I think another one and you know it's a big name, is defensive back Patrick Peterson. You look at his cap hit Chris and it's almost $10 million for 2024, a $9.7 million cap hit. The way they structured that contract, easily they can get out of it. There's a big roster bonus due in March and then you know his salary as well. I think they can save an upwards of about $6 million if they make that move."

Fittipaldo said that he really appreciates what Peterson brought to the team this year. While his on-field performance might not have been as consistent as fans would have liked, he was a tremendous help to rookie Joey Porter Jr. Peterson provided that veteran leadership that Porter needed his first season. 

"He was good in the locker room, he's a good team guy, but he's not a starting outside corner anymore," said Fittipaldo. "His exposure to safety, to me it was okay and in one regard, he made some plays, but tackling in open space was an issue for him. I didn't really like that out of him and I think if you're going to be a safety in the Steelers' defense, you have to be a better tackler. The best scenario for him, if he wants to continue to keep playing, is to play free safety, kind of a classic center fielder and the Steelers already have that in Minkah Fitzpatrick."

He said that fans and other analysts are tossing out other names, like Cameron Heyward, but he sees that as a different kind of discussion. Heyward and Peterson are not on the same plane as far as usefulness to the team. Carter agrees that it makes the decision to let Peterson go an easy one, according to Fittipaldo he is, "as good as gone."

Carter added that he really liked Peterson's initial versatility moving to safety. He felt that at first, he was not allowing receptions, but then opponents began to target him. He added that during those final four games of the season, Peterson was targeted six times and did not allow a single reception. 

But then in the playoff game against the Bills, they targeted him twice and he gave up two catches for about 43 yards, including a touchdown. So when you consider the team can save about $6.8 million in cap space, Carter agrees that it just makes sense to part with Peterson.  

The Steelers will have some big decisions to make during the offseason, including who to keep and who to let go. Like all NFL teams, they have to balance talent and cap space, looking at their most pressing needs. With the two rookies Porter and Jones stepping up, it seems like the services of Peterson and Okorafor won't be needed any longer. 

What do you think about Okorafor and Peterson? How do you feel the rookies did in their places last season? Click to comment below.

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