Could Steelers Make Isaac Seumalo a Cap Casualty This Offseason?
p/c: Sebastian Foltz - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
On Friday evening, the Pittsburgh Steelers released outside linebacker Preston Smith - a move expected by many.
Prior to the release of Smith, the Steelers were projected to have $40 million, in available cap space, and now that figure is somewhere over $50 million.
It’s unclear how much fat Steelers GM Omar Khan will ultimately trim off the roster this offseason. Perhaps one name, who could find himself as a possible candidate, is veteran offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo.
Pittsburgh had brought in Seumalo, before the 2023 season, on a three-year contract for $24 million. Assistant general manager Andy Weidl seemed to have played a role, in the signing of Seumalo, as Weidl had been with the Philadelphia Eagles’ organization, while Seumalo was there.
The 31-year-old left guard missed the first four weeks of the season, recovering from a pectoral injury that he sustained during a preseason practice.
For the 2024 season, Seumalo was a serviceable, LG. According to Pro Football Focus, he rated out slightly above average, as both a pass blocker and run blocker.
Seumalo will enter next season in the final year of his current deal. It comes with a cap hit of around $10.1 million, which could make him an interesting case, as a cap casualty.
As the Steelers will have themselves a very favorable, salary cap situation this offseason, that figure might be enough, for the organization to tolerate. Also, the offensive line that includes Broderick Jones, Zach Frazier, Troy Fautanu, and Mason McCormick, are all on rookie contracts. Keeping around a veteran, like Seumalo, who is a steady, guard, when healthy, would seem to make logical sense.