Due to his salary cap hit, cornerback Donte Jackson was criticized by the Pittsburgh Steelers for his acquisition. The Steelers have resolved that matter, though.
On March 18, Over the Cap revealed that Jackson and the Steelers have reached an agreement on a new one-year contract with a guaranteed $4.75 million.
This implies that Jackson will be subject to a $6 million cap hit in 2024, per Over the Cap. For the forthcoming season, his initial cap hit was $10.52 million.
On March 12, Jackson was acquired by the Steelers from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for wide receiver Diontae Johnson. Additionally, the teams decided to trade late Day 3 selections.
Pittsburgh was selected with the 178th overall pick, and Carolina was selected with the 240th pick.
The Steelers now have a little bit more cap space thanks to Jackson’s new contract. On March 18, Over the Cap revealed that the Steelers have $15.65 million in cap space left over from this summer.
In the NFL, that is presently ranked 22nd.
However, the Steelers may increase their cap room in the summer by renegotiating some contracts or extending existing ones. On the defensive end of the ball, those reworked deals in Pittsburgh have their top candidates.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and edge rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith were identified by SI.com’s All Steelers’ Noah Strackbein as potential for contract restructuring. Cameron Heyward, a defensive lineman, may also be granted an extension to lessen the $22.4 million salary charge for him.
Currently, Watt, Heyward, Fitzpatrick, and Highsmith make up about 34% of the team’s cap room.
Following Jackson’s restructuring, the Steelers will have a new starting cornerback with a $6 million cap cost. During the previous season, Jackson started 16 games for the Panthers and recorded 59 total tackles, including 5 pass defenses.
Jackson has 303 combined tackles, 46 pass defenses, and 14 interceptions in 80 NFL games. Throughout his career, he has started 76 games.
Reducing Jackson’s cap charge makes the Steelers slightly more successful after the Jackson-Johnson trade. The additional cap space, however, is crucial.
The Steelers are still in need of players at safety, wide receiver, and center. The squad might also benefit from having more depth at cornerback and along the defensive line.
To replace Dan Moore Jr., Pittsburgh may also add a new right tackle and move 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones from left tackle to left tackle.
Omar Khan, the general manager, will utilize the draft to address a number of those requirements. In the first two rounds of the draft, the Steelers might select a No. 2 wide receiver and their next starting center.
However, the Steelers are probably not done with free agency either. The star players are committed, but over the next weeks, Khan may bring in some excellent depth players at reasonable costs.
Whether he is successful in continuing to renegotiate the contracts of other Steelers defense players will determine how many additions he can make.
As of March 18, the Steelers are second in the AFC North in terms of cap space, according Over the Cap. In terms of salary cap space, the Cincinnati Bengals are among the best in the league.
$30.9 million still to be spent.
There are around $14.1 million and $5.9 million left for the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns, respectively.
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