4 free agents the Steelers can sign thanks to increased salary cap

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 03: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers talks with Cameron Sutton #20 and Terrell Edmunds #34 during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field on January 3, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 03: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers talks with Cameron Sutton #20 and Terrell Edmunds #34 during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field on January 3, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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Mike Tomlin, Damar Hamlin
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 01: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 01, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

The NFL increased the salary cap for the 2023 offseason, which gives teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers an advantage.

Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin have a busy offseason ahead of them.

Khan will have his first full offseason at the helm, and free agency is where he excels. Khan’s background is on the financial side of football. He can look at a player and tell you exactly how much he’s worth, given the position and ability.

Pittsburgh has some obvious holes to fill this offseason. Whether that’ll come through the NFL Draft or free agency remains to be seen, but the Steelers need help up front on the offensive line, and in the secondary. Not to mention, Pittsburgh has their own free agents to worry about, should they want to keep those players around.

It’ll be a long spring and summer in the Steel City. It’s time for the Steelers to surround Kenny Pickett and Tomlin with talent. The new salary cap is $224.8 million per club. Let’s see what Pittsburgh can do with it.

Steelers rumors: Bring back Cameron Sutton

Cam Sutton has to be near the top of the Steelers priority list.

Pittsburgh’s secondary was an obvious hole last season beyond the likes of Minkah Fitzpatrick. Sutton was arguably their best cover cornerback, and should earn near $8 million per season on a multiyear contract, per Spotrac’s projection.

So, can the Steelers afford that?

Pittsburgh is tight against the salary cap, per Over The Cap, but that includes projections to re-sign the likes of Sutton, should they choose. The Steelers can rework several contracts already on the team to clear up more salary cap room, or they can approach Sutton in hopes of pushing some of that money back a few years.

The Steelers defense is already one of the more expensive units in all of football. It’s about to have even more money allocated to it if Sutton comes back.