With the 2026 NFL Draft now behind us, and with the latest unrestricted free agent tendering of QB Aaron Rodgers now full, it’s time to replace the 2026 Pittsburgh Steelers’ wage cap state of affairs.
It’s price noting that whereas the Steelers now have 10 new gamers because of the draft, none of them are at the moment contained in the staff’s Rule of 51 as every solely counts at the least base wage till signed. Moreover, not one of the six undrafted free brokers signed by Steelers have had their contracts entered into the NFLPA system as of the time of this put up. Which means we’re ready to seek out out the signing bonus of every to know precisely how a lot wage cap house shall be used.
Not too lengthy after the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Steelers signed WR Brandon Johnson to a one-year contract, they usually terminated the contract of WR/QB John Rhys Plumlee. These two transactions are accounted for on this wage cap replace.
Relating to the tendering of Rodgers, he now counts in opposition to the wage cap with a cost of $15.105 million. He’ll proceed to take action till he both retires this offseason, indicators with one other staff, or indicators a distinct contract with the Steelers. That $15.105 million cost clearly used up fairly a little bit of the obtainable 2026 wage cap house the staff had previous to the draft. In actual fact, almost half of it.
As of Friday morning, the Steelers are $14,790,782 underneath the cap and that’s loads of room to work with for the following a number of weeks. That obtainable wage cap house will simply enable for the staff to signal its whole 2026 draft class and all undrafted free brokers.
Shifting deeper into the offseason, the Steelers will clearly have forthcoming wage cap prices. Clearly, the signing of the draft class and all undrafted free brokers can have the following vital impression on obtainable wage cap house.
Because the Steelers’ Rule of 51 sits proper now count on almost $4.7 million of wage cap house for use on all of these signings. That quantity accounts for offset within the Rule of the 51. Under are the estimated contract totals for the ten gamers drafted by the Steelers this yr, per Over the Cap. A great portion of the 2026 draft class must be signed after subsequent weekend.
Additional out from the draft class and undrafted free agent signings, the Steelers might want to price range for a full observe squad, a 52nd and 53rd participant on their lively roster, offseason harm settlements, offseason exercise bonus quantities, gamers who begin the 2026 season on the Reserve/Injured listing, and an in-season buffer house quantity. I’ve projected these itemized forthcoming Steelers wage cap prices as totaling roughly $16 million.
Primarily based on my projected quantities of the draft class, undrafted free brokers and different forthcoming offseason wage cap prices, the Steelers at the moment have an estimated destructive $4,797,118 in efficient 2026 wage cap house. That’s proper, that quantity is sort of $5 million over the cap at this level. Clearly, the Steelers can’t go over the cap this offseason, so we are actually more likely to see both some impactful contract terminations or some contract restructuring after we get nearer to the beginning of the 2026 common season. Maybe even each.
The Steelers nonetheless have a number of offseason contract restructuring candidates in TE Pat Freiermuth, WR DK Metcalf, and OLB T.J. Watt, ought to the staff finally have to create wage cap house. The staff additionally has a number of prime offseason contract termination or commerce candidates in ILB Malik Harrison and QB Mason Rudolph. Moreover, a number of Steelers gamers who at the moment comprise the highest 51 cap prices received’t finally be underneath contract come the beginning of the 2026 common season.
Because the offseason progresses, we count on to see CB Joey Porter Jr. signal a contract extension later in the summertime. TE Darnell Washington, OLB Nick Herbig, DT Keeanu Benton, and Ok Chris Boswell are additionally offseason contract extension candidates as nicely. Porter, Washington, and Boswell are most likely the very best contract extension bets in the case of that listing of 5 gamers. Some extra 2026 wage cap house shall be wanted and thus must be used on no less than three of these 5 gamers listed ought to they signal contract extensions after present cap cost offsets happen.
Earlier than I wrap up this 2026 Steelers wage cap replace, it’s vital to notice that S Jalen Ramsey at the moment sits with a cap cost of $17.229 million and that’s as a result of the NFLPA accounts for his $7.4 million August possibility bonus as not solely being exercised however prorated out over 5 years as nicely. Ought to the Steelers resolve to not prorate Ramsey’s possibility bonus, his 2026 cap cost will improve.
However, the Steelers might prorate Ramsey’s possibility bonus along with restructuring a superb chunk of his $10 million base wage proper earlier than the beginning of the 2026 common season. Ought to that route be taken, Ramsey’s present 2026 wage cap cost quantity will drop significantly.
Whereas I do notice that this present cap house replace doesn’t match the quantities listed on different websites, my numbers match the NFLPA’s official quantity to the penny, so I can assure it’s proper. If there are any questions, please put up them within the remark part under this put up, and I’ll attempt to reply them all through Friday and Saturday.
I’ll put up my subsequent Steelers 2026 wage cap replace after a number of members of the draft class are signed together with the entire undrafted free brokers.
