Steelers Pre-Free Agency Defensive Depth Chart

The Pittsburgh Steelers offense depth chart was laid out yesterday, and as was clear, the depth chart on that side of the ball is significantly lacking in some areas. 

The defensive side of the ball is in good shape on the outside, but that may not last. The main cause of the issues is the current state of the team’s salary cap, which is approximately $30 million in the red entering free agency. Expensive aging veterans are penciled in as starters, but because of the cost/benefit ratio of their salaries, they may become expendable. If that occurs, then the defensive depth chart has major holes like the offensive depth chart does.

The special teams depth chart is also different with Jordan Berry once again becoming a free agent while Ray-Ray McCloud is an expensive restricted free agent.

General manager Kevin Colbert and salary cap guru, Omar Khan will have many sleepless nights between now and when free agency starts. They will have to pull a David Copperfield and get cap compliant by the first day of the league year, March 18, but they will also have to pull an elephant-sized rabbit out of their hat so the team does not depend on inexpensive players who should be fine-tuning their skills instead of seeing significant playing time in the NFL on Sundays.

DEFENSIVE END

Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, Henry Mondeaux, Calvin Taylor

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Carlos Davis, Isaiah Buggs, Demarcus Christmas

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith

INSIDE LINEBACKER

Devin Bush, Vince Williams, Ulysees Gilbert III, Tegray Scales

CORNERBACK

Joe Haden, Steven Nelson, Justin Layne, James Pierre, Trevor Williams, Stephen Denmark

SAFETY

Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds, Antoine Brooks Jr., John Battle

SPECIALIST

LS: Kameron Canaday, Christian Kuntz

K: Chris Boswell

P: Corliss Waitman

KR: Anthony McFarland, Jr., James Pierre

PR: Diontae Johnson, James Pierre