Just hours after the conclusion of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers have released inside linebacker Jon Bostic.
Bostic, who joined the team before the 2018 season, started alongside MLB Vince Williams and primarily provided run-stuffing abilities. Pro Football Focus graded Bostic as the second-most efficient tackler in the NFL last season.
The Steelers selected three linebackers in the 2019 NFL Draft, most notably Devin Bush, the team’s first round selection. The release of Bostic will leave the team in $700,000 in dead cap, while saving $1.8 million for 2019.
Bostic was only considered a temporary fix for the Steelers hole at the middle linebacker position while GM Kevin Colbert found his replacement for Ryan Shazier. Now that Bush (along with the other two linebackers Sutton Smith and Ulysses Gilbert) have arrived, the need for Bostic was no more.
The path for Bush to earn the starting position next to Williams has now been paved completely clear with the release of Bostic.