Pittsburgh Steelers’ best, worst salary values in 2024
The Pittsburgh Steelers have some good compensation values set for the 2024 season. However, they also have certain players on the squad who are paid well but provide little worth to the team.
Here’s a look at the Steelers’ best and worst deal values for the 2024 season, using salary cap data from Over The Cap.
Steelers’ best contract values 2024
QB Russell Wilson
2024 cap hit: $1.21 million
Russell Wilson Wilson will fight with Justin Fields to be the Steelers’ starting quarterback. If Wilson wins that challenge and performs pretty well, the Steelers will be praised for acquiring an above-average quarterback for pennies on the dollar. That would be a huge coup for Steelers general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin, given that Wilson is now the 28th or 29th highest-paid starting quarterback according to Over The Cap’s 2024 salary cap figure.He fills in at that position due to the Denver Broncos’ quarterback situation, which is either Jarrett Stidham or rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Of course, if Wilson performs well, the team will have to consider extending him, but that is a topic for later.
There is almost no risk in signing a starting quarterback with his level of experience for the league minimum. If Wilson has a good season and leads the Steelers to their long-awaited postseason victory, the signing is a stroke of genius. If it doesn’t work, there is no harm done to the 2024 team, who will see what Fields can do. It is a win-win situation for the Steelers in 2024 and perhaps beyond.
ILB Patrick Queen
2024 cap hit: $6.113 million
The Steelers spotted a player who may make a difference for their squad in a time of need and signed him. That’s the end of it, correct? No, not only did they sign Queen, but Khan also structured the first year of the contract so that Queen has the 25th highest cap number in the league in 2024, according to Over The Cap. That is merely the icing on the metaphorical cake.
SS DeShon Elliott
2024 cap hit: $2.25 million
DeShon Elliott, a veteran safety, was a good value signing for the Steelers in a position of need. They didn’t have anyone capable of playing the position last season, and Elliott should be able to come in and provide the squad with above-average performance at the position.
Unless a player is a premium safety, the position has been devalued in terms of contract size — especially for strong safety positions, which appear to have become plug-and-play. However, the Steelers tried it in 2023 and found it unsuccessful. Elliott only needs to be a competent football player for the Steelers at that position, and the deal is a steal for the organization. And at his cap figure this season, that represents tremendous value.
Worst contract values for 2024
DL Larry Ogunjobi
2024 cap hit: $13.283 million
The Steelers were in a pickle when they first signed DL Larry Ogunjobi as a free agency during the 2022 offseason, eventually committing him to a three-year contract the following season. Unfortunately, he has only 4.5 sacks in his Steelers career, and it is insufficient for the 11th highest-paid defensive lineman in 2024. Ogunjobi has averaged 2.25 sacks per season since joining the Steelers. As astute as Khan is, Ogunjobi’s productivity has yielded a poor return on investment.
ILB Cole Holcomb
2024 cap hit: $7.64 million
2023 free agent signings ILB Cole Holcomb was playing well for the Steelers until November 2, 2023, when he was hit by friendly fire from safety Damonte Kazee and suffered a serious knee injury. It is unclear whether he will play for the Steelers in 2024. That’s terrible because he’s set to be their highest-paid inside linebacker.
