Pittsburgh Steelers
Capped outPittsburgh Steelers are carrying $44.9M in dead money this year — cap already spent on players no longer on the roster. They project $11.3M OVER the 2027 cap before signing a single player — restructures, extensions or cuts are required to get compliant. Real flexibility doesn't arrive until 2028 (projected +$100.8M), as current deals roll off. The decisions that shape it: T.J. Watt ($42.0M), D.K. Metcalf ($38.4M), Michael Pittman, Jr. ($26.1M) top the 2027 book.
Cap trajectory
Projected space, next three years
2026+$10.8M
$310.3M committed
2027−$11.3M
$338.3M committed
2028+$100.8M
$251.2M committed
Space is OTC's projection against a projected future cap. Negative = over the line before any new signings.
Decision watch-list
Biggest 2027 cap hits
| T.J. Watt | $42.0M |
| D.K. Metcalf | $38.4M |
| Michael Pittman, Jr. | $26.1M |
| Nick Herbig | $25.2M |
| Cameron Heyward | $23.5M |
| Jalen Ramsey | $21.7M |
Ranked by cap hit — the contracts that drive the restructure-or-cut call. Per-player cut-savings math isn't modeled yet.