Steelers, Tuitt Agree To Restructured Contract; More Cap Space Created

By Jason Hall

August 16, 2021

Washington Football Team v Pittsburgh Steelers
Photo: Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers made another move to free up more cap space heading into the 2021 NFL season.

ESPN's Field Yates reports the Steelers and defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt agreed to a restructured contract on Monday (August 16).

The new deal converted Tuitt's $7.925 million base salary into a signing bonus, which freed $6.34 million in cap space for the upcoming season.

Additionally, Behind the Steel Curtain reports Tuitt was due to earn more than $500,000 from the NFL for being under contract for the 17th game since his previous deal was signed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which may mean he took more than a half million dollar pay cut if the new deal is a typical restructure and the Steelers didn't add any additional amount.

NFL players who signed contracts under the previous CBA but have a league minimum base salary are not eligible to earn extra pay for the 17th game, which is outlined under the most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Tuitt had a career season in 2020, which included recoding 11.0 sacks, 45 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 25 QB hits and two forced fumbles.

The former Notre Dame standout was selected by the Steelers in the second-round of the 2014 NFL Draft and has spent his entire NFL career in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers entered the offseason with just over $6 million in cap space, which has since grown through offseason moves.

In April, Overthecap.com reports the Steelers are $11,789,086 under the salary cap, which has Eric Ebron's new deal, as well as several other recent moves, on the books.

Pittsburgh also agreed to a new, reworked contract with franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and a one-year deal Juju Smith-Schuster -- preventing the star wide receiver from signing elsewhere in free agency -- earlier in the month, while either releasing several others or allowing them to test free agency.

Several other notable financial moves made during the offseason included granting starting cornerback Steven Nelson's release and allowing starting outside linebacker Bud Dupree to pursue other options in free agency, eventually signing with the Tennessee Titans.

The move comes amid outside linebacker T.J. Watt absence from practice as he's yet to sign a long-term contract agreement, WPXI reports.

Watt had previously participated in on-field individual drills, but has been absent from team training camp activities at Heinz Field.

Steelers team officials have said they plan on signing Watt to a long-term deal, but team policy prevents contract negotiations from taking place once the regular season begins.

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