Steelers: Salary cap numbers reveal more about Kenny Pickett
Kenny Pickett had an even better season than we thought in his first year as the Steelers quarterback.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have the foundational pieces, the cap space, and even the cash to go from respectable to a contender in 2023.
It all starts with Kenny Pickett at quarterback. Simply put, the team solved its most pressing need last year by waiting out the Draft process and reaping the benefits from staying put with the 20th overall pick to grab the rookie quarterback.
That patience fit everything the Steelers did in 2022. They didn't go all-out in free agency, either. And even during the season, Mike Tomlin's staff and roster didn't blink at a scary 2-6 start.
But now, the front office's strategy should drastically change following a low-spending year. Per Over the Cap, the Steelers were the third lowest-spending team in the NFL between 2021 and 2022 (cashwise).
In terms of the salary cap, the Steelers allocated the least resources to the offensive supporting cast (non-QB) in the entire NFL.
That's right, Kenny Pickett's offense was 32nd in the league in allocated resources, per Tej Seth of Sumer Sports.
And even still, the Steelers were above average in offensive efficiency measured by EPA/play. If anything, that's a big compliment to the quarterback and whether we like to admit it or not: to OC Matt Canada.
They both earned a lot more respect with this being brought to light by Seth. Especially the rookie quarterback, who had impressive flashes of what he can be throughout the season.
I'm not saying Canada is the best option for the Steelers or anything like that but we have to give credit where credit is due. You can check out the visual representation of the Steelers' spending versus their performance in the tweet below.
Now, the Steelers should consider spending big in this year's free agency class. They have four draft picks that could translate Year 1 starters as the draft class is well-suited for the team's top needs. They really could be a few additions away from actually being a threat within the AFC North.
Sure, the Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, and even the Cleveland Browns are unlikely to make it easy. But each of those teams is likely getting better in 2023.
The Steelers have all that's necessary to realize they can be a contender if they play their cards right this offseason. Pickett's performance as a rookie paired with the team's cash situation is enough proof of that.
Featured image via Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
