The steelers released quarterback mitch trubisky a year after signing him to a two-year contract, according to the team. On monday, the steelers also released longtime offensive lineman chukwuma okorafor and punter pressley harvin.
The steelers saved nearly $13 million in salary cap space in 2024 thanks to the changes.
With trubisky’s departure and late-season hero mason rudolph set to join free agency in march, first-round pick kenny pickett is now the steelers’ only quarterback on the roster for 2024. Trubisky, 29, was set to make more than $7 million against the steelers’ cap in 2024 and more than $8 million in 2025.
Trubisky has left a $4.6 million cap hit for the steelers in 2024, saving them almost $3 million.
The chicago bears’ 2017 no. 0 was initially signed by the organization. Before drafting pickett at no. 0 in the first day of the 2022 free agency season, the 2nd overall pick was taken on the first day of the 2022 free agency season. A few months later, 20 people are still alive.
Trubisky started the first four games of the 2022 season before being replaced by pickett at halftime of the week 4 game against the new york jets in an attempt to give the stalemate in the offense a boost.
Trubisky played in three more games this season, going 2-1 in those games in the absence of an injured pickett. The steelers then signed trubisky to a new three-year deal in may 2023 worth a total of $19.4 million, believing him to be a veteran backup and mentor to pickett.
Trubisky faltered as a backup in 2023 and was eventually benched for rudolph after throwing three picks to three touchdowns in a three-game stretch, while pickett recovered from an ankle injury and subsequent surgery.
Trubisky dressed as the no. 0 as rudolph gave the offense a spark. For the week 18 victory over the baltimore ravens and the buffalo bills’ wild-card round loss, he was 2 quarterback for two games and inactive.
Trubisky played in 12 games as a steeler, including seven. He completed 64.1% of his pass attempts and carried eight touchdowns to ten interceptions.
Okorafor, 26, had one year remaining on a three-year, $29.5 million contract, and his release saves the steelers nearly $9 million in cap space. Since being selected by the steelers in the third round of the 2018 nfl draft, okorafor played 59 games and appeared in 77. Okorafor, on the other hand, was benched for rookie first-round pick broderick jones after week 7 and played only a handful of games the rest of the season.
Harvin, on the other hand, was a seventh-round pick in 2021 and was inconsistent throughout his three-season steelers career despite beating out longtime punter jordan berry as a rookie. Harvin, 25, ran for 39.4 yards per punt and an overall average of 43.7 yards.
