Steelers and Cole Holcomb agree to revised contract, creating more cap space
The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the new league year starting next week, and they aren’t content just sitting on roughly $60 million dollars in cap space. After releasing Preston Smith to create more cap space, the team has made yet another savings move. Thursday it was announced by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero the Steelers and inside linebacker Cole Holcomb have agreed to a revised contract. This move creates $4 million dollars in cap space.
This per Pelissero:
The #Steelers and LB Cole Holcomb agreed to a revised contract, clearing $4 million in cap space.
Holcomb hasn’t played since suffering a dislocated knee on Nov. 2, 2023. But he’s fully healthy now, Pittsburgh values his leadership and the plan is for him to play in 2025. pic.twitter.com/QcXjQQBWK0
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 6, 2025
With the move the Steelers now have near $65 million dollars in cap space, and more could easily be created with the release or restructuring of contracts for players like Larry Ogunjobi and/or Cordarrelle Patterson.
The decision to restructure Holcomb’s contract is significant outside of the cap savings. The Steelers not choosing to part ways with the linebacker means the team has Holcomb in their plans for 2025. If they gave him his outright release they could have saved more money, but Holcomb still provides value, when healthy.
Holcomb missed the entire 2024 season after suffering a gruesome knee injury in November of 2023, but, according to General Manger Omar Khan, Holcomb could have played in the postseason if the Steelers would have been able to advance further in the playoffs. Holcomb, along with Roman Wilson and Logan Lee, had their 21-day windows to return started at the end of the regular season, but were never activated.
This means the Steelers inside linebacker corps has Patrick Queen, Holcomb and Payton Wilson under contract heading into 2025. Will Elandon Roberts return as the 4th man in the ILB room? That’s a decision the team will have to weigh as the new league year approaches. Nonetheless, this move is a win-win for the team’s salary cap and Holcomb’s future with the team.
Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the start of the new league year next week.
If he can actually play close to his old level, and we can bring back Roberts, we might have one the strongest ILB rooms in the NFL between Holcumb, Wilson, Queen, and Roberts.
With Queen and Wilson, I don’t think they even need Holcomb to be what he was before. If he can play strong in run support and the LOS, he is a good fit for what Wilson brings to the team. I agree with you about Elandon Roberts. Lock him up for one year and have the 4 horsemen ready to roll in 2025…
I don’t know. I think Queen and Wilson are too similar. Having Roberts (especially) and Holcomb can make the room a strength.
I think Queen plays the run better than Wilson. Wilson is really light in that regard, but I think his second year will improve dramatically. I’m curious if they have him gain weight this offseason.
I’m not sure how up to date the numbers are, so take them with a grain of salt, but according to NFL.Com, Wilson is actually 242, while Queen is listed at 230 (maybe it’s a typo?)
I was suprised to see Wilson shown that heavy. That is pretty big for an ILB in today’s game. I remember Ray Lewis commenting that he wanted to slim down in his later years from the 240 he was listed at.
I would agree with your assessment, that Wilson looks light, particularly when measured against a guy like Vince Williams (233) or James Farrior (234). Yet they were listed as lighter, at least at draft time.
NFL draft profile has him at 233, still heavier than the 225 I’d have guessed he weighs. He’s 6’4″ so I guess that makes him look lanky?
I did not know his brother is former Pirates pitcher Bryse Wilson.
242?!?! That’s crazy!! Wilson is tall, but man I never would have guessed 242. I’m sure his playing weight is different, but maybe he is larger than what I think when watching games…
I wonder if they gave him an extension at all or if this was merely a pay cut. The Steelers did pay Holcomb last year despite him being injured and perhaps he chose to take a pay cut rather than get released. This was the last year of his contract coming up so it’s not like it was a restructure unless they added void years which they haven’t done outside of 2021. I’m very curious as to exactly how this is structured.
WOW! I’d have lost money on that bet. Man I hope he can play. He’s an under the radar guy that I think was playing pretty well when he got injured.
I don’t know how they did it, but I like this move either way. Now if they can just get someone to eat up linemen in front of them and allow these guys to have gaps to hit…
This move makes me very happy. Man have I been cheering for this guy to return to form (or near it!) AND to return to the team! I’m glad they worked it ouot. Bring back ERob and we are strong in this room!
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s the Steelers shuold cut ILB Cole Holcomb the Steelers will save a lot more money and Steelers Omar Khan can draft a younger, faster, quicker, bigger and can cover, more physical ILB in the 2025 draft and it will be much cheaper
Whew, this 2025 draft is gonna be magical.
Can you elaborate on what “a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan…” is?
Reworking a contract and then cutting the player would have to be a first. Well, it’d at least be something I’ve never seen, and I too have been a Steelers fan since the 70’s.
Cutting him would save $6 million but this reworked contract reportedly would save close to $5 million, so the difference looks to be not much more than what it would cost in roster displacement. Cutting him compared to what they did would be beyond stupid.
I’m glad to see this. He was doing well before the injury. I hope he hasn’t lost any speed.