Top 6 Steelers contracts of players who may not make the 53-man roster in 2025

As the Pittsburgh Steelers navigate through the 2025 NFL offseason, exactly how their 53-man roster will shake out come September is an ongoing debate. As I have already outlined that there are several players who are not in the Steelers top 51 contracts who could very well make the team, there also would have to be players in the top 51 who would ultimately end up getting cut.

For this exercise, I outlined the top six contracts of players on the Steelers roster (in terms of 2025 salary cap hit) who potentially could not make the roster. Although whether or not these players will end up on the Steelers for Week 1 is debatable, it’s not that they are guaranteed to not be there. For the most part, this includes players who some have left off their early 53-man roster predictions who count at least $1.2 million on this year’s salary cap.

Cordarrelle Patterson

2025 Cap Hit: $3,750,000
Dead money: $950,000
Cap savings: $2,800,000

For many Steelers fans, the question isn’t if Cordarrelle Patterson will be cut but more of when. The likelihood of him making the 53-man roster is low compared to the additions the Steelers have brought in. But unless Patterson wants to be in a camp somewhere else, there’s no reason for him to not stick around and see if he can either prove his worth or take advantage of any injury situation which could arise. But with the savings being $2.8 million and the dead money under $1 million, Patterson is the player who would save the Steelers the most of ones who are in serious danger of not making the roster.

Dean Lowry

2025 Cap Hit: $3,125,000
Dead money: $625,000
Cap savings: $2,500,000

The Steelers have a lot of defensive tackles. In fact, four of these six players listed in this article are all from the same position group. While some of them will make the roster, the likelihood of all of them being kept is low. Being able to save the Steelers $2.5 million, Dean Lowry is one who could see his time in Pittsburgh coming to an end. If he’s not going to be utilized in the rotation, which was often the case last year when he wasn’t even active, Lowry could find himself somewhere else this fall.

Daniel Ekuale

2025 Cap Hit: $2,800,000
Dead money: $1,630,000
Cap savings: $1,170,000

Yet another defensive tackle, this is one that I believe will stay. But not everyone thinks Daniel Ekuale will make the 53-man roster. The fact that the Steelers committed $2.8 million to his contract for one season gives more credence to the idea that they plan on keeping him around. Additionally, there would be more dead money than cap savings. Still, he’s no guarantee to make the roster.

Robert Woods

2025 Cap Hit: $2,000,000
Dead money: $745,000
Cap savings: $1,255,000

When the Steelers first signed Robert Woods, I did not have him making the 53-man roster. But since the trade of George Pickens and seeing what Woods brings to the team as a veteran presence makes his roster spot more likely. Regardless, Woods would give the Steelers a decent salary cap saving even with the dead money if they like their other options at wide receiver.

DeMarvin Leal

2025 Cap Hit: $1,650,376
Dead money: $238,072
Cap savings: $1,412,304

The only player on this list is still on a rookie contract, there is no guarantee that DeMarvin Leal makes this roster. His dead money hit is low being the last year of his four-year deal, so the cap savings is still significant. The Steelers would save some money if Leal isn’t on the roster, but money will not be a factor in determining if he stays or goes.

Isaiahh Loudermilk

2025 Cap Hit: $1,337,500
Dead money: $167,500
Cap savings: $1,170,000

I extended this list from five players to six players because I felt if DeMarvin Leal was included, Isaiahh Loudermilk is in the same boat. I’m surprised the Steelers brought him back on a one-year deal even though it is a Veteran Salary Benefit contract. The Steelers are getting significant cap savings if Loudermilk makes the team. If he doesn’t, the Steelers don’t have much dead money even though his savings would not be much more than whatever player makes the roster in his place.