The Pittsburgh Steelers made the AFC Playoffs as a Wild Card club last season, but they want to make significant roster changes. The organization has told starting center Mason Cole that he will be dismissed after starting all 34 games in the previous two seasons.
This move frees up $4.75 million in cap space for the Pittsburgh Steelers, which might be fascinating for the franchise in the future. It appears that the franchise is looking for someone who can be more consistent on the field than Mason Cole. Cole appeared to be a locker room veteran that his colleagues respected, but the NFL’s business model makes things difficult.
Cole was originally drafted in the third round by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 after playing college football for the Michigan Wolverines. He would play three seasons for the Cardinals before spending one season with the Minnesota Vikings. After the Vikings, he would join the Steelers for the 2022 season.
He is one of the NFL’s least penalized players, with 15 total penalties (12 accepted) during 94 games. Cole becomes one of many cap casualties expected in the coming weeks when free agency and the new league year begin.
What center will the Pittsburgh Steelers pursue after releasing Mason Cole?
The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to want to sign a rookie center, which has certain advantages in terms of resetting the position’s salary structure. There are a few intriguing names to consider in the 2024 NFL Draft Combine, including Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson and Michigan’s Drake Nugent, to name a few.
It will be interesting to see how general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin approach the center position in the coming seasons. The team has demonstrated that it is prepared to move forward, but there are some important matters to be answered before free agency begins.
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