On a day when the NFL salary cap officially was increased by $30 million, the Pittsburgh Steelers took a step toward lowering their figure by releasing veteran center Mason Cole.
Cole had started all 34 regular-season games the past two seasons in the middle of the offensive line and had one year remaining on his contract. Cole was plagued by low snaps last year, and his release gives the Steelers the chance to make over the position.
Cole was scheduled to earn $3.25 million in base salary and collect a $1.5 million roster bonus. The Steelers will save that money, but Cole’s contract carries a $1.521 million hit in dead money against the salary cap, which will be $255.4 million in 2024.
Salary-tracking website spotrac.com projected the Steelers as being about $8.5 million under the new salary cap figure prior to Cole’s release.
Veteran interior offensive lineman Nate Herbig, who can play center, remains on the offseason roster. Guard James Daniels also can play the position, and the Steelers retained Ryan McCollom on a reserve/futures contract.
Interior offensive line is viewed as deep in this year’s draft class, and the Steelers could address center on the first or second day of the draft.
Earlier this month, the Steelers released right tackle Chuks Okorafor and quarterback Mitch Trubiksy in cost-cutting moves.
