Pittsburgh Steelers OL Nate Herbig Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Analyst predicts Steelers will make two surprise cuts following strong draft

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 5/1/24

The Pittsburgh Steelers came away with yet another strong rookie class in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Many believe the team emerged from the player-selection process with multiple Day 1 starters, which is exactly why former ESPN and Steelers radio host David Todd thinks two surprise veterans (OL Nate Herbig and LB Cole Holcomb) could be cut in the coming weeks or months.

2 most-likely “losers” on the #Steelers roster post-draft are Nate Herbig & Cole Holcomb. W addition of 3 OL & most-notably McCormick in rd 4, releasing Herbig post-June 1 would save $4M. Holcomb’s injury was a real blow & w signing of Queen & drafting Payton Wilson, there may be…
— David Todd (@DavidMTodd) April 29, 2024

Pittsburgh's offensive line room is quite crowded following the additions of first-round offensive tackle Troy Fautanu, second-round center Zach Frazier and fourth-round guard Mason McCormick.

If the team believes McCormick could develop into its swing interior lineman – a position that was held by Herbig last season – parting ways with Herbig could make sense.

The Steelers have plenty of cap space – $18.345 million, per Over The Cap. So, money wouldn't be the driving force unless the franchise is still planning to sign several free agents before the start of the season. Maybe a trade could be in store.

As for Holcomb, his status for the 2024 season is still up in the air. The 27-year-old suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2023 and Pittsburgh's latest additions to the room hint it doesn't have a ton of confidence in Holcomb being ready for the start of the season.

The Steelers made LB Patrick Queen their highest-paid free-agent signing (three-year, $41M contract) in franchise history this offseason while also using a third-round pick on NC State LB Payton Wilson.

Pittsburgh now has plenty of depth at inside linebacker with returning veteran Elandon Roberts and Mark Robinson (a seventh-round pick in 2022) if it wants to move on from Holcomb.

The Steelers could opt to keep both players, too, as it is rare to have so much depth at multiple positions. If not, however, Herbig and Holcomb could be the odd men out this summer.

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