JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 22: Steven Nelson #22 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on November 22, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Steven Nelson’s public outburst didn’t sit well with the Steelers. In response to his comments, Pittsburgh made the choice to release the veteran corner.
The Steelers are not an organization that enjoys airing their laundry in public. Steven Nelson’s decision to do just that ended up getting him cut by Pittsburgh.
Nelson claims that making a public announcement is “out of his character” but that didn’t seem to matter to the Steelers’ brain trust. Pittsburgh tried to find a trade market for the 28-year-old defensive back but made the decision to release him when nothing materialized.
The general consensus is that Nelson was looking for a new and improved contract while the Steelers were uninterested in extending him. That led to friction between the two parties which ultimately culminated in Nelson receiving his pink slip.
Despite his ignominious exit from Pittsburgh, expect Nelson to generate a lot of interest on the free agent market. He’s still got several prime years of football ahead of him and he comfortably profiles as a starter on the outside for teams in need of secondary help. It’s worth noting that his play has slipped in recent seasons, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a quality starter with the right supporting cast.
The timing of his release may depress his market to the point where he’ll be forced to accept a one-year, incentive-laden deal. He’s not going to earn a more lucrative deal than Richard Sherman on the open market. Nelson’s market should fall in line with guys like Malcolm Butler Quinton Dunbar as intriguing cornerback options coming off disappointing seasons.
The Steelers won’t feel pressure to land an immediate replacement for Nelson via either free agency or the draft. They’ll be comfortable heading into the season with Joe Haden, Justin Layne, and Cameron Sutton as their starting corners. Pittsburgh might make a move to augment their depth, but don’t look for it to be a seismic transaction.
In the end, Nelson’s outburst likely cost him one final run with the Steelers. His days in Pittsburgh were numbered, he simply accelerated the process.