3 Steelers Players Who Won't Survive in Pittsburgh Beyond This Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers are bringing back the core of the team in 2020 thanks to several key contributors playing on rookie deals. Yet Ben Roethlisberger's cap hit jumps up to over $41 million in 2021 and that alone could prevent the Steelers from retaining several top players. Three players in particular stand out as those who will likely be playing elsewhere in 2021 due to the financial situation in Pittsburgh.

3. Vance McDonald

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Vance McDonald has been with the team since 2017. / Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Vance McDonald will turn 30 years old in June and is coming off a season in which he only had 273 yards on 38 receptions. That helps explain why the team went out and signed Eric Ebron in free agency. McDonald is a nice piece, but has a $7.9 million club option on the books in 2021. That amount of money for the second or third-best tight end on the team is just not worth it and nearly ensures he will be let go after the 2020 season.

2. JuJu Smith-Schuster

Pittsburgh Steelers WR Juju Smith-Schuster will get expensive in 2021. / Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

JuJu Smith-Schuster entered the 2019 season as the team's No. 1 receiver, only to finish with a new career-low of 552 yards. However, he did suffer several injuries and the quarterback play was not exactly elite. James Washington was the team's leading receiver and contributions from him and Diontae Johnson could have lowered Smith-Schuster's value in Pittsburgh. Still, the receiver made the Pro Bowl in 2018 and had 1,426 yards that season. His next contract is going to be significant and the Steelers just won't have the money and may also convince themselves they can replace his production with several other, cheaper players.

1. James Conner

Pittsburgh Steelers RB James Conner had a down year in 2019. / Katharine Lotze/Getty Images

James Conner is another young player on a cheap deal who is set for a nice payday in 2021. That will be especially true if he can stay healthy and get close to 1,000 rushing yards like he did in 2018. Yet the Steelers know his next contract is coming and have added players such as Benny Snell Jr. and Anthony McFarland to help share the workload. The money invested in Roethlisberger for one year makes Conner another unfortunate cut for the Steelers. The Pennsylvania native's value should only shoot up with a decent 2020 season and the team can't afford to throw a significant portion of the available budget into one player.