Steelers terminate contract of CB Steve Nelson

Unable to find a trade partner for cornerback Steve Nelson, the Pittsburgh Steelers terminated his contract Tuesday afternoon.

The decision, which cleared $8.25 million in salary-cap space, came four days after reports surfaced the Steelers were giving permission to Nelson to seek a trade and less than an hour after Nelson wrote a tweet expressing his frustration with the organization.

“Making a public announcement is a little out of my character, but you guys made your decision please don’t hold me hostage #dontholdmeback,” Nelson wrote on his verified Twitter account.

Making a public announcement is a little out of my character, but you guys made your decision please don’t hold me hostage #dontholdmeback

— Steve Nelson (@Nelson_Island) March 23, 2021

Nelson, 28, is a six-year NFL veteran who is free to sign with any team. In his two seasons with the Steelers, he made 30 starts and had two interceptions. He also had 17 pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

After being granted his release, Nelson sent out another tweet that thanked the Steelers organization for the opportunity he was given the past two seasons.

”Pittsburgh much love I appreciate the opportunity and the relationships I gained along the way,” Nelson wrote. “Respect to a Class A organization from top down. Thank you to my day 1 supporters and can’t forget my haters you motivate me more than you know.”

Pittsburgh much love I appreciate the opportunity and the relationships I gained along the way Respect to a Class A organization from top down. Thank you to my day 1 supporters and can’t forget my haters you motivate me more than you know? #nelsonisland

— Steve Nelson (@Nelson_Island) March 23, 2021

Nelson was scheduled to count $14.42 million against the Steelers salary cap in 2021, the third year of his three-year, $25.5 million contract he signed in 2019. It is the largest contract the Steelers have given to an outside free agent.

By releasing Nelson, the Steelers will save $8.25 million in salary but will carry a dead cap hit of $6.17 million. The Steelers entered Tuesday about $1.1 million under the cap, according to overthecap.com.

Nelson and fellow veteran cornerback Joe Haden ($15.575 million) carried two of the top salary cap hits on the roster entering the offseason. The Steelers elected to keep Haden, 31, a three-time Pro Bowl pick, instead of Nelson.

The move continues a teardown of the NFL’s third-ranked defense in terms of points and yards allowed. Five starters are gone from a team that finished 12-4 and won the AFC North: Nelson, outside linebacker Bud Dupree, inside linebacker Vince Williams, nose tackle Tyson Alualu and slot corner Mike Hilton. Three left via free agency; Williams and Nelson were cap casualties.

Unless the Steelers add a cornerback in free agency or the NFL Draft, the likely replacement for Nelson will be fifth-year player Cameron Sutton. He was retained on a two-year, $9 million contract last week before he could hit free agency.

Sutton started two games, including the wild-card playoff loss against Cleveland, at outside cornerback while Haden was on the reserve/covid-19 list. Most of Sutton’s experience, though, has come inside in subpackages.

Third-year cornerback Justin Layne gained some experience on the outside last season when Nelson moved into the slot in certain packages. Layne earned 117 defensive snaps last season, the only ones of his NFL career. The only other cornerback on the roster is undrafted free agent James Pierre, who logged 27 defensive snaps as a rookie.