Veteran safety Morgan Burnett finally released after 1 year with Steelers
After failing to find a trading partner for Morgan Burnett, the Pittsburgh Steelers released the veteran safety on Monday, ending his one-year association with the franchise.
Burnett was expected to count $6.466 million against the Steelers’ salary cap this year. By releasing him, the Steelers will save $3.6 million not counting displacement. According to the NFL players’ association, the Steelers entered the week with $3.17 million of salary cap space.
Burnett, who turned 30 in January, signed a three-year, $14.25 million deal with the Steelers last offseason after spending his first eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
Burnett, however, was injured for much of training camp and lost his starting job to rookie Terrell Edmunds. Burnett didn’t like his role as a dime linebacker and requested his release in January.
Burnett became expendable with the signing of linebacker Mark Barron, a former safety who can play the hybrid position in subpackages. Edmunds and free safety Sean Davis are the starters in the secondary.
Burnett played in 11 games last season and had 30 tackles, six passes defensed and no interceptions.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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