NFL Free Agency: Pittsburgh Steelers Could Restructure Lawrence Timmons’ Contract
By Matt Shetler
With the Pittsburgh Steelers still needing to make major upgrades at multiple positions on the field, money once again is becoming an object.
Dec 29, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons (94) looks on from the sidelines against the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Steelers won 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Steelers currently have the least salary cap room of any team in the league at just over $1 million.
With the dire need to sign at least one running back and other holes to fill, the Steelers have to find a way to create more cap room.
Enter Lawrence Timmons.
According to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers could free up $3.8 million in available cap room if they were to restructure the linebacker’s contract.
That could prove helpful to improve in the backfield as the Steelers could be down to their last option when former New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount is scheduled to make a visit on Friday.
Timmons, 27, is entering the third year of his six-year, $50 million contract that included an $11 million guaranteed. His base salary for the 2014 season is $6.75 million and he has the third-highest cap figure of any player on the team at $11,816,250.
Last year, Timmons appeared in all 16 games for the Steelers and totaled 126 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a recovery. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 25 inside linebacker in the league.
The Steelers are running out of options to restructure contracts and free up cap room, which makes Timmons the most logical candidate.