Pittsburgh Steelers Release Safety Morgan Burnett

Morgan Burnett Cut After One Year in Pittsburgh

Burnett was a third-round draft pick by the Green Bay Packers back in 2010. He spent the first eight years of his career with Green Bay before signing a three-year, $14.5 million contract with the Steelers before the 2018 season. Pittsburgh released Burnett at his request on Monday following unsuccessful attempts to trade him. He finished the 2018 season with 30 tackles (17 solo) and zero interceptions in 11 games. He had his lowest tackle total since his rookie year.

Burnett joins a free agent market littered with talent at the safety position. He is added to a crop of available safeties that already includes top names like Eric Berry, Glover Quin, and Tre Boston. With a plethora of teams still on the hunt for safety help, Burnett shouldn’t have too much difficulty finding work for 2019 and beyond.

What Burnett’s Release Means

Burnett’s release from the Steelers most likely means Pittsburgh is targeting safeties in the NFL Draft. The Steelers have recognized a need for secondary help in recent off-seasons. They began their secondary overhaul by signing former Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden prior to the start of the 2017 season, adding Burnett and selecting Terrell Edmunds in the first round of last year’s draft.

Coupled with the likelihood of Pittsburgh drafting a safety once again this year, it has been reported for some time now that the Steelers aim to sign quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a contract extension before the 2019 season begins. Perhaps Burnett’s release is a salary cap move to help aid Roethlisberger’s extension for the Steelers, as the move saves Pittsburgh $5,250,000 on the salary cap.

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