{"id":764417,"date":"2026-02-20T11:33:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T11:33:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/764417\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T11:33:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T11:33:19","slug":"former-steelers-defensive-lineman-a-cut-candidate-pittsburgh-reunion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/764417\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Steelers Defensive Lineman a Cut Candidate, Pittsburgh Reunion?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"categories\"><a href=\"https:\/\/steelersnow.com\/steelers-news\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\">Steelers News<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"788\" height=\"444\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/HX33918-1-e1676220262429.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium tpd-force-16x9-aspect-ratio wp-post-image\" alt=\"Javon Hargrave Steelers\" decoding=\"sync\" loading=\"eager\"   fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave in a game against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 1, 2019. &#8212; Ed Thompson \/ Steelers Now\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>The Pittsburgh Steelers face some <a href=\"https:\/\/steelersnow.com\/bell-three-mistake-steelers-must-avoid-this-offseason\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">easy and difficult<\/a> cap casualty decisions as the NFL\u2019s new league year approaches. They will also see some familiar faces on the market. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7046664\/2026\/02\/16\/2026-nfl-teams-potential-salary-cap-cousins-hill-mixon\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">It was reported<\/a> that former Steelers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave could be a cap casualty with the Minnesota Vikings.<\/p>\n<p>Hargrave signed a deal with the Vikings during the 2025 offseason and appears to be on his way out. The two-year $30M deal was a bargain for one of the NFL\u2019s best linemen. Unfortunately, it was due to his injury shortened 2024 season.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"525\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP_22303670998153.jpg\" alt=\"NFL Steelers QB Kenny Pickett\" class=\"wp-image-36824\"  \/>Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave sacks Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) during the first half of an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo\/Matt Slocum)<\/p>\n<p>Hargrave, who was drafted by the Steelers in 2016, carries a $21.4M cap hit with $10.5M being in dead-cap according to Spotrac metrics. The Vikings can save just under $11M with a release of the 33-year-old veteran.<\/p>\n<p>Minnesota sits at $40M over the cap according to Spotrac. They will have to make extensive cuts and restructures before the new league year in just under three weeks.<\/p>\n<p>The Vikings are also seeking a new general manager. Time is of the essence, and will certainly be under full pressure once they select one.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/HY15483.jpg\" alt=\"Steelers Javon Hargrave\" class=\"wp-image-6579\"  \/>Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave during a game against the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 16, 2019. \u2014 Ed Thompson \/ Steelers Now<\/p>\n<p>All of these point to a likelihood that Hargrave will be on his way out after only producing 3.5 sacks in 2025. Could the Steelers find a reunion?<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s very likely he will be much cheaper on his next contract. Bringing him to Pittsburgh could help solidify depth on the defensive line as they move towards the NFL Draft.<\/p>\n<p>If Hargrave returns, it likely won\u2019t be as a starter. That makes things a possibility unless another team gives him one last payday\u2013which is also possible.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned In This Article: <a href=\"https:\/\/steelersnow.com\/tag\/javon-hargrave\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\">Javon Hargrave<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/steelersnow.com\/tag\/minnesota-vikings\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\">Minnesota Vikings<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/steelersnow.com\/tag\/pittsburgh-steelers\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\">Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/steelersnow.com\/tag\/steelers\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\">Steelers<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/steelersnow.com\/tag\/steelers-news\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\">Steelers News<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Steelers News Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave in a game against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 1,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":764418,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2026],"tags":[7,1824,259,57,426,2395],"class_list":{"0":"post-764417","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-javon-hargrave","10":"tag-minnesota-vikings","11":"tag-pittsburgh-steelers","12":"tag-steelers","13":"tag-steelers-news"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116102747593930786","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/764417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=764417"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/764417\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/764418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=764417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=764417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=764417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}