[
www.turfshowtimes.com]
Steelers release G David DeCastro
Would the Rams be interested?
By Kenneth Arthur@KennethArthuRS Jun 24, 2021, 4:16pm CDT
Indianapolis Colts v Pittsburgh Steelers
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Steelers have released six-time Pro Bowl guard David DeCastro, according to several reports on Thursday. DeCastro played in 13 games last season, but only missed a total of four games between 2013 and 2019. The Steelers have had issues with getting under the 2021 salary cap and this move saves them $8.75 million. Efforts to solve the cap by re-negotiating with Ben Roethlisberger clearly did not do enough, but this move also allows Pittsburgh to get younger in what could turn out to be a rebuilding year if they do not get off to a strong start.
The #Steelers released veteran guard David DeCastro.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 24, 2021
Surprisingly, the LA Rams are no longer in financial peril for 2021, so would they consider adding DeCastro as the new starter at right guard instead of Bobby Evans?
That probably depends most of all on how high the coaching staff is on Evans and what they’ve noticed thus far during the 2021 offseason as far as his development. Virtually nothing outside of the building is known about how Sean McVay and the staff felt about the current offensive line — Andrew Whitworth-David Edwards-Austin Corbett-Evans-Rob Havenstein — during OTAs and whether or not they open discussions with DeCastro will say a lot about how they felt about the group so far.
The Rams have stayed almost entirely out of the offensive line market over the last two years. The only new addition in that time has been 2020 seventh rounder Tremayne Anchrum, who turned 23 on Thursday. The team also has a pair of undrafted free agents and practice squad project Max Pircher, but signing DeCastro would push Evans to a backup role and that could give LA considerably more depth than most teams.
DeCastro, 31, may have already played his best football but Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth will turn 40 before DeCastro turns 32. Could a chance of scenery bring back some of the mid-2010s magic?
Signing DeCastro could be costly though and if they don’t roll some cap space in 2022, the Rams will be in more financial straits next year.
Should they do it?
