Steelers to release S Burnett by April 1

Shortly after the end of the season, there was a rumor Pittsburgh Steelers safety Morgan Burnett was planning to ask for his release. Now, according to NFL reporter Adam Schefter, Brunett is getting his wish. Schefter is reporting, per Burnett’s agent the team will give him his release by April 1.

The Burnett signing last offseason seemed like a great fit. However, Burnett battled injuries for much of the season and when he was healthy was miscast as a dime linebacker. Burnett appeared in 11 games with two starts and finished with 30 tackles.

The signing of Mark Barron marked the end for Burnett. By releasing Burnett before June 1 the Steelers will save $3.6 million but carry $2.8 million in dead money. Pittsburgh could have saved have the dead money and saved over $5 million by waiting until after June 1. The Steelers signed Burnett, 30, to a three-year, $14.25 million contract last year that included a $4.25 million signing bonus. Burnett played eight seasons for the Green Bay Packers before hitting free agency.

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He missed four of the first six games of the season due to injury, and the Steelers continued to start rookie Terrell Edmunds in his absence.

Burnett recorded 30 tackles and six pass deflections in a sub-package role over 11 games. Edmunds and third-year player Sean Davis occupied both starting safety spots for the season.

The Steelers have not yielded positive results from their big free-agent signings of late. Tight end Ladarius Green also lasted one season in Pittsburgh after signing a four-year, $20 million contract in 2016. He battled various injuries and eventually failed a physical. The team signed cornerback Steven Nelson to a three-year, $25.5 million contract last week. He will start alongside Joe Haden.

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