Thats not just due to the fact that DeCastro is gone. Lets be sincere (since in evaluating DeCastro just recently, perhaps we havent been), DeCastros play slipped last year. Undoubtedly, the Steelers were planning to keep DeCastro till last week. Plus, with Pouncey retiring and Matt Feiler and Villanueva leaving by means of complimentary company, DeCastro was going to be their most knowledgeable one.
We can justify the reasons for DeCastros release as much as we want to make ourselves feel much better about the choice.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review personnel writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or by means of Twitter.

When the Steelers released beginning right guard David DeCastro for non-football-injury-related reasons Thursday afternoon, a torrent of concerns was raised.
How did he get injured? Whats the injury? Depressed that his pals Maurkice Pouncey and Alejandro Villanueva are gone?
Is he going to retire? Why did he appear for one day of minicamp recently without practicing, then fail to get involved the next 2 days?
On Day 1 of minicamp, coach Mike Tomlin grumbled at reporters, “If I believed injury scenarios or reasons individuals were not taking part were significant, I would share them with you, but Im not going to resolve day-to-day-like things in this environment.”
Was Tomlin genuinely unaware that DeCastros circumstance was more than a “day-to-day” thing?
I doubt it.
For all of the yet-to-be addressed questions that have emerged about DeCastros scenario, they pale in contrast to a bigger one about the Steelers offensive line.
Is this group going to be at all functional in 2021? My preliminary reaction is no.
Thats not just due to the fact that DeCastro is gone. Lets be truthful (because in assessing DeCastro recently, perhaps we have not been), DeCastros play slipped in 2015. Possibly that started back in 2019.
As ESPN sports analytics writer Seth Walder mentions, DeCastros 2020 ranking amongst qualifying guards was 43 out of 70 in run obstructing win rate. He was 37 out of 67 in pass blocking win rate.
We can blame DeCastros knee, oblique, hand and ankle issues if we desire. It is clear the Steelers didnt feel comfortable about something physically or mentally or mentally with DeCastro to keep him for the last year of his agreement.
Keep in mind, this is the very same person who publicly bemoaned just how much he hated playing through the covid-19 limitations throughout the 2020 season, was vital of the groups fade in 2018 and was publicly displeased with how the group ignored the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2017. Its possible the group sensed his burnout much more than he did.
Regardless, the front office plainly wasnt cutting the All-Pro variation of DeCastro from a few years earlier. They were cutting an average guard to save $8.75 million in wage cap area.
But that doesnt imply the Steelers have a much better offending line today than they did Thursday morning. DeCastro was still among their two best guards heading into minicamp.
Well, they drafted a guard out of Illinois in Kendrick Green in the 3rd round and planned to make him a. They didnt start talking to previous Los Angeles Chargers guard Trai Turner about a free-agent deal till after minicamp.
Undoubtedly, the Steelers were planning to keep DeCastro till recently. Regardless of slipping, he was still viewed to be one of their finest 5 offensive linemen. Plus, with Pouncey retiring and Matt Feiler and Villanueva leaving via free agency, DeCastro was going to be their most experienced one.
Now, heres what the Steelers have up front:
General supervisor Kevin Colbert signed Turner a couple of hours after DeCastro was released. Presumably, Turner will be the new best guard. He missed seven video games with the Chargers last season due to the fact that of injury and performed as one of the worst guards in the NFL when he did play, according to Pro Football Focus.
Like DeCastro, it appears Turners Pro Bowl days are in the rearview mirror. Keep in mind, the Steelers didnt bother to keep Feiler, who was signed by the Chargers after they let Turner walk.
Left guard appears to be in good shape with second-year player Kevin Dotson. He flashed prospective as a rookie. But the coaching personnel chose not to start him in the championship game versus the Cleveland Browns, going with Feiler, who had missed out on many of the last 4 games with an injury.
The right take on, Zach Banner, is coming off ACL surgical treatment and has one start with the team under his belt. Chuks Okorafor is making a position switch to be the left take on. Will be occupied by Green or B.J. Finney, who is returning after being released by the Seattle Seahawks and Cincinnati Bengals.
The presumptive beginning running back (Najee Harris) is a rookie. The offensive line coach (Adrian Klemm) is in his very first year in that function.
How does that make you feel about how the offending line will perform?
Let me rephrase that. How do you think that makes Ben Roethlisberger feel about how the offensive line will carry out?
We can rationalize the reasons for DeCastros release as much as we wish to make ourselves feel much better about the choice. The concern will quickly be much less about “Why?” and much more about “Now what?”.
I wager we do not address either like.