Former Steelers guard David DeCastro is now free to sign with any team in the NFL. However, the multiple-time Pro Bowler says that he might call it a career instead. 
“Gotta see how the surgery goes,” DeCastro said (via Joe Starkey of the Post Gazette). “But I’d have no problem calling it a day and moving on with my life.”
DeCastro is set for a third surgery on his ankle to fix a recurring issue with bone spurs. The Steelers released him earlier this week with a non-football injury designation, a sign that they’re not so sure about his ability to bounce back. By releasing him, they saved ~$8MM, though it remains to be seen how they’ll replace him on the interior.
A starter since his 2012 rookie season, DeCastro has made the past six Pro Bowls and has secured two first-team All-Pro nods. Now, on the verge of what would be his his age-31 season, he’s giving serious thought to life after football.
The Steelers and the former first-round pick agreed to a five-year, $50MM extension back in September 2016. That deal worked out well for Pittsburgh — DeCastro carved out holes for Le’Veon Bell during his All-Pro campaigns, teaming with Maurkice Pouncey and Ramon Foster to form one of the league’s best interior lines.
Who wrote this… apparently someone hasn’t been following the offseason….. “ though it remains to be seen how they will replace him on the interior” … I mean they did just signed Trai Turner YESTERDAY for this exact reason.
Zach Links again doesn’t research facts for his articles.
Come to the jets
The chiefs will welcome decastro with open arms
He’s an all time Steeler. Great career in Pittsburgh. Too bad he never won one. Goes for most of that Steelers line. If those teams with the killer b’s had any sort of defense they could’ve easily won one. They put up 42 on that great jags defense. Yet Mike Mitchell and his big mouth let up 45 to Blake bortles. Regardless, Ben always says his success always is because of the line. Decastro was someone you could always count on to be an anchor of that line.
“There’s plenty of time for DeCastro to have a change of heart. But, for now, teams in need of guard help will have to consider other options, like former Panthers/Chargers starter Trai Turner.” Are teams trading for Turner?