The Steelers have elected not to pick up the fifth-year option on cornerback Artie Burns, and he will become a free agent after the 2019 season, a source told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Burns, a No. 1 pick in 2016, would have cost the Steelers $9,594,000 in 2020 if the team exercised the option. He will count $3,051,677 against the salary cap this season.
Burns lost his starting job last season and has been pushed down the depth chart with the free-agent signing of cornerback Steve Nelson. But the team is hoping he might be able to contribute in their sub-package defenses this season.
Burns has started 31 of 48 games in three seasons. He had three interceptions as a rookie in 2016, when he started nine games, but only one in the past two years.
Gerry Dulac: gdulac@post-gazette.com and Twitter @gerrydulac
First Published: May 3, 2019, 1:20 p.m.