Cortez Allen Released by Steelers: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Friday that they have released cornerback Cortez Allen after he spent five years with the team.

Allen, a fourth-round pick out of The Citadel, appeared in 56 career regular-season games but only played one game for Pittsburgh in 2015 before being placed on injured reserve on Oct. 24. He recorded three solo tackles in that one appearance.

The Steelers signed Allen to a five-year, $26 million contract extension on Sept. 6, 2014 after he started a career-high eight games the year prior. He has six interceptions in his career, including one returned for a touchdown on Dec. 22, 2013 against the Green Bay Packers.

Allen was set to make $5.75 million in 2016. Had the Steelers cut Allen on June 1, it would have saved them $4.4 million in salary-cap room, according to Over the Cap. Instead, Pittsburgh will have $4.05 million in dead money this year.

The numbers tell the story, however, and Neil Hornsby of Pro Football Focus detailed how poorly Allen played after signing that new contract:

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette held a chat on the paper's website on Jan. 26, and he said with certainty that Allen would not be back with the Steelers in 2016.

The Steelers releasing Allen is a sign that they're looking to revamp their secondary once again. Antwon Blake (Tennessee Titans) and Brandon Boykin (Carolina Panthers) left the team in free agency.

Ross Cockrell and William Gay are the only cornerbacks under contract with the Steelers who made an impact last season. They each had two interceptions in 2015.

Allen has not stayed healthy since signing that contract extension. He was placed on IR in 2014 with a dislocated thumb. It was a risky investment for the Steelers, and it's clear that Pittsburgh needs to address its secondary in a major way. Paying roughly $6 million per year for a corner who can't stay on the field wouldn't have helped the issue.

This doesn't mean Allen’s NFL career will come to an end.

He’s 27 years old and should be given an opportunity to be a team’s nickel or dime corner. He won’t make anywhere near $6 million a year like he did when he signed his new deal, but it would not be a shock to see him on an NFL roster by training camp.

Follow Danny Webster on Twitter.