NFL Free Agency will effectively start on Monday with the “legal tampering” period beginning at noon. Officially, players can’t sign as free agents until Wednesday, March 11 at 4:00pm EST. Here’s a rundown of the Steelers current roster situation, pending free agents, extension candidates, and a few names to watch on the open market.
Quarterback
The biggest question facing the Steelers this offseason is at the quarterback position. Aaron Rodgers and Skylar Thompson (who spent last year on IR) are both free agents. The Steelers have reportedly had high-level conversations with Rodgers, but he is at best a band-aid on the larger problem of lacking a franchise quarterback. Mason Rudolph has one year left on his backup level deal while sixth round pick Will Howard is on his rookie deal. With Rudolph and Howard under contract, the Steelers need to add two quarterbacks this offseason. Ideally, one would be a starter-capable player. This is a weak draft class for quarterbacks so another stopgap solution may be the route the team decides to take. That said, the free agent class is relatively weak as well. Malik Willis is likely to be the top target on the free agent market and rumors have his potential salary coming in at over $30 million per season. The Cardinals plan to cut Kyler Murray at the start of free agency, putting him in a similar situation to Russell Wilson two years ago. The Dolphins have been rumored to be entering rebuild mode but Tua’s contract makes him virtually untradeable until after June 1 and his concussion history is certainly a cause for concern. Journeymen backups will be aplenty on the market including Tyrod Taylor, Jimmy Garoppolo, Brandon Allen, Carson Wentz, Marcus Mariota, Gardner Minshew, and Trey Lance.
Skill Positions
The Steelers will need to get more from their skill positions, particularly wide receiver, this year. Running backs were the stars of the offense last year and team MVP Kenneth Gainwell is set to hit the free agent market. The Steelers should try to bring him back given his versatility and everything he brings to the offense, but his skillset will likely be in high demand for top contenders. Jaylen Warren was signed to an extension last year and third round pick Kaleb Johnson will be looking for a bounce-back season after a disappointing rookie year. The good news for the Steelers in their pursuit of Gainwell is that there are several running backs due to hit the market who were starters last season and are 28 or younger. That group includes Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne, Rico Dowdle, Rachaad White, JK Dobbins, and Najee Harris. Connor Heyward is a free agent and the Steelers decision on whether or not to resign him will provide some insight into the philosophy of the new coaching staff (and potentially Cam Heyward’s future). Connor is not a true fullback but is a solid special teams player and ran the Steel City Shove play last year. At tight end, the Steelers thankfully ended the Jonnu Smith experiment this week and let him get on with his life’s work. Pat Freiermuth is under contract after signing an extension last year. Darnell Washington has one year left on his rookie contract and the Steelers would be wise to work out an extension with him this offseason.
At wide receiver, the only players under contract for 2026 are DK Metcalf, Roman Wilson, and Ben Skowronek. Metcalf signed an extension after being acquired via trade and Wilson is still on his rookie deal but has struggled to get a helmet on gamedays. Skowronek was a Pro Bowl Special Teamer and has one year left on his deal. Given that Metcalf is the only starter under contract here, the Steelers need to add at least three, potentially four players to the wide receiver room this offseason. Calvin Austin will test the free agent market but it would not be a surprise to find a low demand for his services and for him to wind up back in Pittsburgh, but he should not be a priority to re-sign. Given the high prices of receivers on the free agent market, the draft is a likely source of at least two receivers. Alec Pierce, Romeo Doubs, Jauan Jennings, and Tutu Atwell will likely be among the hotter names on the free agent market as they are all under 30 years old. If the Steelers continue to go with the “aging veterans on cheap deals” approach, names to watch include Tyreek Hill (who was recently cut by Miami), Christian Kirk, and Mike Evans (whose contract voids with Tampa).
Offensive Line
The Steelers stabilized the right half of their offensive line last season with Zach Frazier at center, Mason McCormick at guard and Troy Fautanu at tackle. The left side of the line is in flux heading into this offseason. Broderick Jones has surgery on his neck in January after missing the second half of last season. Jones has one year left on his rookie deal and given the uncertainty of his injury, the Steelers will likely not pick up his fifth year option which would guarantee him over $20 million in 2027. Dylan Cook, who stepped in admirably for Jones also has one year left on his contract and will likely get the opportunity to compete for the starting job (or be given it outright if Jones is still recovering in August). At left guard, Isaac Seumalo is set to hit the free agent market. The Steelers do have Spencer Anderson waiting in the wings who was the “tackle eligible” last season but could also look to address the left guard position through the draft or free agency. Anderson has one year left on his rookie deal so this is a make-or-break year for him. There are some big names available in free agency, though several are over 30 years old including Joel Bitonio, Kevin Zietler, Wyatt Teller, Elijah Wilkinson, Greg Van Roten, and Will Hernandez. Guards under 30 who played at least 80% of snaps last year include Zion Johnson, Daniel Faalele, David Edwards, Dylan Parham, Cole Strange, and Chris Paul. As is usual in the NFL these days, the Steelers will need to restock their whole set of reserve linemen. Backup center Ryan McCollum is a Restricted Free Agent.
Defensive Line
The biggest question mark on the defensive line is not a pending free agent but Cam Heyward‘s decision about his future. That decision should be coming soon as Heyward is due a $13 million roster bonus on March 16, the fifth day of the new league year. If Heyward decides to play out the final year of his contract, the Steelers will pay him his bonus. If he decides to retire, then the Steelers will be in need of another starter on the defensive line. The other option would be for the Steelers to consider a short-term extension where his $13m roster bonus becomes the guaranteed signing bonus in order to pro-rate that cap hit over the next few years. Nose tackle Keanu Benton is entering the final year of his rookie deal. The Steelers did a good job restocking the depth of this unit with last year’s draft class (Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black). Three depth players who finished the year on IR (Dean Lowry, Daniel Ekuale, and Isaiahh Loudermilk) are all free agents that they team should be in no rush to re-sign. Esezi Otomewo is a restricted free agent who will likely not be tendered. The Steelers biggest needs are for a consistent run stuffer in the middle and for additional rotational depth. This isn’t a great free agent class for starting-caliber defensive linemen. The hottest names will likely be Sheldon Rankins and DJ Reader (who are both 32 years old). Dre’Mont Jones and Logan Hall are the only unrestricted free agents who are under 30 years old and played more than 50% of their team’s snaps last year.
Linebackers
The Steelers have a difficult decision facing them at outside linebacker. TJ Watt was signed to a massive extension last offseason and did not perform up to expectations before his season was cut short due to a punctured lung. Alex Highsmith was the Steelers best pass rusher last year and has two years left on his contract. Complicating the situation is the play of Nick Herbig who had more sacks than Watt in half as many snaps. Herbig is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Traditionally, the Steelers have been a “draft and develop” team and have rewarded their draft picks who perform well with extensions. Herbig should be in line for one this offseason, but that would mean the Steelers are paying three outside linebackers starter-level wages. Jeremiah Moon who was signed at the end of last season after Watt’s injury is a Restricted Free Agent who the Steelers will not be in a hurry to tender. This position is mostly set with four players under contract for 2026, but the looming decision on Herbig will need to be made this offseason. Alternatively, the Steelers could let Herbig play out this year, use the Franchise Tag on him in 2027 and sign him to an extension that starts in 2028, buying time until the end of Highsmith’s deal and when Watt’s guaranteed money runs out.
At inside linebacker, Patrick Queen is entering the final year of his contract. Last year ended with Payton Wilson and Malik Harrison rotating snaps at the other inside backer position. Harrison is also entering the final year of his deal while Wilson is on a rookie contract. The Steelers should be in no hurry to extend either Queen or Harrison. Their success or failure will be dependent on the type of scheme that defensive coordinator Patrick Graham wants to run and how well these three can execute it. The Steelers will need to add some depth here, either in free agency or the draft. Cole Holcomb is a pending free agent while Carson Bruener was solid on special teams last year but has a ways to go as a rotational backer. One of the surprise cuts this week was the Giants dismissing team captain Bobby Okereke (who is only 30 years old). Of the 11 free agents linebackers who played 80% of snaps last year (what you could call “every down” backers), only three are under 30 – Devin White, Devin Bush, and Quay Walker. White fell out of favor in Tampa but played for Patrick Graham last year in Vegas and could be a name to watch. A reunion with Devin Bush won’t happen and Quay Walker sucks. Other names to watch on the market are tackling machine Christian Rozeboom and Devin Lloyd.
Defensive Backs
Once again, the Steelers have a need at defensive back. At corner, Joey Porter, Jr finished the year strong and looks to be developing into a shutdown coverage corner. He has one year left on his rookie contract and is another candidate for an offseason extension. James Pierre, who stepped into the starting role and performed admirably after Darius Slay got repeatedly roasted, is set to hit the free agent market. Nickel corner Brandon Echols has one year left on his deal. The Steelers signed Asante Samuel Jr haflway through last season and he is also a pending free agent while the oft-injured Corey Trice has one year left on his rookie deal. The Steelers should make extending Porter a priority and should kick the tires on bringing back Pierre. Nevertheless, the team still needs additional talent at the cornerback position. Given Trice’s injury history it would be safe to say that the Steelers only have two corners on the roster currently. They need to add at least four corners during this offseason. The good news is this is a great class of free agent corners but that also means that a lot of guys are going to get paid. Of the 14 free agent CBs who played at least 60% of snaps last year, only two are over 30. Corner is a young man’s game and there is a plethora of players in the prime of their careers hitting the market. Chicago’s Nahshon Wright leads the pack but watch out for the Seattle tandem of Tariq Woolen and Josh Jobe along with the Rams’ Cobie Durant to be hot commodities. It would not be surprising to see the Steelers go after CBs in both free agency and the draft.
At safety, DeShon Elliott’s injury forced the Steelers into a rotational mess last season. Jalen Ramsey was forced to move from corner to safety. If Ramsey does not stay at safety, the Steelers will have a need for a starting free safety. If he does stay there, assuming Elliott can return from injury, then the starters are set but there is still a need for backups. Chuck Clark, Jabrill Peppers, and Kyle Dugger were signed as backups who became rotational starters last season. All three of them will be free agents. Special teams ace Miles Killebrew suffered a season-ending injury and is due to be a free agent. The Steelers could re-sign him but he may also follow Danny Smith to Tampa. Sebastian Castro was one of the stars of last year’s training camp and is on the roster as a depth piece. The Steelers need to add at least one if not two safeties to the mix this offseason. Jaquan Brisker, Kamren Curl, and Reed Blankenship will likely be the hot names on the free agent market, though the market for safeties has been very cool the last few offseasons. A number of talented safeties have gone deep into the offseason without being signed, so the Steelers may be able to find a quality player without overpaying here.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Steelers have 41% of their roster set to hit the free agent market this year and 29% with one year remaining on their current deals. That is potentially a 70% roster turnover within two years. If the team is serious about building a contender, the time to start is now by finding players that can be long-term starters at their respective positions. The last few years the team has tried to get by through filling gaps with aging veterans, but with $46 million in salary cap room, they will have money to spend to add talent to a depleted roster. Overall, we would prioritize extending Darnell Washington, Nick Herbig, and Joey Porter Jr. The team should seriously consider bringing back Kenneth Gainwell and James Pierre. Other than those two, the roster can be restocked through free agency and the draft. The Steelers should be active in free agency and need starters at quarterback, wide receiver and cornerback as well as depth across the board.
