Which impending free agents should the Steelers bring back?
With the “legal” tampering period for NFL free agency set to begin on March 10th, teams are scrambling to re-sign their impending free agents.
Determining which players the Pittsburgh Steelers re-sign involves analyzing their past performance, future potential, financial value, and the team’s overall needs. How crucial was the player to the team’s success? Does the team have depth at the player’s position, or is it a critical need? Does the player have room for growth, or are they past their prime? Can the team afford to re-sign the player at a reasonable price? And does the player fit the Steelers’ culture and scheme?
Below I break down these considerations for several of Pittsburgh’s soon-to-be free agents and ponder if general manager Omar Khan is likely to bring them back for 2025 or beyond.
Determining which Steelers free agents to re-sign involves analyzing their performance, value, and the team’s overall needs. With a projected $59.7 million in cap space, the Steelers are in a good position to make some moves this offseason. Here’s a breakdown of some potential candidates the Steelers could look to re-sign with their cap room.
Russell Wilson
The Steelers do not have a quarterback under contract for the 2025 season, leaving Wilson and his backup, Justin Fields, as potential options.
The 36-year-old Wilson made 11 starts in 2024, throwing for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He went 6-1 in his first seven games before falling from grace, finishing the year with a five-game losing streak.
Wilson showed he had enough left in the tank at times, but was largely signed last offseason because the Denver Broncos were paying him $38 million owed from his previous contract. Signing anything more than a veteran minimum would’ve saved Denver money, so this year’s situation will be entirely different as Wilson seeks a premium contract.
In the era of $50 million per year passers, Wilson is not in that tier of earners, but could easily command in the range of $35 million per year, on par with the yearly averages of Baker Mayfield ($33 million), Derek Carr and Aaron Rodgers ($37.5 million) or Matt Stafford ($40 million). Currently, the Steelers are betting favorites to land Rodgers and you can get in on the action too using this code at Bet365.
All other NFL quarterbacks are making north of $40 million unless they were signed as backups or are on rookie contracts, making a new deal with Wilson problematic, but perhaps necessary.
Verdict: Coin Flip
Justin Fields
Many fans are clamoring to bring back Justin Fields, who the Steelers traded a sixth-round draft pick to the Chicago Bears last offseason to back Wilson.
With Wilson injured throughout much of the summer, Fields took the first-team reps in training camp, and a majority of snaps throughout the preseason before starting the Steelers’ first six games with the former injured. Fields led the team to a 4-2 record but made way for Wilson, who took the offense to new heights with over 100 yards and 10 points more of offense per game through the latter’s first seven starts.
Fields’ youth is in his favor. (He turns 26 on March 5th.) However, the former seventh overall pick has question marks as to whether he can be a full-time starter.
With few teams having opening this offseason, and fewer teams sniffing around to make a trade with the Bears last year, Fields’ market could be limited. It may allow for the Steelers to make a low, team-friendly offer but Fields’ agents may balk if the player isn’t promised a more prominent role than elsewhere.
Yet, Fields is also a betting favorite to be the Steelers Week 1 starter according to SportyTrader. Team president Art Rooney II, along with Khan, have also stated they would like both quarterbacks to return, but money and opportunity will be key determining factors in whether either wears a black and gold jersey in 2025.
Verdict: Coin Flip
Najee Harris
Harris’ rookie contract expires for the 2025 league year, meaning he can become an unrestricted free agent on March 12th when the business year begins for the NFL. Despite the Steelers declining his fifth-year option on his rookie deal, the team appears eager to bring the soon-to-be 27-year-old back for the future.
With running backs having a resurgence last season, Khan would be wise to bring Harris back – especially if the team’s offensive line play improves. Harris led all Steelers backs with 1,043 yards in 2024 and is the only running back in the league to eclipse 1,000 or more yards on the ground in each of the last four seasons. (Despite playing behind poor line play.)
That totals 4,312 yards and 28 touchdowns rushing with another 1,149 yards and 6 touchdowns receiving for the former team captain.
The only thing that may keep Harris from returning is the running back market bouncing back last year, possibly pricing him out of Pittsburgh.
Verdict: Coin Flip
Jaylen Warren
Warren is scheduled to become a restricted free agent after entering the NFL as an undrafted player. The Steelers could tender him, forcing other teams to either make draft compensation or at least allow Khan to return to the table and match a competing offer.
Warren has been a steady force in the Steelers backfield the last three seasons. One year younger than Harris, Warren battled through injuries and lost some momentum toward overtaking his teammate for the starting role. In three seasons, Warren has 1,674 yards rushing with 6 touchdowns. He’s added another 894 yards as a receiver through 48 games played.
Verdict: Re-sign
James Daniels
A high-profile free agent signing back in 2022, Daniels missed nine games after suffering a season-ending injury against the Colts in Week 4. Still under the age of 28, the to-be seven-year veteran may be on the Steelers’ short list of players to bring back depending on their feelings about last year’s fourth-round rookie selection Mason McCormick.
McCormick, who started at Daniels’ right guard spot, received an early audition after being drafted as the heir apparent, should Daniels enter free agency this offseason.
Daniels initially signed a three-year, $26.5 million contract with the Steelers. He’s certainly affordable by his previous earnings, depending on the team’s other priorities. Daniels could also see his market devalued due to last year’s injury, making a possible one-year “prove it” deal work with Pittsburgh too.
Verdict: Re-sign
Donte Jackson
Acquired in the Diontae Johnson trade with the Carolina Panthers, Jackson started 15 games for the Steelers in 2024 opposite Joey Porter Jr.
Cornerbacks come at a premium in the league, and Jackson’s inconsistent play could see the Steelers look elsewhere for another fit. However, with only Cory Trice Jr. as the only other viable option under contract to start as an outside corner, the to-be 30-year-old Jackson could return.
His deal with the Panthers in 2022 was for three seasons, worth a little over $35 million. The Steelers probably won’t be looking to pay that for an older cornerback.
I also feel Jackson won’t be a day one, or maybe even a week one priority signing for competing offers. Depending on his perceived value from his agents, a deal that pays him around the same $6 million Pittsburgh paid in 2024 would work.
If he seeks a contract like his prior one, or the deal that Cameron Sutton signed with the Detroit Lions in 2023 (3 years, $33 million) then Jackson is all but gone.
Verdict: Move On
Elandon Roberts
Roberts was a nice addition to the Steelers’ defense back in 2023 but is not a three-down backer that the team covets.
With Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson fitting the three-down role, Roberts could find re-signing with the Steelers may limit his role to special teams and sub packages. This is especially true if 2023 free agency classmate Cole Holcomb, who missed all of the 2024 season due to injury, remains on the roster.
Holcomb, another three-down backer, would save the Steelers $6 million in salary if released. That would open up an opportunity for the veteran Roberts to return, but Holcomb being more versatile and two years younger could see negotiations break down to where Roberts looks for one last swan song with another franchise.
