Free agents for the Steelers to pursue at every position
With the NFL’s free agency tampering period beginning on Monday and the official league year – where players can begin signing with new teams – starting on Wednesday at 4 PM, the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a position where they have several positions to fill.
Among the top spots most analysts are looking at are the wide receiver and secondary positions, but the Steelers could fill some other needs with savvy signings. Of course, it all depends on who they contract at the most important position of all, quarterback.
With a projected $59.6 million available in cap space for 2025, the Steelers find themselves in a great spot to land some key acquisitions. I took a stab at plausible signings for every position group while also maintaining some home run hits GM Omar Khan could aim for as well. Here are some of my thoughts on those players available this upcoming week.
Quarterback: Russell Wilson or Justin Fields
For a divided Steelers Nation, the answer here may not satisfy half or all of the fan base, but the best option (or options) is to attempt to bring back Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, or both for 2025. Both players will cost more than others, but the quarterback market is unlikely to yield a better alternative unless Pittsburgh makes a trade.
Among the quarterbacks who could hit free agency are a bunch of journeymen and unproven passers, including Sam Darnold headlining the list. (Darnold is likely to re-sign with the Minnesota Vikings before the league year begins.)
The others include Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Jacoby Brissett, Marcus Mariota, Drew Lock, Joe Flacco, Jameis Winson, Mac Jones, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Carson Wentz. None of those names are ones to get excited over compared with Wilson or Fields.
Running Back: Nick Chubb
If Najee Harris does not re-sign with the Steelers, the team could look within their division at a highly successful back who could either be a bell cow or split carries in Nick Chubb.
The 29-year-old Cleveland Brown has had two seasons taken away from him due to an injury sustained against the Steelers back in 2023. He struggled to get back on the field in full capacity in 2024 with a bad Browns offense but could be the kind of low-profile signing that would pair nicely with Jaylen Warren. Due to Chubb’s history and age, he would likely come in at a lower cost, but also has the track record of bouncing back from serious injuries to make that deal worthwhile.
Receivers: Brandin Cooks
The receiver market is terrible. However, the Steelers still have a need at the position and though all signs speculate them selecting a receiver in the draft, the team usually doubles up on positions of need. Plus, George Pickens and Calvin Austin are entering the final seasons of their rookie deals, so it would make sense to add to this group now instead of later.
After the Cincinnati Bengals franchise tagged Tee Higgins, the headliner of the free agent receivers now is 33-year-old Davante Adams. Adams is well beyond the age of when receivers start to trail off, but still managed over 1000 yards receiving and 8 touchdowns in two bad offenses last season. He’ll receive plenty of attention by other teams willing to overpay him, leading me in another direction for an older target: Brandin Cooks.
Cooks has had success everywhere he’s gone and is in the twilight of his career, but can still put up steady enough numbers at a fair enough price to be worth looking into. He falls into the same category of an Allen Robinson or Mike Williams in previous years, a player who’s older but can start immediately and would hope to make an impact.
Giants WR Darius Slayton is another name to watch. He’s younger than Cooks, but hasn’t put up serious enough numbers to take double teams off of George Pickens or mentor an incoming rookie. Cooks can do both, and should the Steelers double dip with a big catch in the draft, the receiver room would automatically be boosted.
Tight Ends: Tommy Tremble
Tremble is a younger tight end who didn’t expand his horizons as a third round pick of the Carolina Panthers. The 6’4″ 250-pounder is more of a blocking back that could replace MyCole Pruitt in jumbo subpackages and offers more size in exchange for playing a similar role as Connor Heyward.
Tremble is also a special teams consideration, having played 50% of the Panthers snaps through his first three seasons.
Regardless, don’t look for the Steelers to make a major splash at this position with Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington signed long-term.
Offensive Line: Dillon Radunz
At least two of the Steelers five slots on the offensive line are settled, with Isaac Seumalo and Zach Frazier at left guard and center respectively. The right guard position could be settled as well, depending on the how the team views second-year pro Mason McCormick going forward. (I had suggested looking into seeing if James Daniels could return, but that may not be a possibility.)
The two tackle spots have first round picks to man them, but neither are a sure thing heading into the offseason. 2023 first rounder Broderick Jones has yet to play the left tackle position he was drafted for, and has struggled on the right side. 2024 first round pick Troy Fautanu battled injuries and played in a single regular season game.
That means the Steelers need depth. Former North Dakota State standout Dillon Radunz was heavily looked at by the Steelers in the draft process back in 2021. He’s position flexible, having entered the league as a potential left tackle and has started at both guard positions in the NFL, mostly at right guard which would also backup or compete with McCormick for the starting role.
Defensive Line: Javon Hargrave
This one’s a reach, but if I’m Omar Khan I go big or go home to bring Hargrave back to the Steel City. Hargrave is one of the few to “get away” from the Steelers and still have major success. Hargrave headlined free agency in 2023 after having 11 sacks with the Philadelphia Eagles. He missed all but three games last season with San Francisco, who has publicly stated they’d like to re-sign him.
Hargrave isn’t exactly the future (he’s 32 years old) but he can still mix it up with the best of them and offer a great rotational piece with the elder Cameron Heyward and young Keeanu Benton.
A younger name to watch is Eagles DL Milton Williams, who will have his share of suitors following Philly’s Super Bowl victory.
Linebackers: E.J. Speed
Depending on what happens with Cole Holcomb (under contract, but missed all of 2024) and Elandon Roberts (free agent) the Steelers could be set with Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson as their starters, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been bit before by not having more than enough depth with this group.
Whoever they sign will likely have to take a backup role, so don’t look for a Holcomb or Queen-like splash this offseason. There are a lot of after runs in this group, either young enough players who didn’t pan out (Devin White, Raekwon McMillan) who would fit the bill, or older players such as Lavonte David and Bobby Wagner who aren’t in the conversation to sit the bench.
A tweener in this category is former Colts LB E.J. Speed, who played outside in a 4-3 but could bump inside in a 4-3 and offers more pass coverage skills than Roberts. Speed turns 30 in June, which could relegate him to backup role looks with other teams. If he plays a similar split as Roberts did with the Steelers in 2024, this tackling machine (142 combined in 2024) would fit right in, provided Roberts or Holcomb isn’t back.
Secondary: Charvarius Ward
The Steelers will need someone to play opposite Joey Porter Jr. with Donte Jackson headed to free agency. Barring another trade like last year, the Steelers could also double-dip at cornerback.
This is another “go big” situation, with Niners CB Charvarius Ward the headliner of the current class. He turns 29 in May, right on par with a large portion of the cornerback free agent class. For the few extra dollars, it would be worth it for Pittsburgh to get Ward over other potential suitors such as D.J. Reed, Carlton Davis, Kendall Fuller, or Rasul Douglas.
(And for the life of me, I have this gut feeling they would give 34-year-old Darius Slay a look too… I hope not.)
Special Teams: Jamaal Williams
It’s unlikely Cordarrelle Patterson returns as the Steelers kick returner, and depending on the status of the running back room, Mike Tomlin may not want Jaylen Warren returning kicks anymore either. Pittsburgh could also use a third back, something Patterson offered in addition to returning kicks. Enter Williams, who turns 30 in April and is unlikely to return to the New Orleans Saints.
Williams had a monster 2022 season with the Detroit Lions, rushing for over 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns. He could become a bruiser in goal line and short yardage situations where the Steelers struggled last season.
He also has a history as a kick returner, and primarily held those duties with the Saints last season after being relegated from being a feature back. The Saints released Williams yesterday, meaning he will be eligible to sign with a new team.
