What Steelers Needs Remain after Start of Free Agency?
The Pittsburgh Steelers have done a ton of work in two weeks of NFL free agency, but they still have a number of needs, both for the 2025 NFL season and the future, as the club turns the page from free agency and begins to focus on the 2025 NFL Draft.
STEELERS IMMEDIATE STARTING NEEDS
Remaining: Quarterback
Filled: Wide receiver (DK Metcalf), cornerback (Darius Slay), defensive tackle (Daniel Ekuale), slot cornerback (Brandin Echols)
The Steelers came into the offseason with holes at quarterback, where Russell Wilson and Justin Fields were set to hit free agency, cornerback with Donte Jackson and Cam Sutton expected to depart, and at wide receiver, where they had yet to really fill the hole at outside receiver since trading Diontae Johnson last March.
Quarterback remains the one area where the Steelers are still pursuing a solution in free agency, with Aaron Rodgers favored to eventually land in Pittsburgh — though with his timeline questionable, when remains to be seen.
The rest of those needs got cleaned up through free agency, with the Steelers trading for outside receiver DK Metcalf and signing cornerbacks Darius Slay and Brandin Echols in free agency.
The also created and filled another hole in the first week of free agency, releasing defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, but replacing him with Daniel Ekuale.
Here are the Steelers current projected starters as of March 24, along with the games they started in 2024.
QB: Mason Rudolph (5)
RB: Jaylen Warren (0)
WR: DK Metcalf (12), George Pickens (12), Calvin Austin III (8)
TE: Pat Freiermuth (11)
LT: Broderick Jones (16)
LG: Isaac Seumalo (13)
C: Zach Frazier (15)
RG: Mason McCormick (14)
RT: Troy Fautanu (1)
DT: Cam Heyward (16)
NT: Keeanu Benton (14)
DT: Daniel Ekuale (16)
OLB: T.J. Watt (17)
OLB: Alex Highsmith (11)
ILB: Patrick Queen (17)
ILB: Payton Wilson (4) or Malik Harrison (7)
CB: Darius Slay (14)
CB: Joey Porter Jr. (16)
FS: Minkah Fitzpatrick (17)
SS: DeShon Elliott (14)
NB: Beanie Bishop (6) or Brandin Echols (4)
Jaylin Warren and Troy Fautanu will be stepping into starting roles for the first time. Beanie Bishop and Payton Wilson will have a chance to earn one, with a more-veteran backup ready in case. Other than that, the Steelers have pretty much taken care of things in terms of immediate starters.
Quarterback
Under contract: Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson
Unsigned free agents: Russell Wilson
Remaining trade/free agent targets: Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco
2025 NFL Draft targets: Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe, Will Howard, Tyler Shough, Dillon Gabriel, Riley Leonard, Quinn Ewers, Brady Cook
It seems very likely that Rodgers will eventually fill this slot. If he doesn’t, all bets are off. It could mean a Wilson return, a shot in the dark at an aging free agent like Joe Flacco, or a turn to a trade or the 2025 NFL Draft.
STEELERS IMMEDIATE ROTATIONAL/BACKUP NEEDS
Remaining: Swing tackle, Z wide receiver
Filled: Backup quarterback (Mason Rudolph), running back (Kenneth Gainwell), inside linebacker (Malik Harrison), tight end (Donald Parham), slot cornerback (Brandin Echols), safety (Juan Thornhill).
Offensive tackle
Under contract: Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, Dylan Cook, Doug Nester
Unsigned free agent: Calvin Anderson
Remaining free agent targets: Full story
2025 NFL Draft targets: Charles Grant, Wyatt Milum
With 2024 rookie Troy Fautanu back in the starting lineup after missing all but one game in 2024 with a knee injury and Broderick Jones switching sides to left tackle, it’s hard to imagine the Steelers won’t sign a veteran swing tackle backup at some point.
Wide receiver
Under contract: George Pickens, DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek, Brandon Johnson, Lance McCutcheon
Remaining free agent targets: Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, Diontae Johnson, Keenan Allen, Elijah Moore, Tyler Lockett, Robert Woods, Josh Reynolds, Tyler Boyd
2025 NFL Draft targets: Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka, Luther Burden, Elic Ayomanor, Tre Harris, Jayden Higgins, Jack Bech, Jaylin Noel, Jalen Royals, Savion Williams, Tai Felton, Tory Horton, Kyle Williams, Dont’e Thornton, Ricky White
George Pickens remans a big question mark for the Steelers offense. Will he want to play with DK Metcalf, or will he see the inevitable reduction in targets as something that will stand in the way of him receiving his fair value in free agency in 2025?
Even if Pickens returns, they’ll want some kind of backup plan for if Pickens or Metcalf gets injured. Neither Calvin Austin III or Roman Wilson really profile as an outside receiver. They also don’t have a traditional Z-receiver body or an elite separator in the group — something that Rodgers will probably want if he’s the quarterback.
STEELERS FUTURE STARTING NEEDS
Remaining: Defensive tackle, quarterback, guard, cornerback
Defensive tackle
Under contract: Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Daniel Ekuale, Montravius Adams, Dean Lowry, Isaiahh Loudermilk, DeMarvin Leal, Logan Lee, Esezi Otomewo, Domenique Davis, Jacob Slade
2025 NFL Draft targets: Kenneth Grant, Walter Nolen, Derrick Harmon, Darius Alexander, Alfred Collins, T.J. Sanders, Omar Norman-Lott, Deone Walker, Joshua Farmer, Shemar Turner, Ty Robinson, C.J. West, Jordan Phillips, Jamaree Caldwell, J.J. Pegues, Elijah Roberts, Aeneas Peebles, Cam Jackson, Vernon Broughton, Tim Smith, Yahya Black, Nazir Stackhouse
Much the like offensive line before the Steelers pumped four draft picks over the last two classes into that position, the Steelers defensive line has been neglected for too long. They’ve used three picks in the last four draft classes on mid-tier talent, taking Keeanu Benton in the second round, DeMarvin Leal in the third round and Isaiahh Loudermilk in the fifth. But defensive tackle is a premium position, and at some point, the Steelers are going to have to take a big swing here if they hope of find an eventual replacement for Cam Heyward. In an ideal world, the first-round pick goes here.
Quarterback
Under contract: Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson
2025 NFL Draft targets: Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe, Will Howard, Tyler Shough, Dillon Gabriel, Riley Leonard, Quinn Ewers, Brady Cook
Assuming that the starter is Rodgers, with Mason Rudolph as the backup, the Steelers could really use a developmental quarterback prospect — something they haven’t carried on their roster since Rudolph was young. Late-round quarterbacks rarely turn into something special, and for every Tom Brady or Brock Purdy there are probably two dozen washouts, but it’s still worth a shot.
Cornerback
Under contract: Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay, Corey Trice, Beanie Bishop, Brandin Echols, James Pierre, Kyler McMichael, Cameron McCutcheon, D’Shawn Jamison
2025 NFL Draft targets: Will Johnson, Jahdae Barron, Shavon Revel, Maxwell Hairston, Trey Amos, Azaraye’h Thomas, Benjamin Morrison, Darien Porter, Dorian Strong, Jacob Parrish, Quincy Riley, Zah Frazier, Cobee Bryant, Tommi Hill, Zy Alexander, O’Donnell Fortune, Mello Dotson, Bilal One, Alijah Huzzie, Upton Stout, B.J. Adams, Robert Longerbeam
The Steelers got a stop-gap at outside cornerback in the form of 34-year-old Darius Slay. That’s probably only going to last the 2025 season. They have a young option they’d probably like to succeed in Cory Trice Jr., but he’s spent most of his first two NFL seasons injured. The Steelers probably won’t use a first-round pick on cornerback, and thus shutting Trice out completely, but a later-round option — particularly one with some slot versatility — makes a lot of sense.
The team could also use a solid starter in the slot, where Brandin Echols and Beanie Bishop figure to compete for playing time in 2025.
Guard
Under contract: Isaac Seumalo, Mason McCormick, Spencer Anderson, Lecitus Smith
2025 NFL Draft targets: Charles Smith, Wyatt Milum
Isaac Seumalo is entering the final season of his contract with the Steelers and will be turning 32 next year. The end is definitely within sight for the surly Hawaiian lineman, and the Steelers would to well to look for a potential replacement while the lone veteran on their offensive line is still around.
Safety
Under contract: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DeShon Elliott, Juan Thornhill, Miles Killebrew, Ryan Watts, Joshuah Bledsoe
2025 NFL Draft targets: Malaki Starks, Nick Emmanwori, Xavier Watts, Andrew Mukuba, Kevin Winston, Lathan Ransom
Minkah Fitzpatrick did not have a great season in 2024, and while DeShon Elliott did, he has just one season remaining on his contract. Elliott could be extended, but a finding a potential future starter at free safety could give the Steelers an insurance policy if the downturn from Fitzpatrick turns into a multi-year affair. With the right player, they could check this box in one shot along with the slot cornerback option, as well.