The new NFL league year officially begins in just over a week, with free agency opening on March 11th and legal tampering opening on March 9th.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have several positions of need as they begin a new era under first-year head coach Mike McCarthy, and they currently sit with approximately $42.7 million in cap space. I’ve done this exercise once already, which you can go back and read and decide which one you prefer. With that in mind, here is my Steelers mock offseason 2.0.
Contract Conversion
- EDGE Alex Highsmith: Saves $10.6 million
Restructuring
Highsmith’s contract saves almost $11 million, per Spotrac.
Releases
- TE Jonnu Smith
- LB Malik Harrison
- CB Cory Trice
Releasing Smith and Harrison will free up over $11 million in cap space. Trice, unfortunately, just cannot stay healthy.
Internal Free Agents
- QB Aaron Rodgers: 1 year, $10.5 million
- CB James Pierre: 2 years, $6 million
- DL Daniel Ekuale: 1 year, $1.9 million
- P Corliss Waitman: 1 year, $1.3 million
It looks even more likely than it did a month ago that Aaron Rodgers will be returning. While many would prefer to see the Steelers try something else at the position, I doubt this would be the only major move they make at quarterback this offseason.
James Pierre had a tremendous season in 2025. He allowed just 13 receptions on 34 targets and posted a catch rate over expected of -24.6. Bringing him back on a cheap deal to be the No. 3 perimeter cornerback would benefit Pittsburgh.
Ekuale provides reliable depth on the defensive line, while Waitman has proven to be a very solid punter.
Player Trades
CB Jalen Ramsey to Los Angeles Rams
- Steelers receive: 2027 fourth-round pick
- Rams receive: CB Jalen Ramsey, 2026 seventh-round pick (No. 237)
Ramsey going back to the Rams just makes sense. He’s on the final few holes of his career, and the Steelers aren’t in position to contend for a Super Bowl. The Rams, on the other hand, are a constant mainstay in the Super Bowl bubble and have the reigning MVP returning at quarterback to lead a high-powered offense. Defensively, the Rams need help in the secondary. Reuniting him with Sean McVay and the team he helped win a Super Bowl back in 2021 is best for all sides.
WR Roman Wilson to Los Angeles Chargers
I stand by the fact that Wilson needs a fresh start elsewhere after doing next to nothing in his first two seasons with the Steelers. Being a consistent healthy scratch down the stretch all but sealed his fate as a guy who isn’t in the Steelers’ plans. Send him to his college coach, Jim Harbaugh, and a Chargers team that could use some help at the receiver position.
External Free Agents
- WR Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers: 4 years, $48 million
- S Jalen Thompson, Arizona Cardinals: 3 years, $27 million
- CB Eric Stokes, Las Vegas Raiders: 3 years, $22 million
- G Kevin Zeitler, Tennssee Titans: 1 year, $9,29 million
- WR Jalen Nailor, Minnesota Vikings: 1 year, $4.7 million
- LB Elandon Roberts, Las Vegas Raiders: 1 year, $2.69 million
- TE Stone Smartt, New York Jets: 1 year, $1.42 million
The Steelers haven’t had a real No. 2 receiver since 2023 when both Diontae Johnson and George Pickens were on the roster. Doubs and his 55 catches opposite of DK Metcalf would provide the Steelers with a proven weapon and drastically improve their receiving corps.
Thompson is a carry over from the 1.0 version of the mock offseason, just with an extra year added to his contract. Pittsburgh has just two safeties on its roster at the time of writing, and Thompson is one of the better young players at the position.
Stokes played under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham in Las Vegas, and had a very productive 2025 season. The former Packer allowed a catch rate over expected of -6.4 and less than four yards of yards after catch per reception. Making him the No, 2 cornerback opposite Joey Porter Jr, with Pierre as the No. 3 and Brandin Echols at nickel is the vision.
The Steelers need a veteran to replace Isaac Seumalo to help lead a very young offensive line. Zeitler is a proven hand who can come in and start for the season.
Nailor played under offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio while both were with the Minnesota Vikings. He’d make for a good depth signing for the receiving corps.
The dream of bringing Elandon Roberts back lives on. Like Stokes, he could follow Patrick Graham to Pittsburgh and be the thumper in the rotation of linebackers.
Smartt would serve as the No. 3 tight end behind Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.
Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 11 (from Dolphins): WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Projected trade:
- Dolphins get: 2026 first-round pick (No. 21), 2026 third-round pick (No. 85)
- Steelers get: 2026 first-round pick (No. 11), 2027 fifth-round pick
The Steelers have 12 picks, and it’s highly unlikely they will use all of them on players. Instead, they get aggressive and trade up for one of the top receivers in this year’s class. Tate completes a new three-headed receiving monster for the Steelers alongside DK Metcalf and Romeo Doubs.
Round 2, Pick 53: QB Drew Allar, Penn State
I’m sure all of you are singing my praises for this one, he said sarcastically.
Allar had a nice showing during on-field workouts at the NFL Combine, showcasing the biggest arm in this year’s class. And while he began the draft process being mocked largely as a third-round pick, we see guys in that exact situation jump up every year. Jaxson Dart was a projected third-round pick last January and went at the tail end of the first round. Many were split on both Bo Nix and Michael Penix being first-round picks, and each of them went in the top 15.
The Steelers had a formal meeting with the Penn State quarterback in Indianapolis, and Allar spoke very highly of Mike McCarthy and the meeting he had with Pittsburgh. If he is there at 53, don’t be shocked in the slightest if Pittsburgh pulls the trigger.
Round 3, Pick 76: WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia
Pittsburgh goes wide receiver heavy, taking two with their first three picks to solidify a position that has been their biggest weakness over the last two seasons. Branch, Tate, and Doubs will be the big picture trio looking deep into 2027, 2028, and beyond, while 2026 sees the Steelers have four reliable pass-catchers with a healthy balance of veterans and young talent.
Round 3, Pick 99: S Genesis Smith, Arizona
The signing of Thompson gives the Steelers a good starting tandem with DeShon Elliott. With his injury-plagued 2025 season, though, it would be smart for the Steelers to plan for the future at the position. Elliott will be 29 at the start of the 2026 season. Smith is similar to Elliott in terms of his ability to go down in the box and make plays against the run, but he is also tremendous in coverage. He’s a chess piece that will become a major defensive building block.
Round 4, Pick 121: G Beau Stephens, Iowa
Stephens is one of the top guards in this class. Per PFF, he ranked as the best pass-blocking guard in the nation and the third-best overall guard. His stock will likely rise between now and late April, but he should be on Pittsburgh’s radar as a potential long-term answer at left guard.
Round 4, Pick 135: RB Mike Washington Jr, Arkansas
Washington led all running backs at the Combine with a 4.33 40-yard dash time. Assuming Gainwell isn’t brought back, adding Washington’s speed to the offense would be welcomed and would make for a very good camp battle with Kaleb Johnson.
- Round 5, Pick 159: DT Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana
- Round 6, Pick 213: OT Kage Casey, Boise State
- Round 6, Pick 214: CB Andre Fuller, Toledo
- Round 7, Pick 224: S Lorenzo Styles Jr, Ohio State
Projected Offense
- QB: Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, Drew Allar (4 QBs to training camp, Rudolph likely traded/cut)
- RB: Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson, Mike Washington Jr
- WR: DK Metcalf, Romeo Doubs, Carnell Tate, Jalen Nailor, Zachariah Branch, Ben Skowronek
- TE: Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Stone Smartt
- LT: Broderick Jones, Dylan Cook
- LG: Kevin Zeitler, Beau Stephens
- C: Zach Frazier
- RG: Mason McCormick
- RT: Troy Fautanu, Spencer Anderson, Kage Casey
Projected Defense
- DE: Derrick Harmon, Logan Lee
- NT: Keeanu Benton, Yahya Black, Kaleb Proctor
- DT: Cam Heyward, Daniel Ekuale
- EDGE: T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer
- LB: Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Elandon Roberts, Carson Bruener
- CB: Joey Porter Jr, Eric Stokes, James Pierre, Brandin Echols, Donte Kent, Andre Fuller
- S: DeShon Elliott, Jalen Thompson, Genesis Smith, Sebastian Castro
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
