Day 1 of free agency is in the books, and the Steelers certainly made some headlines:
- Late-round pick swap for Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (three years, $59 million)
- Signed Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean (three years, $36.75 million)
- Signed Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (two years, $12.25 million)
- Re-signed linebacker Cole Holcomb (two years, $5 million)
- Re-signed cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (one year, $4 million)
- Re-signed defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo (one year, unknown amount)
- Lost cornerback James Pierre (Vikings: two years, $8.5 million)
- Lost running back Kenneth Gainwell (Buccaneers: two years, $14 million)
- Lost guard Isaac Seumalo (Cardinals: three years, $31.5 million)
Free agency certainly isn’t over, but Day 1 tends to set the tone. Pittsburgh has already filled two of its biggest offseason roster holes: WR2 and CB2.
How did Steelers general manager Omar Khan do on Day 1 of free agency?
I wouldn’t say it was a home run day for the Steelers front office, but there’s plenty to like. My quick thoughts on each bullet point listed above:
- Late-round pick swap for Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (three years, $59 million)
Pittman is going to be 29 for most of the 2026 season, and he’s lost a step after never being much of a separator in the first
place. Still, for a late-round pick swap and a reasonable contract, this is a rock-solid move for the Steelers.
Pittman is the ideal complement of D.K. Metcalf, adding another big wide receiver to the room but a wildly different skillset. He can do the dirty work in the short and intermediate passing game, serving as a more reliable chain-mover with his excellent hands and consistency as a route-runner. While Pittman isn’t much a deep threat, his game is solid all-around, also meaning the passing game might not disappear if Metcalf misses some time next season.
- Signed Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean (three years, $36.75 million)
Dean is also a tad older than you’d ideally want (he’ll turn 30 in the 2026 season) but as a former 4.30 Combine warrior, he still clearly has juice. He’s also a big, physical corner who should make a great pairing with Joey Porter Jr. — especially in press man coverage — over the next few seasons.
Dean has his flaws as a player but he’s a high-end CB2. I’d be more excited about this one, but Dean’s past injury history (12 missed games in last three seasons) and age mean the signing isn’t exactly risk free.
- Signed Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (two years, $12.25 million)
I was mildly surprised that the Steelers were willing to spend this much on another running back considering their previous investments in Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson, but this is still a good deal for a good player in fairly cheap running back market. Dowdle was a great addition to the Panthers running back room last year. He’s coming off two straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons, including one with Mike McCarthy’s Dallas Cowboys in 2024.
More of a pure runner than Kenneth Gainwell (who signed for even more money with the Buccaneers), I actually think Dowdle will be a better complement to Jaylen Warren in 2026.
- Re-signed linebacker Cole Holcomb (two years, $5 million)
It’s a great story for Holcomb, who came back from a gruesome injury in 2026 and even earned an extension. He’s also still 29 (he’ll turn 30 in July). I thought he looked like he lost a step last season, but the Steelers know more about his current health and might see some more long term ability.
Ideally, this signals that the team will move on from Malik Harrison to bring in a younger face at linebacker and save some cap space in 2026. Either way, however, Holcomb’s new contract isn’t big enough to matter much in regards to the cap situation. And pre-injury, he was a plus starter in the middle of the defense.
- Re-signed cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (one year, $4 million)
Samuel was OK in his return from injury in 2025, and with a full offseason of preparation ahead of the 2026 season, there’s reason to expect the 26-year-old to return to form. In that case, this contract could turn out to be a bargain.
I originally would’ve wanted James Pierre (more on him later) over Samuel, but after the Dean signing, bringing in the younger (and more slot-capable) Samuel does make more sense when it comes to depth.
- Re-signed defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo (one year, unknown amount)
I’ll go ahead and assume this is a cheap deal. If that’s the case, it’s a good signing. To my eyes, Otomewo was the most promising of the group of Steelers defensive linemen hitting free agency this year. He’s good, young depth to bring back into the fold.
- Lost cornerback James Pierre (Vikings: two years, $8.5 million)
Pierre was one of my favorite players on the 2025 Steelers, so it hurt to see him leave on such a modest deal after a breakout year. Still, for the reasons above, there’s a valid argument for why the Steelers preferred Samuel.
It’s worth noting that Pierre is actually a month older than Dean (per Brian Batko) — meaning he didn’t have quite as much long term upside as you’d think after his promising 2025. If Pierre continues on his trajectory with the Vikings in 2026, however, Pittsburgh could regret letting him leave.
- Lost running back Kenneth Gainwell (Buccaneers two years, $14 million)
No one wanted to move on from the Steelers’ 2025 team MVP, but once the price tag jumped to $7 million per year, I’d argue it was a good piece of business by Pittsburgh’s front office letting Gainwell walk, especially with Dowdle signing for cheaper.
Gainwell’s 2025 campaign was great, but given the market he drew, it would’ve been an overpay. It’ll be interesting to see how Dowdle’s 2026 compares to Warren’s, especially at their different price points.
- Lost guard Isaac Seumalo (Cardinals: three years, $31.5 million)
Seumalo will turn 33 during the 2026 season, and while he remains a solid starting option, his play has declined. Letting him walk, especially when the competition is a three-year, $10 million-plus per season deal, makes sense for the Steelers front office.
That said, the interior lineman market as a whole has exploded this year, meaning any other name worth starting who the Steelers might sign will also cost an arm and a leg. But the draft is also an option.
Losing Seumalo is fine, but if the Steelers go after an older option such as Joe Bitonio or Kevin Zeitler at a similar price, it won’t be that great of an alternative. It’s also a risk to start a rookie on Pittsburgh’s already inexperienced O-line, especially with questions at left tackle. Time will tell.
- As for the moves the Steelers still haven’t made…
Pittsburgh still has gaping holes at quarterback and left guard, but it’s foolish to expect the team to solve everything on Day 1. I would’ve liked Khan go after Malik Willis, but I can see why three years and $45 million in guarantees felt like too much — and there’s a chance Willis always wanted to Miami in the first place.
You can nitpick the Steelers’ Day 1 moves, but so far it looks like a solid foundation for the offseason. And of course, future moves — especially at quarterback — will re-contextualize everything.
Make sure to follow along with Pittsburgh’s free agency moves here at BTSC.
What are your thoughts on the Steelers’ first day of free agency? Join the BTSC community and let us know in the comments!
