The NFL offseason is here for all but two teams. The Pittsburgh Steelers already look vastly different from the way they did this time last month, as Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach and the Steelers hired
former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.
McCarthy has spent the last week assembling a staff, including hiring Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator and James Campen as offensive line coach.
The new 2026 league year doesn’t begin until March 11th, so we have plenty of time to speculate on the moves the Steelers will make between now and then. Pittsburgh enters the offseason with just over $45 million in cap space, though that number is expected to increase significantly with the projected 2026 cap number being north of $300 million. With that in mind, I have gone through what the entire offseason of moves could look like for the Steelers – trades, free agent signings, and the draft. This is my first of two mock offseasons – we’ll revisit with the second iteration at the beginning of March, right before free agency. Without further ado, let’s dive in.
Trades
CB Jalen Ramsey to Buffalo Bills
- Steelers receive: 2027 fourth-round pick
- Bills receive: CB Jalen Ramsey
Ramsey is 32, and the Steelers need to get younger defensively. The Bills are forever in win-now mode as long as Josh Allen is playing at a high level. Buffalo gets secondary help while the Steelers get a high Day Three pick in the 2027 NFL Draft – a piece they could potentially use to move up for a quarterback.
WR Roman Wilson to Carolina Panthers
- Steelers receive: 2027 sixth-round pick
- Panthers receive: WR Roman Wilson
Both sides just need a fresh start. Wilson has never been given a real chance with Pittsburgh, and the Steelers need proven talent at the position over hopeful projects. The Panthers lack depth at receiver, so giving up a Day Three Pick in the 2027 draft is a fair price to pay to see if Wilson can be a contributor.
EDGE Alex Highsmith to Washington Commanders
- Steelers receive: 2027 third-round pick, 2027 sixth-round pick
- Commanders receive: EDGE Alex Highsmith, 2026 sixth-round pick
The Steelers are already loaded on picks in the Top 100 this year. And if you haven’t picked up on the theme here, they need to get as many picks as they can ahead of 2027 to get a potential franchise quarterback – which, yes, means I don’t believe they should take one in this year’s draft. Moving Highsmith clears the way for Nick Herbig to start and sign an extension, and also frees up opportunities for Jack Sawyer.
QB Anthony Richardson from Indianapolis Colts
- Steelers receive: QB Anthony Richardson, 2027 sixth-round pick
- Colts receive: QB Mason Rudolph, 2026 fourth-round pick
This is the quarterback route I’d prefer the Steelers take this offseason. It seems likely that Aaron Rodgers will return in 2026. If that’s the case, bring in a massive athlete with tremendous tools for Mike McCarthy to develop while he learns under Rodgers. This makes way for 2027 where Richardson, Will Howard, and whoever the Steelers take at quarterback will be the quarterback room.
Internal Free Agents
- Re-sign QB Aaron Rodgers: 1 year, $10.5 million
- Re-sign CB Asante Samuel Jr: 3 years, $18 million
- Re-sign RB Kenneth Gainwell: 1 year, $2.25 million
- Re-sign P Corliss Waitman: 1 year, $1.75 million
- Re-sign DL Daniel Ekuale: 1 year, $1.26 million
*All contracts are Spotrac-projected market value
Rodgers returning wouldn’t necessarily be my favorite outcome. Still, given the lack of high-end quarterback talent in the NFL Draft and the absence of true game-changers on the free-agent or trade market (unless you really feel strongly about Kyler Murray), it makes some sense.
Samuel showed enough to bring him back as the CB2 opposite Joey Porter Jr, and Kenneth Gainwell was the team MVP in 2025. Having him return on a one-year deal to continue utilizing his versatility is a no-brainer. Waitman is a solid punter while Ekuale provides reliable defensive line depth.
External Free Agents
- G David Edwards (Bills): 3 years, $59.7 million
- WR Rashid Shaheed (Seahawks): 3 years, $42.3 million
- S Jalen Thompson (Cardinals): 2 years, $18.9 million
- WR Christian Kirk (Texans): 1 year, $5.3 million
- CB Jonathan Jones (Commanders): 1 year, $5 million
- LB Elandon Roberts (Raiders): 1 year, $2.69 million
*All contracts are Spotrac-projected market value
I expect Edwards and Isaac Seumalo to basically switch spots, with Seumalo joining Pat Meyer in Buffalo and the Steelers opting to sign the younger Edwards as a veteran piece to their offensive line.
Shaheed is one of the best home run hitters in the NFL. Including playoffs, he had three return touchdowns in the 2025 season (two kickoffs, one punt), and he has an 87-yard receiving touchdown this season, as well. His speed is something the Steelers have been missing, as is his return ability.
The Steelers need to get a high-end coverage safety to complement DeShon Elliott. Thompson’s completion rate over expected allowed was -1.1 percent, per Next Gen Stats.
Kirk didn’t have the greatest regular season, but he torched the Steelers in the wild card round. A one-year deal for the veteran to be the team’s top slot receiver could bring positive results.
Jones would provide veteran depth at cornerback on a cheap deal.
Bringing Elandon Roberts back would be one of my favorite moves of the offseason, should the Steelers do it. He’s an old-school, downhill run stopper, and he has always felt like a Steeler. Would love to see him back in the rotation.
Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 21: WR Denzel Boston, Washington
The Steelers need to completely revamp their wide receivers room. Signing Shaheed and Kirk to complement Metcalf is a good start, but they can go further by drafting Boston. He has great height, is terrific in jump-ball situations, and has proven he is capable of consistently succeeding against both man and zone coverages.
Not only will a revamped receiving corps of Metcalf, Boston, Shaheed, and Kirk make the offense better in 2026, but it will help the Steelers find their next franchise quarterback. Let’s say they do give Will Howard a shot in 2027 – if he plays poorly with that group of talent, plus the running backs and a good offensive line, then it’s clear he isn’t the guy. The same can be said about any other quarterback(s) the Steelers hope are their future. Having this amount of talent is a great way to see who can run with it and who just isn’t cut out to be a franchise quarterback.
Round 2, Pick 53: LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Rodriguez is a name that will jump up boards after his strong week in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. Considering that Patrick Queen is entering the final year of his deal, the Steelers need to plan for the future. Plus, a rotation of Queen, Payton Wilson, Rodriguez, and Elandon Roberts would be terrific.
Round 3, Pick 76 (via Cowboys): S Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
While 2025 wasn’t the season the Nittany Lions were hoping it would be, Wheatley was one of the best safeties in the country, allowing only a 69.2 passer rating as the nearest defender, per PFF. The Steelers add the Penn State product to go along with Jalen Thompson and DeShon Elliott as the No. 3 safety with hopes of him eventually taking over in a starting role.
Round 3, Pick 85: DT Darrell Jackson Jr, Florida State
2026 is likely Cam Heyward’s swan song as a Steeler, assuming he decides not to retire this offseason. While Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon are quality starters, and Yahya Black has proven to be a reliable rotational piece, the Steelers could use another depth piece who can play quality snaps. He finished the 2025 season with 45 tackles and three tackles for loss.
Round 3, Pick 99: CB Malik Muhammad, Texas
Muhammad picked off two passes during the 2025 season and allowed a passer rating of just 59.4, per PFF. Adding him to a youthful secondary of Joey Porter, Asante Samuel, and Brandin Echols would be a big plus.
- Round 4, Pick 135: WR Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
- Round 5, Pick 159: RB J’Mari Taylor, Virginia
- Round 6, Pick 214: FB/TE Eli Heidenreich, Navy
- Round 7, Pick 224: G Joshua Braun, Kentucky
- Round 7, Pick 237: LB Xavian Sorey Jr, Arkansas
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!
