2025 NFL Offseason Primer: Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers

Projected Cap Space: $57.1 million

Draft Picks: 8

• 1st (No. 21)
• 2nd (No. 52)
• 3rd (No. 83)
• 4th (No. 122)
• 5th (No. 163, LAR)
• 7th (No. 225, NO)
• 7th (No. 231, ATL)
• 7th (No. 247, WAS)

Notable Free Agents: 

• QB Russell Wilson
• QB Justin Fields
• RB Najee Harris
• RB Jaylen Warren (RFA)
• G James Daniels
• CB Donte Jackson
• OT Dan Moore Jr.
• WR Mike Williams
• WR Van Jefferson
• LB Elandon Roberts
• S Damontae Kazee
• CB Cameron Sutton
• G Nate Herbig
• LB Tyler Matakevich

Top Three Needs

1 – Quarterback

Two things can be true. The Steelers got way more success out of Wilson and Fields than most people expected heading into the 2024 season. Fields kept the team afloat with a 4-2 record in the first six games of the season while Wilson recovered from a nagging calf injury that kept him out most of training camp. When Wilson was ready, Steelers HC Mike Tomlin made what was a controversial choice at the time to put him back in the lineup and was proven correct, as the veteran made Pittsburgh’s aerial attack far more dynamic than it was with Fields. 

But the limitations of both quarterbacks were exposed over the course of the full season. The Steelers lost their last five games of the season, including the wildcard round matchup against the Ravens. That span included games against the Eagles, Chiefs, Bengals and Ravens twice, showing just how much of a gap there is between the top teams in the AFC and Pittsburgh. Those teams were better than the Steelers in other areas, too, but quarterback was the most glaring. 

That also happens to be the hardest position to fix, even for teams that get the “luxury” of a high draft pick and a better chance at a top QB prospect. Pittsburgh has had to be more creative to find a successor to Ben Roethlisberger thanks to Tomlin’s continued streak of non-losing seasons, and so far dart throws on Fields, Wilson and former first-round QB Kenny Pickett haven’t worked out. The Steelers could bring back either Wilson or Fields and try to find a diamond in what’s seen as a rough 2025 class of prospects.

Or perhaps the Steelers elect to do a complete reset like last year, when Fields was available for a mid-round pick and Wilson was a free agent for the veteran minimum fresh off being cut by the Broncos. There are some interesting veteran names to monitor in that regard, and it’ll be fascinating to see what the Steelers do. 

2 – Wide Receiver

While the Steelers want to win with a punishing style built around good defense and a strong running game on offense, they do need more firepower in the passing attack to keep up in the modern NFL, even with the running game renaissance the league as a whole experienced this past season. Pittsburgh was in on seemingly every notable receiver available on the trade market last year before striking out with everyone but Williams.

He’s on an expiring deal along with Jefferson, and mercurial No. 1 WR George Pickens is entering his contract year, so receiver looms as a need both for 2025 and the future. The Steelers need a player who can take advantage of how Pickens stretches the field, and considering their history of generally not signing receivers to second contracts, they’ll eventually need a new No.  1 to replace Pickens. 

3 – Running Back

The Steelers have needs on defense as well — the defensive line is getting long in the tooth between Cameron Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi, while there’s a big question mark at cornerback with Jackson set for free agency. But for a team that wants to build itself around the running game under OC Arthur Smith, it’s notable that both starting backs are scheduled to be free agents. 

Pittsburgh should be able to keep either Harris or Warren, with the latter feeling more likely given he’s a restricted free agent and the Steelers declined Harris’ fifth-year option last year. Keeping both isn’t out of the question either honestly. However, the Steelers could treat this as an opportunity to get more dynamic in their backfield with an impressive draft class at the running back position. 

One Big Question

Can the Steelers break the playoff wins drought?

The Steelers are one of the models of stability in the NFL, with just three head coaches since 1969. Tomlin has acquitted himself well against his two Hall of Fame predecessors, with a remarkable streak of zero losing seasons in 18 years on the job. That includes a year in which Pittsburgh had to rotate between Mason Rudolph and “Duck” Hodges at quarterback. 

However, it’s been eight years since the Steelers won a playoff game. That might not be an eternity but it’s an incredibly long time. Alex Smith was the opposing starter in Pittsburgh’s last playoff win. The Chargers were still in San Diego. Patrick Mahomes was in his last year at Texas Tech. Every other team in the AFC North has won at least one playoff game since then — including the Browns. 

There’s something to be said for the floor Tomlin gives the Steelers. There’s value in always being competitive, value that’s not always necessarily quantified well in the increasingly analytical NFL. Should either Tomlin or Pittsburgh decide it’s time to end things, there would be a line of teams looking to hire him.

But at some point, the results just have to be better. Finding a quarterback would be a huge step in the right direction. We’ll see if the Steelers can make it happen.