With the NFL season officially coming to an end after Sunday’s Super Bowl, the Pittsburgh Steelers' attention now shifts to the next major event of the offseason, which is free agency. The new league year and free agency officially begin on March 11, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET, when teams are allowed to sign contracts. Teams will get a head start a few days earlier as the NFL’s legal tampering period opens on March 9 at 12 p.m. ET, allowing negotiations with pending unrestricted free agents.
The Steelers are in a strong position heading into the offseason. Pittsburgh currently ranks ninth in the NFL in available cap space, and with the salary cap expected to rise, the team will have even more financial flexibility to be aggressive.
With a new coaching regime in place and the NFL Draft being held in Pittsburgh, all signs point to an exciting offseason for Steelers fans. With free agency just over a month away, here are three free agents the Steelers must sign.
3 free agents the Pittsburgh Steelers must prioritize this offseason
Romeo Doubs, Wide Receiver
The Steelers have desperately needed a true WR2 and additional help at wide receiver for the past two seasons, and Omar Khan and the front office can no longer afford to ignore it. With Mike McCarthy now running the show, attention on the offensive side of the ball will be at an all-time high for the first time in years. If the Steelers want to remain in win-now mode while still searching for a franchise quarterback, they must surround the offense with reliable playmakers to make life easier for everyone involved.
One player the Steelers should strongly consider targeting is Romeo Doubs, who has spent the past four seasons with the Green Bay Packers. At just 25 years old, Doubs would be a natural fit in a West Coast-style offense and would not command a massive contract.
While he has never surpassed 1,000 receiving yards or served as the primary option in Green Bay, that lack of a featured role could work in Pittsburgh’s favor. The Steelers could offer him a larger opportunity, and in return get a dependable, productive receiver at a reasonable price.
Doubs age also makes him an appealing long-term piece. He fits the influx of youth already on the offensive side of the roster and provides a needed balance for an otherwise aging team. Adding a player like Doubs would not only address a major positional need but also help stabilize and elevate the overall direction of the Steelers’ offense.
Kamren Curl, Safety
The Steelers face several important decisions in the secondary this offseason. At cornerback, Asante Samuel Jr. and James Pierre are both set to hit free agency, forcing the team to evaluate whether either player is a long-term fit as the starter opposite Joey Porter Jr.
While those questions remain, the bigger concern may come at safety, where the depth chart is likely to take a significant hit. Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, and Chuck Clark are all scheduled to become free agents, leaving a major void on the back end of the defense.
Deshon Elliott is expected to return after missing most of the season with a knee injury, and given how productive he has been on a relatively team-friendly contract, retaining him makes sense. However, the Steelers will still need to upgrade the spot next to him, and one strong option would be Kamren Curl of the Los Angeles Rams.
Curl will not come cheap, as he is expected to be one of the most sought-after safeties on the market, and some fans may question allocating more money to the defense. Still, at just 26 years old, Curl would add another young, high-impact player to an already talented unit.
Curl’s versatility makes him an ideal fit in Patrick Graham’s defense. He has experience playing in the box, covering deep, and handling multiple responsibilities in the secondary. Pairing him with Elliott would give Graham flexibility in how he deploys his safeties and create one of the more intriguing safety duos in the league. Adding Curl would not only address a looming need but also help future-proof the Steelers’ defense with a younger core.
Malik Willis, Quarterback
The Steelers face a massive decision this offseason at the most important position in football: quarterback. Do they bring back Aaron Rodgers for one more season and reunite him with his former head coach, Mike McCarthy? Do they hand the reins to last year’s sixth-round pick Will Howard, whom McCarthy has spoken highly of, and see what he can do over a full season? Or do they ultimately decide to explore another option altogether?
One intriguing alternative is Malik Willis. Willis showed flashes in his limited starts with the Packers last season, proving he can win games when called upon. While he is not the prototypical quarterback McCarthy has traditionally favored, his mobility and playmaking ability would add a different dimension to the offense. That contrast raises valid questions about fit, but it could also provide some much-needed flexibility.
A short-term “prove it” deal for Willis, perhaps two years with the second season voidable, would be a low-risk option. It would give the Steelers a chance to evaluate whether they have found a long-term answer or, at the very least, a younger bridge quarterback who is not nearing the end of his career. In a quarterback market filled with uncertainty, a move like this could quietly make a lot of sense.