The Pittsburgh Steelers' offseason has been a fruitful one overall, but there are still several unanswered questions about the roster as the 2026 NFL draft draws near. Who will be the new starting left guard? Who will man the slot on both offense and defense? Will it be Aaron Rodgers or someone else behind center?
The draft could hold the answer to a few of those questions, but there are still players left in free agency who could help the Steelers out in 2026.
Three players, in particular, stand out as either potential upgrades or cheap additions that would bolster the depth of the roster. If general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike McCarthy don't want to rely on the draft to solve their remaining roster holes, they should get in touch with these players sooner rather than later.
3 players still left unsigned in free agency that could still help the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026
Taylor Decker, OT
Taylor Decker has been one of the most consistent starters at left tackle since entering the NFL with the Detroit Lions back in 2016, but his time with the team that drafted him 16th overall that year came to an end earlier this offseason. Decker is no longer the player he was in his prime, but he could replace Isaac Seumalo as the veteran presence on a young Steelers offensive line.
With Broderick Jones' health still a question mark and Dylan Cook still relatively unproven, adding a veteran tackle with 140 career starts would be a huge deal for a team looking to compete again in 2026. He may be a bit expensive, but the Steelers have the cap flexibility to make it work.
Shaq Thompson, LB
Like Decker, Shaq Thompson is a respected veteran at his position with over a decade of NFL experience as a starting linebacker. His career looked to be coming to a close just a few years ago due to injury, as he played in just six games from 2023 to 2024. Luckily for Thompson, he returned to form in 2025 with the Buffalo Bills.
He still missed five games, but he looked like his old self in the games he did play, logging over 500 snaps and performing well in coverage specifically. With Patrick Queen struggling to live up to his position as the Steelers' three-down LB, perhaps bringing in Thompson to help on passing downs could be a way to help offset that in 2026.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR
Whether you love him or hate him, JuJu Smith-Schuster could be a smart pickup for the Steelers as receiver depth next season. While he has never reached the same heights he did early in his career since leaving Pittsburgh back in 2022, he has remained a capable target when healthy.
Schuster has been at his best when playing primarily from the slot, which is where the Steelers are still looking for viable options with Michael Pittman Jr. and DK Metcalf as the outside receivers. The NFL draft is still where they should be looking to find a long-term solution, but for 2026? Why not bring back an old friend and have him help prepare whoever they draft to take over in 2027?