With their season now over thanks to a 28-14 beating at the hands of the Ravens, the Steelers have significant work to do this offseason. A 10-3 start gave fans hope that they had finally turned the corner, but they ultimately returned to being the same one-and-done playoff team they have been for nearly a decade. With far more questions than answers at several important spots on the roster, Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin must act with more urgency than ever before.
The Steelers have never been the type of organization to make sweeping changes or bold moves, but their conservative approach has held them back for too long. Even Tomlin and Khan (who have about as much job security as possible in the NFL) have to realize that they must do things differently if they want to be Super Bowl contenders again.
With just over $50 million in cap space (before cuts or restructures) and eight total draft picks, Pittsburgh has all the resources it needs to make big splashes this offseason. Here are four bold predictions for how they will use those assets.
Steelers add two new starting cornerbacks in free agency
The Steelers have plenty of pressing needs this offseason on both sides of the ball. Quarterback and receiver will be the positions that get most of the media coverage with how little they have at those spots, but cornerback may be just as big of a need. Joey Porter Jr. is the only player who should be locked in as a starter next season, and even he has plenty of things to improve upon.
Donte Jackson made some plays this season (five interceptions and a fumble recovery) but was poor in coverage and constantly banged up. Beanie Bishop had a few good games as an undrafted free agent, but he was ultimately replaced by veteran Cam Sutton who was arguably even worse. Cory Trice showed flashes but was never given enough playing time to show if he could be a starter.
With no established players behind Porter Jr., the Steelers should look to use some of their cap space to add two impact starters around him. Some combination of the Vikings' Byron Murphy, the 49ers' Charvarious Ward, the Jets' D.J. Reed, or the Chargers' Asante Samuel Jr. would completely overhaul the secondary and give their pass rush more time to get to the QB.
Omar Khan flips one of his first three draft picks for a starting receiver
The Steelers spent all of the 2024 offseason being tied to just about every potential wide receiver that could be traded. We all remember the Brandon Aiyuk saga and the rumors lasted all the way until the trade deadline when they added Mike Williams in a trade with the Jets. This time around, I think Omar Khan will pull the trigger on a much more impactful receiver addition.
Several receivers who would be clear upgrades for the Steelers could be available this offseason. What do the Jets decide to do with Davante Adams? Do the 49ers move on from a declining Deebo Samuel? What about guys like Tyreek Hill, D.K. Metcalf, and Cooper Kupp? All of these receivers could be available for different reasons, and all of them would be upgrades even if they aren't long-term answers.
A day-two pick would likely be enough to get most of these players, maybe even less if their teams are desperate to move on. The Steelers have the cap space to absorb their contracts and could look to extend or restructure them after a trade is made. If they don't make a big trade, the same pick they would be trading will need to be used on a rookie receiver instead.
They draft a new starting running back with an early pick
The Steelers running game this season was a massive disappointment this season despite solid counting stats. They finished 11th in total rushing yards but 4th in attempts. They were just 25th in yards per attempt with 4.1, and that inefficiency is what was so disappointing. New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was supposed to help get the running game back on track, but things got worse overall.
Part of the problem was a very young and beat-up offensive line, but the running backs were simply not good enough this season either. Najee Harris continued to be a tough but inefficient runner, averaging exactly 4 yards per attempt. Jaylen Warren had his least efficient season so far, averaging 4.3 yards per attempt after averaging over 5 yards an attempt over his first two years.
Both are still good backs, but they need a true difference-maker at the position if they are going to keep running the ball as much as they do. Luckily for them, this running back class looks like one of the best in years. They could get a potential feature back in the second round or even the third. Even if they retain one of Harris or Warren, they need to inject more talent into the room.
They trade for/sign a brand new starting QB
The combination of Justin Fields and Russell Wilson gave the Steelers the best QB play they have gotten since Ben Roethlisberger retired, but that wasn't exactly a high bar to clear. The pair combined for 3,264 yards and 21 touchdowns through the air and 444 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Solid numbers overall, but it wasn't enough to compete with the other top QBs in the AFC.
The coaching and weaponry on offense weren't ideal either, but it was clear as day to anyone watching both Wilson and Fields that they are limited players. While it seems likely that one of them could return to the Steelers in 2025, there are other options that could raise the ceiling of the offense. Two names in particular come to mind who could be available, and they would certainly be bold moves.
Sam Darnold had an unfortunate end to his season as the Vikings starting QB, but he showed enough to believe he can be a good starter after several failed stops earlier in his career. If the Steelers could get him on a reasonable deal, he could give them a bit more upside as a bridge QB until they can find a long-term replacement.
The other potential QB move would come via trade, calling up the Seahawks to see if they would be willing to part with Geno Smith. Smith had an up-and-down season in 2024, but he is a much more effective passer over the middle of the field than either Fields or Wilson. If Arthur Smith is going to remain the OC, he and Smith could mesh well together.