The Pittsburgh Steelers have made the first steps toward bettering their roster during the 2025 offseason. Despite more players exiting than coming in after the first wave of free agency, general manager Omar Khan was able to plug some of the team's most glaring holes.
The Steeles seem to be operating with a specific strategy during free agency. Despite having more than enough money to hand out a few lucrative contracts, Pittsburgh seems to be playing the compensatory formula game. Entering the first weekend of free agency, they are projected to have four comp picks in the 2026 NFL Draft thanks to the players they lost this offseason.
Not all of these signings will prove effective during the 2025 season, but we can at least get behind the front office's thought process with most of these. Here are my grades for each free-agent signing after the first wave of free agency.
Grading every incoming Pittsburgh Steelers signing after the first wave of free agency
Darius Slay Jr., Cornerback (1 year, $10 million): B-
When you put on the tape from Darius Slay Jr. last year with the Philadelphia Eagles, you see an impressive cornerback who still possesses the aggression and feet to start in this league. Slay was part of a Super Bowl team that saw a remarkable resurgence in the secondary in 2024.
However, I'd be lying if I said Slay's age was not a concern. At 34 years old, Slay will be one of the oldest and most experienced starting cornerbacks in the NFL, and his efficiency could fall off a cliff at any given moment. While Slay's one-year, $10 million contract is fully guaranteed, the Steelers didn't have to break the bank to add talent to the position.
The best part is that Slay was cut from the Eagles just before free agency, so he won't count against the compensatory formula—meaning the Steelers will be able to hang onto another comp pick for the 2026 draft.
Malik Harrison, Linebacker (2 years, $10 million): D
Of all the free agency moves the Pittsburgh Steelers have made so far, signing Malik Harrison was my least favorite. We got a good look at Harrison over the past five years on the Baltimore Ravens, but the results have been underwhelming.
Harrison is a hammer who's best when coming downhill, but he's a liability when asked to play in space. His best role comes on special teams where he's earned more snaps than he has on defense since coming into the league as a third-round pick in 2020.
The worst part about this is that the Steelers let Elandon Roberts walk away on a one-year, $3 million contract. Roberts is a straight-up better defender, but Pittsburgh values Harrison's special teams ability. This is a steep contract for a special teams player and LB4.
Mason Rudolph, Quarterback (2 years, $8 million): A-
Don't take this as an endorsement for Mason Rudolph to be Pittsburgh's starting quarterback in 2025, but I'm a big fan of the Rudolph signing. The Steelers were stuck between a rock and a hard place at quarterback. Thankfully, Rudolph offers NFL experience, familiarity with the team, and an insurance policy in the event Pittsburgh can't find an upgrade.
Rudolph went just 1-4 as a starter last season for the Tennessee Titans, but it's worth noting that he was forced to lead the league's worst football team on a whim in the middle of the season and late in the year.
Rudolph is a low-level starter but a quality backup. To get him at $4 million per season is a great deal for a team that literally only had Skylar Thompson as an option so far on the roster. Rudolph was one of the best remaining quarterbacks on the free-agent market (which shows just how bad the group was this year).
Brandin Echols, 2 years (contract numbers unknown): C-
I have to admit that this move was a bit head-scratching. After signing Darius Slay, the Steelers still needed depth at the cornerback position, but I thought that would come with competition for Beanie Bishop Jr. for the nickel CB job.
Though Brandin Echols is listed at just 5'10'' and 179 pounds, he's a boundary cornerback by trade. Echols logged just nine snaps from the slot CB position last season. Additionally, Echols saw increasingly less action since his rookie season when he was one of the most picked-on cornerbacks in the league.
Echols offers depth to the cornerback position, but not much else. Fortunately, he at least offers some value on special teams coverage units.
Kenneth Gainwell, Running back (1 year, $1.79 million): B+
It's hard to get too upset about a signing like this. Kenneth Gainwell is a change-of-pace back who's a better receiver and kick returner than a pure runner, but for an RB3, this is perfectly fine. Gainwell unsurprisingly saw a reduced role in the Eagles' backfield last year with Saquon Barkley coming to town.
Though he's never rushed for more than 365 yards in any of his first four seasons, Gainwell offers situational value and can be the Steelers' primary kick returner. For just $1.79 million on a one-year contract, the price was right to land a quality third-string running back.
Donald Parham Jr., Tight end (1 year, $1.17 million): A
If you like interesting football players, you're going to like the Donald Parham Jr. free agent signing. At 6-foot-8 with over 36-inch arms and 4.68 speed, Parham towards over every on the field (unless Darnell Washington is out there).
Parham went undrafted in 2019 and had begun his pro football journey in the XFL before playing four seasons with the LA Chargers. Though Parham didn't suit up in the NFL in 2024, he has 67 receptions and 764 receiving yards to go with 11 touchdowns in his NFL career.
Parham isn't guaranteed to make the final roster, but he was a cheap addition at just $1.17 million, and if he impresses enough in camp, the Steelers could have the player with the biggest catching radius in the NFL on their roster this year. He's worth a flier.