The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a chance to reshape their roster in free agency. New head coach Mike McCarthy recently wrapped up his new coaching hires, and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham could have some say in who the team will sign this offseason.
Graham, who was most recently the defensive coordinator of the Las Vegas Raiders, is expected to run a 3-4 defense that is focused heavily on Nickel packages. Meanwhile, the Steelers could be in line to part ways with several overpriced veterans on defense.
Just like Arthur Smith had an influence on the front office's roster decisions over the past two seasons by bringing in ex-Falcons players like Jonnu Smith and Van Jefferson, Graham could plead for the Steelers to sign a few defenders who played under him last season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could sign these three players with Patrick Graham ties
Eric Stokes, CB
Eric Stokes was a first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in the 2021 NFL Draft who most recently played for the Raiders. In 2025, Stokes started 16 games as a boundary cornerback while being credited with allowing just 28 receptions for 261 yards all season, per Pro Football Focus.
As a result, Stokes earned a top-20 PFF grade in 2025. Stokes was quietly one of Graham's best defenders last season. With a 6' 0 5/8'', 194-pound frame and 4.31 speed entering the NFL, Stokes is finally living up to his billing as a first-round pick.
Stokes will be 27 years old for the 2026 season, so age is not an issue. Sportrac.com projects the veteran cornerback to earn roughly $7.3 million per season in free agency, which is more than affordable for the Steelers.
Stokes would make a strong pairing at boundary cornerback with Joey Porter Jr. With James Pierre and Asante Samuel Jr. set to hit the free agent market, CB help is needed. Patrick Graham could go after his starting cornerback from last season.
Elandon Roberts, LB
This player can be linked to the Steelers in more ways than one. Not only did Elandon Roberts most recently play for the Las Vegas Raiders under Graham, but he's also a former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker.
Many fans believed the team made a mistake letting Roberts walk in free agency last year. In his stead, the Steelers signed former Ravens linebacker Malik Harrison. Harrison carved out a role on defense in the second half of the season, but Roberts was the better player of the two.
Pittsburgh could save money by releasing Harrison and signing Roberts. Though Roberts is now in his thirties, Graham could bring his tone-setting, downhill linebacker with him for a reunion with the Steelers.
Devin White, LB
Patrick Queen is on track to have a lofty cap number of over $17 million for the 2026 season, per Over the Cap. While Queen had his moments in 2025, he proved to be a major liability in coverage, with his 20.4 percent missed tackle rate being one of the worst in the league.
By releasing Queen, the Steelers could save $13.3 million instantly and sign a player for a fraction of the price who could fill a similar role—Devin White.
White has fallen a long way from the No. 5 overall pick in 2019. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pro Bowler has graded poorly in recent seasons, but he still possesses excellent speed and aggressiveness as a run-and-chase, sideline-to-sideline linebacker. In 2025, White played over 1,100 defensive snaps while recording 174 tackles (95 solo) and 11 tackles for a loss.
The Steelers wouldn't be getting a superstar with White, who shares similar struggles as Queen in coverage. But the Raiders' full-time starter in 2025 is already familiar with Patrick Graham's defense and could come on an affordable deal.